Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-27
GRAND FETEAT GAILArIN FaInAr
The Odd Fellows CeIebrattOn-HOw-
ard Institute Examination.

ard Institute Examination.
| Al eight o'clock Friday morning the
excursion train from this place, containing
about Eve hundred Odd Fellows, represent
ing the following Nashville Lodges Ten
nessee Division No. !, Trabue No. 10,
Smiley No. 20, Aurora No. los, sAnd Edge
geld Lodge No lis, together with goodly
crowd of lady and gentlemen visitors, left
the Louisville and Nashville depot for the
celebration Of Towards Institute at Gala
tin, Tennessee.
The train moved out of the depot-house
amid the lively strains from the Odd Fell
lows silver cornet band, and gleesome
laughter from hearts both glad and free.
The pleasant little county-seat of Sum
ner was soon reached. The crowd disem-
baTked, the Odd Fellow portion marching
to the Lodge room Of Howard Lodge No.
l3, where they were received by that
Lodge, tOgethers with Magnolia Lodge
from Lebanon, and Laguardo Lodge,
and the procession formed by Colonel
Nv. s. Mnnday, Chief Marshall Of the
| day, with an efficient corps OF assistants.
The procession, composed Of some six hun
dred members, then moved off around the
Square to Water street. down Water to
I Smith, through Smith to Church, thence
10 Main and back TO the Square, where
they were met by the yonDg ladies of
Howard Institute, one hundred and fifty in
number, who divided their lines and let
the procession rass the gauntlet of beauty.
Here they were met, also, by Sax's cornet
band, of Gallatin, and with gay procession
they marched to the Institute.
At the Institute ample accommodation I
had been arranged in its beautiful grove
for the seating Of all. Order wsl restored,
and the exercises were opened by prayer
from Rev. II. B. Boude. 4
Prof. Todd then introduced Miss Guth-
rie, member Of the graduating class, who
made the following welcome address:
GENTLEMEN or THE INDEPENDENT Or
DER OF ODD FELLOWS; The very
pleasant, and allow me to say most
embarrassing task Of receiving you in
behalf of the teachers and pupils of How
ard Female College, has been assigned me,
and with all the natural timidity Of woman
and the diffidence of q school girl, did /
not so highly appreciate your generous and
glorious order, should shrink from the
discharge Of the interesting duty which too
much partially has imposed on me. Well
comet thrice welcome noble, liberal men
within the inclosure Of your own beautiful
Temple Of Learning; welcome to the
bright faces aud young warm trusting,
loving hearts of its happy inmates. Wei
come to the home of orphans whom your
libersliiy is educating. Welcome to the
shades Of these trees, that have sheltered
others, that!shelter us now, and whose braOd
spreading beams shall shield numbers more,
when school days TO us shall be among the
things that we're. -.a ~
Welcome, too, to the feast of good
things of which you will soon be
invited to partake, and to the bright
eyes and smiling faces of the fair
women of Sumner, who will take great
pleasure in serving you at their richly
spread tables. Let me caution those of
you, though, who are not already blessed
with the smiles OF an Eve, TO guard well
your hearts unless you wish TO leave them i
here, for you know, if women get to be
angels any where land they certainly do)
it is in our county. Let the proper senti-
nels be properly posted at the outer door,
for if The anti-room Of the heart is entered
JOu dAO BOuCs
You are members gentlemen of most
interesting, rapidly growing, useful and
glorious organization, which though not
vet a half century old can boast mem
barship of nearly three hundred thousand
noble men standing from the restless At
lantic TO the calm bosom Of the Pacific, all
actively engaged in harmonizing and
anleliating the condition of poor fallen
"A Eho 4
desert of life blossom as the rose This in
stitution stands a noble and telling monu-
ment TO the liberality of those who are so
devoted to Friendship, Love and Truth, and
whose efforts are blessing the world. Good
gentlemen, jealousy and devotediy in your
heavenly mission of good. Your Order is
now the brightest and most cheering basis
in the dreary desert of life. The great
business of our mission here Is to do good,
and make others happy. If there be any
thing of which the Odd Fellows of Ten
nessee should feel proud, and in whose
welfare they would feel an axioTs and ten
der interest, it is certainly the Institution
in whose beautiful shady grounds your are
gathered. 1t has risen like phoenix from
the dilapidations and ruins of the war, has
attained a position and is enjoying a repu-
tation and prosperity which must be most
gratifying and cheering to all, and which
promises 30 much in the future. Eternity
alone can tell the good being accomplished
through it, Go forward gentlemen, zeal
ously in this heavenly mission, and pos
terity shall talk of and praise you when
the tall grass shall wave over your graves,
and in the Grand Lodge above in the glo-
rious presence of the Grand Master, you
shall be rewarded, and shall drink from
the streams of bliss that shall never fail.
More music from the band.
Mr.. w. s. Munday introduced DIR. NJ. c.
Gaddis, of Ohio, TO the assembly, who
spoke as follows:
What does all this mean2 Why has
God given to us thi- beautiful morning Of
June2 Why have you of Middle Tennes-
see and from portions of Kentucky gathered
here2 Are you here to stay the ravsges Of
war, and keep it from your thresholds /
would answer no. Look upon these manly
forms from tn e hills and valleys Of Tennes-
see Thank God Middle Tennessee, not
withsianding the ravsges Of war, is healthy
to-day. We are here to-day to celebrate
the blessings, 10 perpetuate the liberty OF
education. Again what means these
badges2-this array Of badges upon the
stand. / would answer you that these are
the emblems of fraternity which, under
God, hope, will fraternize our race and
bring back to the earth the old song which
was sung on the plains of Bethlehem
'FGlory be to God on high, peace on earth
and good will to ali men," The American
heart of Odd Fellowship throbs for the
widow and the orphan.
Long years ago, He who called light out
Of darkness, order out of chaos, sent an
angelic band 10 cheer the inhabitants of
earth with a new song, aud to inspire them
with the hope Of sure and speedy doliver-
ance from sin. He was not there to-day
embarrassed by any religious creed or po-
litical dogma, but simply standing on the
platform Of common humanity, 10 repre-
sent an order that has in the past, is to-
day, and will in the future do MUCH to
make the new dispensatiou success. We
do not to-day celebrate the birth Of Odd
Fellowship on the earth, but With the earth
we love so we'll triumphing in a nation
standing upon the threshold Of new sge,
an age fraught with veal or woe 70 us, our