National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-25
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RAILROAD
Colored Odd Fellows.

Odd Fellows of the District of Columbia have for
some time past been making preparations for an
appropriate celebration of the tUenty-ninth ami.
Tersary of their existence as an Order and also in
honor Of the seventh trIennial conference of the
Patriarchal Order of the Past Grand Masters Of
America. Yesterday was the anniversary day,
and 1t was made q gala day among the memb ers
of the Order. The celebration consisted Of grand
procession Of the lodges Of the Order, an assem-
bly, and addresses st Lincoln hall, and q banquet
At ODD Fellows hall, on Thirteenth street, be-
tween and d.
Ample ARRANGEMENTS had been made by the ex-
ecutive committee having the affair in charge,
but ewing to the non-arrival of visitors who were
expected from Lynchburg, the procession, which
was to have been formed at 10 O'Clock, did not
start until nearly noon.
The line when formed presented a very attrac-
tive appearance. All who participated were uni
formly attired in black, with silk hats and white
gloves. The gay banners and regalias with va
rious devices, made snowy and interesting pro-
cession.
THE PROCESSION.
The line was headed by q detail Of mounted
police, after which came the chief marshal, ]. T.
Lucas, and staff. The staff was composed of J ohm
Curtis and J. W. Ross aids; Algin White, chief
Of staff, and Miles q. Maxfeld secretary of staff
I. Gunnell and L. Howard, lodge SOL; James
Garner, 1O2S; H. Baker and H. Herbert, 11S5; g.
a. Matthews and E. Brockenborough, 1893; W.
BrOEn and Robert est, u. ID. Hall, l365.
< Garter, q. Blockson, B. Moore, D. A. CLARK
and J. Henley, 1868; John Kicks, Isaiah Brooks
and W. Dayton, 1859; W. H. Smith and r. Pickett,
Hin, I477; E. Ball and WIN. SchooIer, 1902
The main body was divided in three divisions.
The hrst division was marshaled by Noble
Father Edgar Ball, and was headed by the Ma
tiopsl band, Of Washington, under the leadership
of Robert McLenney. The following lodges COM
posed the division: Simon Lodge No. 1902, J.
Nee. Crummill Lodge No 1887, Star Of the West
Lodge No. 1863. Green Mountain Lodge No. l477
Peter Ogden Lodge No. 1874, Bloom of Youth
Lodge No. 1858 Simon Lodge bore with them a
beautiful silk banner. On the white front was q
representation OF sick-rOom with the inscription
IVisit the sick" The reverse was blue and cen
representation Of the apron OF the Order, worked
ker.
The second division was in charge of Past Noble
Father Louis Howard, and headed by Boyer's
band, Of Baltimore. under the leadership of VIM.
Watts. The following lodges were in line: Rising
Sun Lodge No 1865, Mount Olive Lodge No. 1888,
Eastern Star Lodge No. 102s, ]. F. N. Wilkinson
Lodge No. 1913, John f. Cook Lodge No. lS5,
Union Friendship Lodge No. SOL, Columbia Lodge
Nc. 1915, and Potomac Union Lodge No. s92, Of
Georgetown.
The third division, which was marshaled by
Past Grand Master James H. Hill, was headed by
the South Washington band. This division was
composed Of Noble Fathers and Past Noble Fs-
theirs, Past Grand Masters Council, No. 4, and
delegates to the triennial conference. The line
was closed BY carriages bearing the speakers.
THE LINE OF MARCH
which the large procession traversed was as fol.
lows: Up Pennsylvania avenue to the President
mansion, entering by way Of the east gate and out
at the west gate into PENNSYLVANIA avenue down
Pennsyivania avenue to Fifteenth street, to F
street. to Twelfth street, to Pennsylvania avenue,
to Third street west, TO III street, to Sixteenth
street west to street, to Nineteenth street, to
1, to Seventh, 10 d, 10 Lincoln hall. The line
reached Lincoln hall 4 little alter three O'Clock
Many were waiting in the hall and vicinity to hear
the expected addresses.
AT LINCOLN HALL.
The procession marched in order into the hall,
nearly filling it. The stage was occupied by the
Past Grand Masters Council No. 4, the Odd Fell
lows choir and the speakers.
Past Grand Master Albert K. Manning called
the meeting to order, stating that they had assem-
bled to celebrate the twenty-ninth anniversary
OF their existence as an Order, and would be ad.
dressed by several promident members.
Before beginning the address the Rev. James
Thomas, Grand Chaplain, offered prayer. The
choir, composed Of eleven male voices under the
leadership of Past Noble Father Joseph Ambush,
then sang an opening song.
