Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-12-25
Odd Fellows Dedication.

As stated last week tie formal dedication
OF the Odd Fellows new Hall in Lancaster
was an imposing affair." II was an event
worthy OF note 10 the history of Lancaster.
| The dedication proper wss, of course conduct
ed 10 the new hall Twas filled with chairs
as closely as they could be occupied and al
the hour OF P. NJ. the seats aud standing
room were all taken and many visitors could
not get in. The dedication was under th,
authority OF the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin,
represented by J. W 0strander, Past Grand
Master. acting VI W. G NJ He wa. duly
HerslIed, and admitted BY the Guardians
Mr. K L. H5sktn ofiicittei as Grand Chap
lain and Ii. Buchner as Grand Marshal
All the charges aud responses were clearly
enumerated aud well appreciated by visitors
Mr.. Alex Ivey was the Noble, Grand of Miss.
issppi Valley Lodge No SO. and J. J 0s.
valid the Noble Grand of Hoifnung Lodge
NJ. l72. To them the Grand Master deliver.
ell the keys concluded hi part of the Ger.
elnony in these words.
Brethren of Mississippi Valley Lodge Ma. SO
and Hoffaung Lodge No III, we nav again
deliver into your hands this beautiful Temple
YOU have elevated 10 our Order Joy be
within its walls and Peace constans guest !
Nav these walls never echo with the sound OF
an angry or unkiad word. May all the in
fla noes that flow hence be good aud for good,
now and forever AMEN.
The Grand Chaplain pronounced the bene-
diction and Mr. 0strander then stated that
it was his duty as indicated ia the book to
deliver an Grafton. Preliminary to this he
made very amusing Introductory remarks He
stood before the audience monument of the
benefeence of 0dd Fellowship. When a
child his father had sent him to school. The
school had fireplace where they kept warm
by carving long saplings and jerking the
butt end closer up as fast as il would be burnt
oil. The seats were made of slabs. There
were no desks. His father found he learned
noihing there and took him out of that sch Dol
and put him into another In the new school
he was educated to walk toe.path and drive
m lles drawing a canal boat A necessary
q ialiieatior TO secure diploma was profc,
iency in swearing aud chewing tobacco Such
was his education when he came west. mere
youth, and fell under the care of one of the
early State officers of Wisconsin. His name
was presented by that gentleman as cand
d,te for imitation to 0 Id Fellowship To his
surprise he was admitted That changed the
course his life, He was now going TO de,
liver the Grafton. Not hiving any education
he had gotten up one by borrowing largelv
from others. Between borrowing and what
was dictated by his wife there vas not
much of il was his own. In fact there was
none of it his own except the "Amen" and
that--Here the laughter and applause were so
loud that the speakers voice was completely
drowned. Bat he then delivered an later
esting and learned address and the amen
of it WAS a very beautiful sentiment.
After the al iress Mr David Schreiner read
a historical sketch of Mississippi Valley Lodge
and Mr. Anton Schmitt a sketch, in German.
of Hoffnung Lodge Col j. G Clark, to whom
the duty had been assigned, delivered his
toricll address on Old Fellowship in the
United States These productions should all
be in print and ifin time for next week We
can get a TRANSLATION Into Engi h Of Mr.
Schmtt's ske tch, we shall endeavor TO give
them IN the HERALD After these the "Cni
versal Brotherhood of Odd Fellows" was
toasted" and Mr.. J. p Smoker, of Iowa
county was called upon 10 respond. He did
il in good speech which he did not give his
wife the CT edit of getting up. for the impress.
sion from her seemed 10 be that he had bet
ter staid at home and minded his business
and let her ccme to see the good people OF
Lancaster, who she seemed TO think little
better than any other people in this world.
The intervals between these performances
were devoted to music. in which Mrs Mitchell
and daughter and Dr.. Kanonse, Mr.. Alex Ivey,
Mr.. Chs 0fton and Mr Blchner were vocal
lists and Mrs Chas. Orion organist. The ex.
ercises closed at half past ten.
The sumptuous supper at the old hall and
the dance at the Library II al were we'll sus-
tanned. The former was patronized by every
body aud the hoppers were crowded.