Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-05-09
o. o. H.
ror the FaretterilIe Observer.

Tor the L ay eSCeFllIe ODbeffSF'
Brother WuILace-Permit me
TO give your readers a brief ac-
count Of the celebration of the
18th anniversary of American
Odd Fellowship by Surprise,
Kelso and Serene Lodges, which
took place at Georges Store on
the Goth inst. At 10 a. m. the
brotherhood assembled in the
hall of Serene Lodge. Past
Grand Rives of No. Isl was
called to the chair, the necessa-
Try preliminary arrangements
made, and at IL O'Clock the
Chief Marshal, Bro. John Pin
kerton, assisted by Bro. War
rcn, formed the procession an the
following order: Cumberland
Lodge of New Market, Ala, in
front, Kelso, Surprise and Sere-
no, and marched to the stand
where the Anniversary Como
mics were performed in the pres
enceof the audience, followed by
the reading of the Standard
Tract, issued by the Grand Lodge
of the United States, after which,
we were entertained for a time
by Grand Master Rice, Of Ala,
in a pointed and interesting
address, setting forth the OBJ
iects and aims Of the Order, its
claims upon the affections and
patronage of the masses, its Or
igin and rapid growth, its pros
poets in the near future; that The
prejudices against the Order ex-
listing in the minds Of many,
were unIounded, that it was not
the rival, did not seek to sup
plant other secret societies; but
was a cc-worker with and we'll
Wisher of all other Societies that
had for their aim the moral and
social elevation Of humankind
This closed the intellectual part
Of the feast. The other two
speakers, Bros. Crawford and
Bobo, failed to put in an APP
pearance, in consequence of the
recent storm. At the close of
the speaking, it was announced
that the tables would not be
ready for half an hour, which
gave US fine opportunity to
survey the crowd, and most
noticeable feature was the large
number Of aspirants to public
trust, more Familiarity known as
candidates, and the gusto with
which they grasped the horny
hands Of sturdy yeomanry of the
25th district. Luckily for good
order, that gallant old soldier,
defender of a Lost Cause, Capt.
Stiles, was made master Of the
table ceremonies, and announced
that all things were now ready,
requested the ladies to form in
double file in rear of the Order,
the gentlemen to bring up the
rear in the same manner, and the
line OF march began for the To.
BILE and feast of fat things. The
tables were just sufficient TO &C.
commodate the Order and ladies;
the gentlemen, at the request of
Capt. S, remaining Ell respect
ful distance, quietly looking on,
without the Intervention of guards.
a thing | never saw before, until
the tables were vacated, when
they were invited to approach
quietly, and right here, | must
say, that in oil my experience of
public dinners ] have never seen
50 orderly, well behaved crowd or
more quietly conducted affair.
The tables were beautifully
supplied with the substantials and
dellcacies of the land, and muny
fragments gathered after satisfy
ing the eight hundred 10 thou
sand persons present. One other
prominent feature / cannot fail
to mention, the total absence of
King Alcohol. There was not, 30
far as the writer's observation eX
tended, single intoxicated man
on the hill. And now, let me say
to all, if you want to be hospita-
bly, entertained, kindly treated,
and bountifully fed 60 to Georges
Store on public occasion. OF.
April 9th, 1878.
D0rCnV1n1 Nnfnr