The daily gazette., 1883-05-22
INSTALLING OFFICERS.
THE SOCIAL ENTITIES OF
THE CRAFT.
CENTRBvILLE LODGES GUESTS.
Installation of Ohicers by the Grand Lodge
and the Past Grand Masters Association.
A Delightful Affair.

The installation of the officers of q subor-
dinate lodge of Odd Fellows is one of no un-
usual or extraordinary interest," and gener-
ally passes off in a matter-of-course sort of
way. But upon the occasion of the install
lation of the officers of CeDtreville Lodge,
No. 81, which, by the way, is the present
Grand Masters lodge, there was much hi
| larity and enjoyable festiVity. On last Sat
urday evening, between and 8 o'clock
| there might have been seen on all the roads
| leading into the village of Centreville nu-
merous vehicles of all descriptions, filed
with the votaries of the mystic tie driving
| thitherward to participate in the ceremo-
nies incident to the installation.
| At about quarter after eight O'Clock,
| when the lodge was called to order, there
appeared in the spacious hall not less than
one hundred and twenty-five Odd Fellows,
clad in their varied regalia and ready for
the work. Upon no similar occasion has a
| subordinate lodge been honored by repre-
sentatives of so many organizations as this.
| One-half OF the entire number of lodges in
| the jurisdiction of Delaware were present.
| Among them were Delaware, Jefferson, Me-
| chanics, Fairfax, Oriental, Brandywine,S Star
Of Bethel, Hope, Friendship, Asylum, Coz
lumbia, Eden, Eagle and Centreville
Lodges, and the Grand Lodge, by its off
GERS. The Past Grand Masters Association
was also present, by invitation, as the
special guest of Centreville Lodge.
The Grand Master, DR.. Joseph Fl. Chand-
ler, who by the way is one of the most affa-
BILE and popular officers the Grand Lodge
has ever bestowed distinction upon, CON
Quoted the ceremonies of installation. Hay-
ing concluded that part of the work, he
next formally introduced by name each
member OF the Past Grand Masters Associa-
tion, and by an ingenuously worded COM
pliment succeeded in eliciting from each
one a few remarks, all of which were well
received and appreciated. 1t is astonishing
| to see how talkative even the
| reticent can be when the restraints of criti-
cism are removed, and the influences of
| fraternal association have free play. The
can't make-a- speech members showed this
| fully by the garrulous manner in which
they entered into the spirit of the moment,
and delivered themselves of some fine
thoughts and well-timed suggestions. This
/ Is a prominent feature, however, of an Odd
Fellows Lodge, where the mind and not the
/ manner is the measure of a speakers
ability.
The lodge work closed shortly after 10
| O'Clock, and the company was invited into
the banqueting room adjoining, where a
| handsome collation. was in preparation
Upon entering the eye fell upon huge pile
OF cake, fairly buried in floral surroundings,
which upon inspection proved to be "The
compliments of the Grand Master to the
Past Grand Masters Association" In this
own modest way the Grand Master presented
the inviting object to the Association, and
by one of its members it was received in
few words of thanks. This part of the pro-
ceedings was honored by the presence of a
humber of ladies, whose fair hands and good
taste In preparing the collation. proved that
they were not strangers to the power and
| influence which the noble work of the Odd
| Fellows of Centreville was exciting In the
community.
Centreville Lodge is the youngest organi-
zation in the jurisdiction, having been in
stituted in 1875. Since then it has pro-
gIesscd with astonishing rapidity, and in
addition to a large and increasing member
ship, and an ample treasury, it is a heavy
stockholder in one of the finest halls to be
| found in the State. Its influence and stand
ing in the Order may be inferred from the
| fact that it succeeded in electing one
/ of its own members to the office of
| Grand Master at the election in
| October last, and in that success the
| order in Delaware feels proud to say that
| the Office has never been more worthily
| filled. DIR. Chandler is gentleman well
posted In the work, and diligent in the per-
| tormance of his responsible duties 1t has
| been mainly through his efforts that the
Lodge has attained the prominence and suc-
cess which it now enjoys, and If it does not
meet with vet further honors it will not be
from any lack OF zeal or interest In its be-
1 half on the part of DR.. Joseph II. Chandler.