Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-04-30


BRArIoN.-We were among the fortunate ones
who held an invitation to the Anniversary
Festival of this Benevolent Fraternity. TWAS
given at their own Hall, in McCloud's build
ing, on Third street, and the Lodge Room and
its ante-chambers were very tastefully fitted
up for the occasion. Flags, festoons of varie-
gated silks, the emblamatical colors of the
Degrees-and links and stars of evergreens
were hung around the room, interspersed with
decorated pictures, and portraits of High Dig
nitaries of the Order. The large hall was COM
pletely filled with ladies and gentlemen at an
early hour, and we have never had the pleas
ure of being present at more genial, gay, and
home-like an assemblage in the city. The Odd
Fellows are evidently good fellows, too, and
endeavored to make the few guests who were
not of their family at home, in which they
were eminently successful, for an atmosphere
of perfect good humor and congenial, infective
.hilarity, prevailed.
We thought it aptly described by the fol-
lowing lines, written for the Odd Fellows of
Manchester, England, by James Montgomery,
in 1888.
When Friendship, Love and Truth abound
Among Band of Brothers
The cup of Joy goes gaily round '>s.,..
Each shares the bliss of others.
Sweet roses grace the thOrny way
Along this vale of sorrow,
The flowers that shed their leaves to-day
Shall bloom again tomorrow,
How grand how far youth,
= Are Holy Friendship, Love and Truth.
On Halcyon wings our moments pass,
Life S cruel cares beguiling,
Old Time lays down his scythe and glass,
In gay good humOr smiling.
With ermine beard and fOrelOck gray,
His reverend front adorning
He looks like winter turned to May,
Night sottened into morning.
From these delightful fountains flow,
Ambrosial rills of pleasure, 1
Can man desire. can heaven bestOw, a"
A more resplendent treasure!
Adorned with gems so richly bright,
Wen form constellation --...-. 81
Where every star with modest light,
Shall guild his proper station.
The exercises consisted of an Anniversary
Address by one of the officers of the Grand
Lodge, explaining the objects of the Anniver-
sary Meeting, and detailing some of the histo-
ry of the Order and statistics of its operations,
&C.. A good band had been engaged to be
present, but at the last hour disappointed the
committeeman the want of instrumental mu-
sic was compensated for by the excellent and
appropriate vocal music furnished by an i'm
provised quartette club, who rendered some
of the familiar and beautiful Odes of the Or
der in such an excellent style, that every one
enjoyed it as much as if band had been
present,
At this interval, Refreshments" were an
nounced, This created quite wonder, as no
visible preparations had been noticed for this
part of the Entertainment. Some actually
thought it one of the H0cus Pocus "myste.
ries" of the Order, and others who had some
of the ancient notions concerning what is
done in the meetings, were wondering wheth,
er said refreshments consisted Of a keg of
lager, and bushel Of pretzles But while
these ceremonies were going on, Hey Presto!
a side door opened, and in came about a doz-
en- gents bearing between them half dozen
tables ready spread land loaded with all
manner of delicate and tempting edibles,
which the gentlemen present proceeded to
to the satisfaction Of everybody
to judge from the way the delicacies disap-
peared, amid the most general good humor
and pleasantly.
After sufficient time had been devoted to |
the refreshment "Order Of Business" several
short addresses were made by different men,
bers, and after an evening spent by all with
pleasure and proft-an occasion long to be
the Closing Ode was sung, and
the assemblage dispersed well pleased with an
evening spent in the Retreat of Friendship,
Love, and Truth