Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-01
I, O. O, F, CELEBRATE

i. U. U, +, CELEBRA AFlUN.
THURSDAY last was quite an occasion with
us of Edgefeld. The Independent Order Of
Odd Fellows held, on that day, their annual
festival, which drew out an unusual assem-
blage of ladies and gentlemen, from the dis
trict at large The proceedings were con-
Quoted throughout with strict decorum and
very commendable propriety
About I2 o'clock, the Odd Fellows issued
in procession from their Lodge Room, under
the direction of Col G. D. MINIS, Marshal Of
the day, and, having marched up and down
main street, they proceeded to the Baptist
Church to attend upon the delivery Of their
Anniversary Grafton. The Church was crow.
ded to iamming the array of beauty and
taste was truly dazzling. The Odd Fellows
should feel much encouraged by such aattcr-
ing evidences of favor and appreciation. as
have been exhibited towards them by all our
citizens, but, more especially, by the ladies.
Say what you will of the purely impulsive
nature of the softer sex, we would rather
trust to their instinct or rather their intuition,
for discriminating between the good and the
bad, than to NIL the reasoning of the schools.
What woman openly approves with her
smiles, must be good. She has thus approved
Odd Fellowship in Edgefeld. Ergo, it must
be a good institution. As we were saying,
however, the church was scene Of unusual
brilliancy-not from the beautiful and appro-
pirate emblcms and badges of the Order
which were placed around the Orators stand
in such m effective manner, nor from the very
rich dress rcgalias of the members of the
Lodge, but from the beamng eyes, the
wrcathcd smiles, the joyous dimples and the
rosy-tintcd checks of Edgefield's fair daugh-
tcrs. 1t was indeed most refreshing sight
1t was, we are sure, enough to have awaken
cd one feeble pulsation, even in the withered
heart of the vcricst old bachelor that cum
bercth society.
The ceremonies of the hour were commen-
ced by brief and simple, but earnest and
appropriate prayer, by DR.. J. C. READY, who
acted as Chaplain pro tem After which, an
Ode, prepared for the occasion, was sung, the
choir being supported by aMclodcon, recent
ly purchased by the Lodge.
Mr.. ABSEY, the Orator of the day, then
arose and spoke for almost m hour, in a
manner worthy of himself and the occasion.
His subject was the Bible, and he presented
some striking views of its essential impor-
tance to human society, independent of it's
Evangelical character. He gave some elo-
quent illustrations of its unrecognised pres
cncc for good, even in communities that scoft
at its teachings with atheistic Presumption
But we will not attempt an outline of MIR.
ABNEY's address, having frequently seen and
sometimes experienced, how very far short of
justice these hurried sketches usually stop
at the conclusion of The speech, the audience
testified their satisfaction by general applause.
Another original Ode was then sung in
good style We cannot pass over in silence,
the spirit zeal and taste, exhibited by this fra
ternity, in advancing the cause of their Order.
We predict that its benign influence will
spread wider and stronger, until our whole
people. shall be forced to acknowledge the
high Importance Of chcrishing and encoura-
ging it.
From the church, the large crowd proceed
ed to another part of the village, where, un-
der an extensive shelter, two tables, each rs
or 80 feet in length, were loaded with every
thing good, solids and sweets, in almost end
less variety. We happened to be located,
with several ladies, in close proximity to.a
trout of enormous dimensions-Gts weight
was some 10 or 12 pounds,) the product Of
ono of our piny-woods mill-ponds. 1t must
have been ga glorious nibble" indeed, when
this fellow struck the hook and there GER
tainly was good deal of glorious nibbling
over his well-browned and highly-spiced car
case, ms We can fully testify. But, though
the trout was number l., yet there were ma
nv other raritics and dclicacies, not one whit
behind his trout-ship. In the pastry line, our
vocabulary has not sufficient diversity to war
rant us in broaching description Of the long
list of pies, cakes, ct cetera which came un-
der our observation, as We made our way
around the tables. Altogether, the dinner
was admirably gotten up, admirably sustain
cd and admirably carried through. Much