Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-30

count was ordered pdlu.
A resolution offered by Past Grand
Master +. A. Peck to pay the Janitor
| $40, was passed.
Reports OF different committees were
received and adopted.
Nine bound copies of reports OF the
| L. :. Grand Lodge, from its beginning
! to the present, were presented by L. Ii.
| NJ. Miller to the Grand Lodge. \ rising
| vote of thanks was rendered him.
Adjourned until $ O'Clock to attend
banquet.
THE BANQUET.
Last night was given up by the visit
ing Odd Fellows, to accepting and en-
joying the hospitality 50 kindly extend
ed by Wildey Lodge No. >, Daughters
of Rebekah, |. O. .. f., at Washington
Hall. There the Odd Fellows andtheir
friends repaired early in the evening,
and, without unnecessary ceremony,
seated themselves at the large tables so
bounteously laden with all that is
tempting and appetizing. After all
were satisfied, an address OF welcome
was made and responded to by Grand
Master Fleming Past Grand Master
Ellifritz then offered, as a toast, The
Grand Lodge OF w. Va to which
Deputy Grand Master Hoke responded
as follows:
Nix. PREsIDENT:-It is Il difficult task
10 respond to the sentiment Just offered.
However, the Grand Lodge OF West
Virginia, composed of the representa-
tives and Past Grands OF subordinate
Lodges, and representing nearly 1000
members, would be ungrateiul and I'M
kind did it not sieze upon this occasion
to express in few words its high APP
probation OF the hospitality extended
to its members by the brotherhood OF
Wheeling, and especially if il did not
acknowledge this tasteful and delicate
tribute paid them by the Daughters OF
Rebekah in this very pleasant and
agreeable, and | might add, palatablc
entertainment. This manifestation OF
their kindness we take not 10 ourselves
individually or personally, but accept
il rather rs a token of their high regard
and esteem for the noble principles OF
our excellent order, which only Odd
Fellows can fully appreciate or properly
understand. Mr.. President, | have not
the time or liberty to state all
that the Grand Lodge Of West Virginia
is. 1t is not a Methodist Conference,
PRESBYTERIAN Assembly, or II Baptist
Association, though many OF its best
members belong to these excellent
denominations, nor is it political con-
vention or town caucus. Odd Fellow
ship is not political institution, and
vet il is both Republican and Demo-
cratic IN its character. It's Republican
in the representative features OF its gov
eminent and Democratic in its Oblitera-
ton Of classes and equality OF MEM
bership. This Democratic feature, this
obliteration of all classes and equality
among all members, is the browning
glory of Odd Fellowship.
Here the "pine knot and COOnskin"
lodges OF the mountains meet on the
same great plane of fraternal equality
with the palatial halls of your wealthy
city. The same latch holds the door
OF every lodge room, whether IT be
raised by silver knob or a leather
string. This great law Of equality almost
suggests the idea that the term "Odd
Fellows" is misnomer, and that in
Even Fellows. But after all, Mr.. Presi-
dent, there is 4 great difference and in
equality among the members OF this
lodge. They differ on more points than
they agree. No two are OF the same
height, weight or equally handsome.
And there is still greater difference in
this Grand Lodge. 1t is divided into
Even Fellows and Odd Fellows. The
Even Fellows are those who have
taken to themselves better-halves.
They are like GOldsmith'S Vicar
of Wakefield; OF the opinion
that he who marries and brings up a
large family does more service than he
who remains single and only talks Of
population. The other class is COM
posed of the oldest kind of Odd Fellows
They are like one blade OF a pair OF
shears, or one leg of pair Of tongs.
They selfshly take life like their oysters
on the half she'll For the benefit OF
these eccentric Odd Fellows the degree
of Rebekah was added to Odd Fellow
ship. And vet, Mr.. President, am sor-
nv to say that it has had no perceptible
beneficial effect. There sits Rebekah
bv the well in all her Queenly beauty
and loneliness, but they will not 20
near the well. 1t IS not total abstinence
that keeps these old bachelors away
from the well-they are afraid OF it.
Afraid they will get hit over the head
by the well-sweep or the windlass, or
that the curb will give way and they
will fall in and drown. But we still
have hopes OF retaining them, that this
degree will have this very happy effect
upon them by putting them on higher
and better plane OF lie.
Addresses were then made by Grand
Secretary Steele and Past Grand Master
GoodfelOw, after which the evening was
given over to dancing. The floor was
cleared and Il flourish from Niewig's
orchestra brought the Terpsichoreans to
their feet and kept them there until a
late hour this m orning.
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