Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-09-28
Editorial ence.
RECEPTION OF oDDFELLows AT CHICAGO


CHICAGO, Sep. %.
On wednesday evening the Oddfellows
met in public meeting en- maSSe at Metro
politan Hill. Every av 4ilable place IN the
hall was filled with chairs but notwith-
standing this there were hundreds who
could not secure seats, 1ud who hed to
satisfy t emseIees with staLdi,g, while
many could not gain admittAnce.
Hon. D. L Shorey of Chicago acted as
president and made an opening address.
HI wss followed by Hor. John B. Har-
mon OF California. Just as he commenced
Vice President Schuyler Colfax walked
upon the platform, upon which the audi
ence drowned with cheers the opening
words of the spt aker. Mr.. Harmon play
fully remarked that the Viee-Presdent
had once before disturbed a public meet
ing while he was Fpeeking. Mr.. Har-
mSn WIS followed by Hon. E. H. Fitz-
hugh, Judge of the supreme &C urt of Vir-
ginia, Hon. Geo. W. Race of Louisiana
next addressed the the assembly, and was
followed By DR.. J. F. Morse of Califor-
mia, eciel DEF uty of the order to the
Germanic States.
Then came Vice-Presideut Colfax, who
was received with deafening applause.
He has been for more than twenty five
years closely identified with and promi-
uent in the order! and his speech was lis
tened to with the closest attention. He
spoke of the origin of the ordyr, half a
century ago. which from humble be-
giRning had arisen to be II ghty temple
which to-day numbered third of a mil
lion of members. The order had spread
across the whole continent, bounded over
the ocean TO tho islands of the sea, where
the missionary lodge of Honolulu was
looking over the waste of waters then it
passed to Germany and republican Swift
zerland. It was a noble thing 10 be an
Oddfellow.sA quarter OF a century ago he
went before the altar and took upon him
self the obligations that made him a
brot her, and in all that time he had new
er seen an act or heard word of which
its critics complained so loudly. It's foun-
dation principle was the universal father
hood of God and the universal brother
hood of man. The king on his throne,
the president in bis power and the peas
ant in bis rags, were ell equal if they
loved mercy.
Mr.. Colfax was followed by Hon. James
L. Ridgeley, of Maryland. aud others,
and the assenblsge dispersed about II
o'clock.
AN EXCURSION.
Among the most agreeable features of
the session was the excursion, rendered by
the city of Chicago on Lake Michigan
and Chicago River. On Wednesday
afternoon, ab-ut two hundred embarked
on the steamer s. Chicago Belle and pre-
ceeded ont into the lake two miles to the
Crib-whcre the water is taken from the
bottom of the lake, passing through pipes
some two miles, supplying the city with
pure water. 1t is wonderful undertak-
ing and entirely successful. Our limits
at this time will not admit CT length
ened description Of this wonder of the
age, and monument of Chicago enterprise
On returning from the Crib, the boat
proceeded up TO Chicago river to The en-
trance of the canal, giving a fine oppor-
tunity to observe the tokens Of material
prosperity which line the banks of the
river. The spacious yards, filled with