Semi-Annual Report of Milford Lodge, 1914

This collection of 1919 records from the Milford Lodge No. 42 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) document the rigorous application process for new members in Milford, Utah. The petitions follow a standardized format where applicants, such as 28-year-old electrician Earl W. Clinton and merchant William B. Dobson, pledged to abide by the order's laws and utilize its internal tribunals rather than civil courts for resolving grievances. A critical component of the application was the health certification, evidenced by physical examination statements from local doctors Henry C. Hunter and Chas. F. Swanson, who verified that candidates like Clinton and Oren Burke were in sound health. Each petition underwent review by a three-person committee-including members like Roy Cottrell, D.E. Kirk, and Dan W. Smithson-who "diligently inquired" into the character and standing of the applicants before submitting favorable reports to the lodge.