Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-26
4. o. O. f.
Semi Centenary Anniversary :
Grand Celebration I'm Mem.
phis by the Order.


pendent Order of Odd Fellows is cele-
brated to-day throughout the United
States with greater ceremony and dis
play than on any former occasion.
The Order now numbers 10 the United
States SOC, 900 members, and is fast be-
coming q power in the land-and that
for good. Tennessee numbers $500 men,
beers, and Memphis over $50 The first
Lodge was formed in Baltimore on
the Goth Of April, lol9-hepce the
origin of the anniversary. Its OBJ
jects are of a benevolent and self
protecting character, and it does
an immense work from year to year in
quiet way to relieve the needy, the sick
and distressed.
A large number of delegates arrived
this morning and yesterday from the
country to participate in the celebration.
Among the Lodges represented are
Dyersburg Lodge No. 65, Trenton No. %,
Trezevant No. 81, Buena Vista No. Sc,
Paris, Tenn, Tallula No. A, (Helena,
Arkansas.
AT eight o'clock this morning the
Daughters of Rebekah and the Odd Fell
lows began to assemble at their magnifi-
cent hall on the northwest corner Of
Court Square. A large number of little
girls were present and seemed to pre-
dominate in numbers, and their sweet in.
nocent faces lent spell of enchantment
to the whole scene.
Three beautiful young ladies represent
ed Charity, Faith and Hope. Miss
Emma Mallory personated Charity, and
in that character presented the Order
with a beautiful white banner fringed
with red, and bearing the inscription:
81. o. o. f., Tennessee. Presented by
the Rebekah Benevolent Association,
April Goth, 1862" The presentation
speech was most graceful, and prettily
delivered. After this ceremony the
grand procession formed on Second
street, facing north. The officers were
elegantly decorated with the insignia
and regalia of the Order, and were
mounted upon white horses. All the
carriages were drawn by white horses
and two grand triumphal cars, loaded
with girls and young ladies, all dressed
in white, with fancy, tri-colored ribbons,
were drawn by white horses also. The
banner presented was carried at the head
of the procession, and after the members
of the Order, in their appropriate regslia,
came the two cars mentioned with their
precious freight. Next came the So
dality band, then the daughters Of Re.
bekah in carriages, and after them
members of the fraternity. The
procession was half q mile long,
and presented most imposing
appearance. Hundreds Of spectators
thronged the streets, the sun shone out
brilliantly and the scene was gorgeous
and beautiful to behold. The procession
moved as follows: Second street to Win
chester; ont Winchester to Main; down
Main to Trezevant; out Trezevant to
Shelby; up Shelby to Beal; down Beal
TO Second, and up Second to Greenlaw
Opera House, where an address was de-
livered (too late for publication to-day
by P. G. A. j. Wheeler. After the exer-
cises, the Order was to reform, return to
the Lodge room and be dismissed.
The celebration will close with evening
festivities, at the Memphis Club Hall.
Ladies and gentlemen, not members of
the Order, may participate in the even
ing entertainment. Members and friends
of the Order can obtain tickets from
either of the undersigned. Price of
ticket IS, admitting one gentleman and
two ladies': A. F. Davis, SO Adams
street; j. E. Russell, foot Jefferson
street; C. A. Beehn, Al Madison street
George Mellersh, 278 Main street; ]. P.
Prescott, 40 Jefferson street; j. B.
Campbell and ]. 81. Reed.