The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-11
DEDICATION OF THE NEW 0DD
FELLOWS HALL.
The Procession and Ceremonies
Addresses by r. .. n. A. wallace Hunter
II. @. j. x. RepsstorR, ID. ID. g. n.
Louis Bush and Prof. DInitry.


the clouds were very lowering. A great many
people began to think the grand ceremonies ol
the dedication of the splendid new hall of the
Odd Fellows of New Orleans would have to be
postponed; but fair weather or foul, the gallant
Fellows were determined to have their celebra.
ton. Before ten o'clock the various lodges began
to assemble, according to the published pro-
gramme, at different corners of Lafayette Square.
As the time for organizing approached. Assistant
Grand Marshal Frank Pister was ready with his
assistants, and arranged his forces with exceeding
good Judgment and efficiency. All Mr.. Phster's
movements were carried on quietly and unosten.
tatiously, but with the effect of well-regulated
machinery.
Early in the morning, the new flag of the Grand
Lodge of Louisiana, adopted at the last session of
the Grand Lodge of the United States, was un.
furled from the roof Of the new building, and
| spread itself to the breeze. 1t was composed of
spure white field, encircled with red, with the in.
scription in red letters, Grand Lodge of the
State of Louisiana, /. o. o. F." As the day ad.
vanced, the weather somewhat frightened up,
and the ladies, encouraged by the prospect of
sunshine instead of rain, came out upon the
| streets and balconies in numbers to witness the
procession. About IL O'Clock, Grand Marshal
John B. Heno, appeared in the center of Lafayette
Square, spirited horse, assisted by his special
aids Messrs Breaux, Foster, Florst and Fletcher,
and several Assistant Grand Marshals, aud began
the order of procession, the head of the subordi-
nate lodges being near the central entrance to
the square on Camp street, and the Grand Lodge
near the Moresque building. the seniority of
lodges being in inverse order.
The procession then proceeded up Camp street,
to the strains of martial music, as far as Deord,
thence down st. Charles to Canal, down Royal
| Camp to the new hall, where the ceremonies OF
| the occasion were to be performed.
| The procession was composed OF three d.
| visions: the first, under charge OF Assistant Mar
shals Henry Oertling and j. N. Meyer, consisted
of the subordinate lodges OF the order the sec
ond, under Assistant Msrshals John Dsvey and
| henry Nortng, of the pstrisrchal branch of the
organization; the third and last holding the post
| of honor in the rear being the Past Grands and
the officers of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge,
under Assistant Marshals Huber Wax and John
| Frank.
| Helvetis, No. "A Merchants, No. 40: South
western, No. 40; Hermann. No. 80 (; Pacific, No.
| %; Germsnis, No. 20; Columbus, No. "a, Al
Polar star. French. No. ls Covenant, No. II |;
| Templsr, No. 16; Delta, No. Is Hope, No. Ia: {:
! Howard, No. l3: Commercial, No. IL Orleans,
No. IL Teutonia, No. 10; Jefferson, No. 0 Cres-
| Louisiana, No. l.
| The members of these lodges were accompanied
by few of the visiting brethren from New Iberia
| and 81. Mary's.
The encampments represented were:
| Lafayette Encampment No. 7, Fourth District
Washington Encampment No. 6, Third District
| Hobsh Encampment No. and Wildey Eacamp-
ment No. l, First District
| The Third and last Division was composed Of
the officers and members Of the r. W. Grand
Lodge Of the State.
| The following are the officers of the Grand
| Lodge of the State:
E. NJ. Rusha, NJ. W. Grand Master; Jacob F.
| Huff, X. W. ID. Grand Master E. II. Fairchild.
| r. w. Grand Warden; Josiah Folger. r. W. Grand
| Secretary; +. W. Delesdernier, r. W. Grand
| Treasurer Luther Homes and J. G. Dunlap, r.
W. Grand Representatives; J. G. Dunlap. W.
| Grand Chaplain John B. Head, Grand Marshal
| A. Mszureau, W. Grand Conductor: J. Reimer,
| W. Grand Guardian; J. N. Littlejohn, W. Grand
| Herald.
There were upwards of six hundred Odd Fell
lows in the procession, and among them were
| many of our most respected and influential citi.
! zens. Among them, in carriage, we noticed
| the venerable form OF Henry Williams, Esq.,, the
| horologist who has lived upwards of fifty years
in New Orleans, and is one of the Oldest Odd Eel
| lows in the United States.
When the head of the procession arrived at the
ball the end of it was jest above Canal street.
| The word was then passed down to halt and
| open ranks. The grand marshal and his aids then
retraced their steps between the two lines. which
| faced inwards, and conducted Che Grand Lodge
through to the hall the procession thus gradually
| doubling upon itself until all the members had
reached and entered the spacious building.
The Building.
| Before going any further 1t would be well to
pause long enough to describe the hall into which
the Odd Fellows marched to take possession.
The outside has ere this been noticed by our
! readers, and we, therefore, need not dwell upon
it longer than to cay il is painted white. hand.
somely orDamented, and has q wide gallery, well
Illuminated. From its second story was flying the
| flag of the Grand Lodge of Lousiana-a white
| field with q red border and the inscription,
"Grand Lodge of the State of Louisisns. l. o. o.
F." and the three links of the order, all in red.
| On the upper side of the building is q wing but
! two stories high through which Is the entrance.
| On either side Of the door two handsome iron
| gas lamps. broad fight of stairs leads up to the
| trst landing, where is the hat room and another
small room. At the head of this fight is pretty
landscape painting, Italian scenery, we believe.
The vestibule to which the second fight leads is
room some twenty-five feet square. with walls
! beautifully paneled indeed. in our humble
opinion, In manner which snrpasseH that of the
ball room,) whence are doors leading TO the gen
tlepen's and the ladies' dressing rooms aud to the
ball room.
This last lie, of course, the principal feature Of
the building. 1t is q perfect rectange. some hun
dred feet long, mot SO long ss the old ODD Fell
lows Hall ballroom.) about hafa as wide and about
thrown into one, and instead Of having windows
reaching from the ceiling down, has two rows of
them. A gallery extends all around two sides.
Tie walls frescoed in the highest style of art,
representing paneling entirely. The ceiling is
not only frescoed, but decorated with the por-
traits Of Mr. Wildey. founder Of the order. aud
Mr.. Ridgely, now Grand Secretary; q group
representing Faith, Hope and Charity; various
designs whose mystic meaning is known only to
the initiated and is by them not to be revealed.
and copies of Thorwsldsen's Might" and
Morning "-the one at the head OF the room, the
other at the foot. The immense chandelie
ordered were not finished In time to be put up
but all around the room are innumersble brackets.
enough, 1t would seem, 10 light the room without
other aid. At the head Of the room Is gallery
| for muscians-a handsome ornament In itself.
| The floor is excellent.
Altogether the room is such one as We may
well be proud to have in our city. II has. as far
ss we could see, but one serious fault which is
that, the frescoing, being all in light colors, was
| too monotonous and too trying to the eyes. II
hss, however. one great virtue-its acoustic pro-
| perties are very good.
The balance Of the hall needs but small descrip-
ton. There il o pretty little supper room Just
back Of the ball room and opening into II. Above
| are various lodge rooms. storerooms, committee
rooms, etc. Below In the Office Of the jackson
Railroad and several other smaller Offices sppro-