Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-04-28
ODD FELLOWS EXCURSION.
Celebration of the FIuy-.ixth Ami.
versRry of the order.
Excursion to SweptWRter-Speech
on the Occasion. Etc, Etc.

Monday morning the "probabili-
ties" indicated anything but auspi-
cious weather, yet, nevertheless, the
members Of the Order were not made
of the sort of material to be frightened
by lowering clouds or leaden skies,
but trusting to the "silver lining"
albeit unseen, promptly assembled at
the Lodge room on Gay street, where
the procession was formed under the
direction of Chief Marshal +. B
Maun aud his assistants, Messrs. Me-
Atfrey and Corminy, comprising the
membership OF East Tennessee Lodge,
No. 81, Knoxville Lodge, No. 13S, and
Golden Rule, No. III, and Knoxville
Encampment, No. II aud to the notes
of the fife and drum marched down
Gay street to
THE DEPOT,
Where the fiuest train ever furnished
to a Knoxville excursion party was in
readiness, to convey them To- their des-
tination. The coaches were the best
on the road, four in number, two of
which had just left the shops, aud
were used then for the first time, and
as the gay party took their seals on
the luxurious cushions, while their
eyes were delighted with the rich gild~
ing and elegant finish Of the interior,
for which consideration and regard for
their comfort many encomiums were
lavished upon the railroad officials ia
general, and Mr.. j b. HoXsie, the
efficient and accommodating Master Of
Transportation, in particular.
OFF FOR swEETwATER
Shortly after the cry of all aboard. ="
| from that most genial of conductors,
/ Capt. Isham Newman, was heard, fol
lowed by the tinkle of the bell the
! great engine shrieked, the wheels re-
/ volved, and We were off for Sweetwater
under full head OF steam #. Ct
Among the party were large mum
| ber of ladies anu children, whose
! bright smiles and holiday attire more
than counteracted the absence of even
old Soils beams. This number was
constantly augmented by others from
the different stations along the road.
! AT Loudon the brethren were rein
forced by delegation from the Lodge
at that place, accompanied by "A CON
siderable sprinkle of citizens. ..
The train sped noisily on until reach
ing Sweetwater Creek, mile or so
west of Philadelphia, when it was
stopped short time in order TO
afford the passengers an opportunity
of witnessing the scene of the
death of Holloway, the brave en-
gineer, whose engine went through
the treacherous trestle, the wreck nf
which is still rusting beneath the
arches that now span the stream.
But not tarrying long at spot filled
with such saddening associations, the
passengers got aboard again, and in a
few moments the spires of churches
pointing heavenward, and rows of
business houses, announced the pres
ence OF Sweetwater, one of the most
thriving villages in East Tennessee,
THE WELCOME.
In order to show their appreciation
of the visit of the great brotherhood
and their town, a meeting of the Citi-
zens of Sweetwater was held and n
committee of recep.ion-comp of
Messrs. M. X. Benson. Il. l.. Galloway,
j. p. Y. Brown, +. A. Ramsay,
and j. II. Patton-appointed TO
welcome the eXcursionists TO
I bhOSt arc .Wllll
these gentlemen, the mention of
their names is sufficient guarantee
of the manner in which that duty was
performed Especially active in pro-
noting the pleasure and comfort OF
the visitors, were Messrs. Benson
! and Galloway, who though not mem
bers of the Order yet showed an apti.
tude for many of its teachings, in en-
tertaining the strangers within theiI
gates,n inducing the belief that when
they do become connected with the
mystic brethren they will reflect honor
alike on themselves and the fraternity
At the depot a dele9 9ation from Cleve,
land Lodge, and the COTnet Band from
that place We're waiting to greet them
and those on board the train debark-
ing a united procession Of all Odd Eel
lows present was formed and led by
the band, to the inspiring notes ol
martial music, the column proceeded
to the Monroe Hotel, in front of which
it wiz n,lred, when the eXcursionists
were rnal!y welcomed by Prof. u
II. Ruu y, in happy speech, in
which he paid Il well mcriIed tribute
10 the Order whose anniversary they
had met to celebrate, concluding with
a complimentary allusion to the ladies
whose presence added 50 much to the
pleasure of the occasion.
w. p. Washburne, ESD, responded
on behalf OF the Order, expressive OF
appreciation of the kind wishes of the
citizens of Sweetwater the hopitality
of whose town and valley he rs well
as many of those present had Otter
tasted before. Their visitors had come
ON the present occasion not to be en-
tertained as individuals, but as repre-,
sentatives of an Order whose missioI
was one of benevOlence and which
lsupplied a vacancy not filed by even
the Christian Church. .. ~
After music by the band the process
sion was again formed and marchel
through the principal streets, bordereC
on either side by many neat and ever
elegant private residences with hand
some yards in front, tastefully adorned
with flowers and shrubbery, 10 the
BAPTIST CHURCH,
= commodious building, which haC
been secured as the place fer holdinl
the exercises. Arriving at the ehurcf
door the ranks opened in the manne
s..e L