Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-05-05
|. O. OF O. r.
FRIENDSHIP, LOVE AND TRUTH.
The Semi Centennial Anniversary.
Grand Parade Of the Fraternity in
Philadelphia.
!. 0. OF Q. z.
Over Twenty Thousand Odd Fellows in
Line--Grand Display Of the Order.

Over Twenty Thousand Odd Fellows /
Line--Grand Display OF the Order.
PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 1869
The grand national commemorate
in this city today Of the fiftieth ann
versary of the establishment of tn
Order of Odd Fellowship in the Unite,
States has closed, and has been one q
the most imposing displays, as well i
point Of the numerical assemblage a
in the arrangements and details Of III
pageant, and the influence and stand
ing in the community of tue personne
OF the various organizations whici
participated in the jubilee. As earl,
MS Friday Of last week delegation
from the grand lodges and lodges o
various States and jurisdictions begal
to arrive in large numbers, and during
the whole Of Saturday and Sunday, a
well us by the early trains this morn
ing from the less remote sections o
the country, fresh acquisitions TO th,
general concourse were pouring in
1t is estimated that not less thar
20, 900 members Of the Order tool
part in the professional demonstra
lions in the streets to-day.
This semi.centennial cele ebration wa
held under the direction of the GrunC
Lodge of tbs. United States, at il
meeting in September, 1868, and Pas
Grand Sire Kennedy, of New York
Past Grand Sire Nicholson, of Penn
sylvania Past Grand Sire yeitch, o
Missouri; Past Grand Sire Perkins
Of Pennsylvania Grand Sire L. d
Farnsworth, of Tennessee, and repre-
sentatives Ford, of Massachusetts
Carey, of Maryland Read, of New
Jersey, and Maris, Of Delaware, were
appointed committee, with authority
TO mako the requisite arrangements {,
ensure a successful consummation o
the commemorntion. On Saturday
evening last every preliminary baC
been completed and positions assigned
TO the various organizations. The
celebration, il was ordered, shoulC
embrace matinal reception ut th,
Academy of Music, a grand parade o.
all the delegations at noon, an even
ing entertainment also at the Acade
my Of Music, and grand ball at tn,
Philadelphia Skating Rink, Twenty
first and Race streets As early al
seven o'clock this morning the streets
were thronged by members of tn,
Order making preparations for th,
festivities of the day, the hour fixet
for the commencement Of the exercises
at the Academy Of Music (ninc o'clock
requiring that the delegations to bt
present lhoreat should be sup anC
doing" The time was earlier, how
ever, than was advisable for full
attendance, and il was nearly ter
o'clock before the various bodies hat
arrived, and even then the auditorium
was not moro than half filed. The
stage was occupied by the GranC
Lodge Of the United States, the off
GERS of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl
vania, the officers of the Grand En-
campment of Pennsylvania, and 9
chorus of leo male singers Mayor
Fox, Of Philadelphia; John W. Stokes
Past Grand Master of Pennsylvania
and +. ID. Fnrnsworth, Most Worthy
Grand Sire. In the front centre O
the parquet were the Grand Lodge o.
Maryland, and at the rear centre tn,
Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania. The
Grand Lodge of New Jersey occupied
the right OF the parquet and tho GranC
Lodge of the District OF Columbia The
left. The remainder Of this space wa,
devoted TO visiting officers Of grand
lodges Of various Jurisdictions. The
Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania
was located in the parquet circle or
the left. All these bodies were attircd
in full regalia Of the richest descrip
iion, the various colors OF the decora
tions, in crimson, violet, purple and
blue velvets and silks, with heavy
trimmings Of silverand bullion fringes
the slaves OF Office and the Jewels and
decorations Of the officers presenting
a brilliant and imposing coup dGii
The parquct circle, the galleries and
portions Of the parquet were occupied
by n large and highly decorous audi
ence, though the attendance was by
no means numerous until nearly ar
hour after the opening ofthe exercises,
probably on account Of the rather early
hour named A selected orchestra oI
about forty excellent performers open.
ed the exercises with the overture
from Tampa, after which the combined
chorus and orchestra rendered the
"Anniversary Hymn" written by b
p. Shillaber, c'hrs. Partington,'' oI
Sloan Lodge, Boston, MASSACHUSETTS,
aud adapted to the air america"
Rev, J. W. Venablc, r. W. Grand
Chaplain, then offered up an appropri
ate prayer, the entire audience rising
and remaining in that position till its
close.
Past Grand Mastor Stokes then de
livered an address of welcome to the
Grand Lodge Of the United States, in
the course Of which he expressed the
pleasure he felt at their presence, and
said that The Grand Lodge of the
United States having resolved upon a
national observance Of the day under
their auspices, u number of the broth.
erhood had assembled to bid them q
cordial welcome. The brethren OF
this jurisdiction fully appreciated the
compliment paid TO them by the selec,
lion sf this city US the place OF obsorv.
ancc Of the festival Soon ailcr the
order wasfounded in the United States
il became successfully established in
this city and State, aud although not
unopposcd by prejudice its progress
had been remarkable, and be hoped
they had attained n position emitting
them TO rank as, perhaps, the peer Of
any benevolent institution of the tine
Referring 10 the means and revenue
at their command be said there we're