Mr.. Manning then introduced as the
FIRST SPEAKER,
Past Grand Master William Andrew Freeman
Mr. Freeman said the Order had reached a
p GIiOd in its history when they could look back
upon the past and be thankful to God for his
blessings. 1t was known that many entertained
an opinion that secret organic ltions opposed
10 Christ an ty. THis Wa7 al errJI rus ideI. Il
was unreasonable to suppose that these Orders,
which were founded upon
were sntagonistlc TO its teachings. He traced
back the origin of the Order to the EIeusinian
mysteries Of Athens, from which he said 1t was
supposed that their Order originated In 1898 the
essity of the existence Of such INSTITUTIONS had
become so apparent in Great Britain that It had
been made the object Of statutory protection. The
tsenth century, among the laboring classes Of
England. In 1913 the pioneers of their branch
had applied to the Independent Order Of New
York ier dispensation granting them charter,
and had been refused, but on applying to the
GRAND UNITED ORDER
of England they had gained admission. The first
lodge In the country had been the Philomsthoan
No. 40, OF New York, organized in 1913 In 1874
TO Alexandria, Va, and the District OF Columbia
The Union Friendship, No. SCI, had been the first
existed in the country south of the Mason and
Dixon line, having together membership of
about thirty. The foot prints of the Order could
be seen all along tie sands Of time.
He said that the future of the Order depended
upon the young men of the present. An Odd
Fellow was expected to be good husband and
felloW.mBn. He advised the members Of the or.
der to be encouraged by the success of the past
Much had teen accomplished, yet there was
gtsat Mork TO be performed. The tears Of
the cry Of distress would not be hushed. When
the Order should reach its highest point when 1t
alize what they so much desired, that at every
hreside and In every home their influence would
be felt, and that friendship love and truth would
MI. Freeman was followed by Past Noble
Father
J. W. CROMWELL,
OF Star of the West Lodge.
Mr.. Cromwell delivered an eloquent address in
which he gave some interesting figures Illus
trsting the growth Of the Order on this CONT
nent during the past few years; In 1855 the
2lOI; in 1869, 5,l64; in 1874, 12,77l In 1855 1877
brothers had been relieved BY the Order; in 1888.
orphans were relieved, and in 1874, 1Sg widows
and IS orphans. In 1855 q, 493.5O were paid 10
the sick; in 1859, s5,s4Ol9 and in 1874, SIS, o94
1869, and Is, se9.ss in 1874 The whole amo1nt
paid for charitable purposes in 1885 was SIS %
IN 1862 SO 81; in 1874 so 500 95 In 1855 the
country amounted to is73s; in $50 to sa1 t es
and in 1874 to 81 s0265. The total wealth OF the
Order in 1855 was ga 49, in $780, $50 76365 and
lodges
By HUNDREDS,
and their members by thousands The secret of
the pledges they had made In public had been
mainly kept. The world had looked upon the
Order as noble Institution, and had stood BY
exert beneficial influence. To their persecuted.
prescribed race, the Grand United Order had e rst
taught the necessity Of unity. The work should
be allowed to 90 on in the South and Southwest
and greater victories for love and truth be won
Every Odd Fellow hoped that no obstacles might
De placed In the way OF It's progress. The highest
Legislative branch Of the Order soon would be
assembled. He urged that the duty of all of them
was toward of any danger that might threaten
me orderi was 70 renew their obligations and
swear By the oath Of the Order that between
them and the Grand United Order nothing should
clip In but death itself
LATE ARRIVALS.
During Mr.. CromWelI's address the two lodges
from Lyhenourg, the o. b. S. Lodge I47S and
DsWning Star Lodge l4l4, entered The building.
Their arrival had been delayed BY an accident On
the road. va
The third speaker was
THcHAs h. WRIGHT PwP
Of Mt. Olive 1888. Mr.. Wright delivered an sIo
quent address, He said that among the yarioHs
Institutions Of the land none occupied more
prominent place or contributed more to the
relief Of humanity than the one whose TWENTY
ninth anniversary they were celebrating They
would have been untrue TO themselves not TO have
celebrated, and unlike other organIzations 10
nave let the day pass by unnoticed. In ali ages
OF the world 1t had been the custom to celebrate
important events, from the time Of the ancient
Jewish feasts and the triumphal professions of
proud Rome. So In America even now thew
coming manner ana msgniheence an event that
you'd make
- NATIONS PAUSE
70 ksEsin admiration. The speaker traced briefly
the history Of the Order. TheOrigin Of the ancient
S{oer mieht he said, be involved in ebscurity and
e2pRss Pat there was no such doubt existing In
yGoeni having Penetrated the mysteries Of the
Order A. LEEDS, had come forth, bringing char
1er ioI me nrst lodge in the country The light
o. Odd felloEsniR INST shone IN this civ twenty.