The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-08-15
DEDICATION OF TIE ODD
FELLOWS TEMPLE.
ODD
An Interesting and Beautiful Cere-
mony.

Temple in this city was laid with ap- /
propriate ceremony, and as day by
day the stately structure grew beneath |
the hands of the builders the question
was "when will it be finished, and /
when dedicatedl" The supposition |
was that by the Goth of April, the
anniversary of the foundation of
the order, the hail would be dedicated;
but owing to the scarcity of material
and lack Of laborers the building was
not completed till the lst of June.
Delay occasioned by the non-arrival Of
furniture, carpets, etc, etc, also con
spired to put Of the day, Till finally, the
committee Of arrangements decided on
Tuesday, August l4th, as Dedication
Day. To Ilwaco on the Gen. Miles, at
seven yesterday morning, went a
party of picnickers, and at nine, an
other detachment; at half-past eleven,
Immediately upon the arrival of the
Wide Vest from Portland, went a
third party, and joining at Hwaco
those who went earlier in the day
had season of pleasant diversion,
returning at half-past five in the
afternoon.
Cards of invitation had been issued
to the number of several hundred for
the evening ceremony, and by eight
o'clock the hall was filled to its ut
most limit, and was the theme of
favorable comment from all present.
1t is the largest, and is said to be the
handsomest Odd Fellows Temple
west of the Rocky mountains, and in
the glow of gaslight last evening,
filed as it was with large audience of
ladies and gentlemen the scene was a
brilliant one. The general air is one
of impressiyeness; the extent Of the
room, the rich canopies, the lofty
ceiling and exquisite fittings combine
to form splendid setting for the
deeds of charity and beneyolence to
be enacted within its walls.
At twenty minutes past eight the
dedicatory ceremonies commenced by
the entrance Of the grand officers
deputized for the occasion, Immediately
after which an invocation was uttered
by Grand Chaplain Rev. Dr. Scott,
after which the lodge sang the OPEN
ing ode. Grand Marshal Jay Tuttle
then arose and inquiring of Grand
Master /. w. Case if it was his desire
that the hall be dedicated to the uses
and purposes of Odd Fellowship, and
being answered IN the affirmative, G.
Reed, president of the o. F. L. & Il.
association, delivered up his trust,
and the hall being formally accepted,
prayer was offered by the Grand
Chaplain.
The Astoria Musical Society, which
under the leadership of Prof. Cook,
has attained degree of proficiency
that reflects credit alike on the ability
of the class and the skill of its leader,
had kindly volunteered their services
for the occasion, and at this juncture
rendered with splendid effect the
chant "Softly Now" Scriptural read
ings and responses in accordance with
the ritual of the order followed, after
which the Astoria Musical Society
sang Nazareth" The grand master
then rose in his place, and in brief but
impressive language dedicated the hall
to the uses of Odd Fellowship. The
grand marshall then made due procla-
nation and directed that proper proc.
lamation be made by the Heralds.
As herald of the north, j. Q. a.
Bowlby dedicated the hall TO Friend
ship; as herald of the south, II. E.
Nelson dedicated the hall to Love;
the herald of the east dedicated it to
Truth; as herald of the south, A. j.
Megler dedicated it to Faith, Hope
and Charity, each herald in fitting
, words and symbols illustrating the
, foundation principles of the order
"Hail, Festal Day" was then sung
by the Astoria Musical Society, and
the dedication prayer was offered,
when the society intoned "Be Merci
full" followed by the closing address
Of the grand master. "Praise We tn,
Lord" was sung, and as the las
strains of the exquisite melody dice
away, G. c., E. C. Holden came for
ward and delivered an address whicl
|, though necessarily somewhat extern
pore, was characterized throughout b!
thought and feeling. At its clos
Miss Callie Munson came forward ant
: with few graceful words of presenta
ton on behalf of the daughter
d OF Rebekah, placed upon the altar 1
beautifully bound Bible, which wa
duly accepted in words of Thankful
:. testimony by the grand master. TIL
i closing ode was sthen sung by the lodge
) the benediction pronounced, and tn
y exercises closed. The organ used wa
8 kindly loaned by the NJ f. congrega
u tion. When the lodge has its me-
IL twelve hundred dollar organ, now o
the way from the east, il may be abl
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