Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-12-27
SELECT kNIGHTS-A. @. u. W.
Grand Parade-Banquet, Speech and
Ball.-4 Gala Day for the Order.
Enjoyable TO all.

OF any KIND meet with us. Our en-
terprising n%ei"hhor. Moherly. always
gets to the front on occasions OF this
klhd. We are forced 10 the coGclu-
sion that it Is our " fault.
The meeting Of the neighboring
legions of 5. X. of A. O L. W at
Mexico last Thursday was, to Il GER
tain extent, a perfect The
programme was carried out just as
advertised and every feature of it
was entertaining and all went off
smoothly. The attendance was not
quite as large as expected, and there
was little or no interest taken in the
affair by home people-some of the
members of the order even remained
away.
This order is only about seven
years old in Mexico, and is one of
the strongest and best we know of.
The members are not only numerous
but among them are our best men,
young and old. We are glad to see
it in such a f%ourishing condition.
On this gala day delegations from
all the neighboring towns were pres
emit; and especially did C~entralia do
her duty, bringing a large number.
headed ny the Centralia brass band.
Centralia always gets to the front.
The parade came off in good shape.
The Mexico and Centralia bands fur
nishing the music The officers of
the day were-W. H. KEENAN,, field
marshal; HI. d. Hunter, select COM
mander; j. w. Plunkett, marshal.
After the parade, the following
neat speech of welcome was delivered
at the Opera House: by Virgil Will
liams, and was we'll received /:
Select Commander, Brothers of the Ancient
Order Of United Uorkmen, and Comrades
Of the Legions:
In behalf of Audrain Lodge, No. 25, A.
o. L. w, and Mexico Legion, No. SO, it
is my pleasure and honor to express to
you upon this occasion, our heartfelt
thanks for YOU presence, and to assure
you that we are highly sensible of the
honor you do us in meeting with us this
evening. You come from sister cities
from every point of the composition
the turbulent Missouri on the west to the
majestic Mississippi on the east; from
our state capitol on the south to that land
flowing with milk and honey on the north
dick Creek which is known and recog-
niZed all over Missouri as Gods country
for the productiyeness of its soil and
hospitality of its people. You represent
every branch of industry and personate
every profession which enobles and beau
titles humanity, and though varied and
dissimilar as your vacations may be, your
hearts and ours beat in unison upon on
common achievement and aim at one
common end. To advance that cause anG
promote those interests is the prime o
ject of our organization and the moving
motive that calls us together this even.
ing. Harmony pelvades our ranks an6
brotherly love binds US together and s
common interest cementS Onr actions to-
, gether for the good of all. Nc e%ntanglins
alliance or diScordant element mars oul
happiness orimpedes our progress; enyiet
by ephemeral contemporaries and hOnoret
by older organizations; loved by those
around whose stricken hearthstoneS thu
widowed wife and orphan children of
deceased brother meet to bid us Goo
speed and to enjoy the benefits of an ordel
as freely given and impartially distributed
as the mana from heaven. We meet then
) as the living representatives of the better
part of ourselves, and with them to EMO,
the sweet intercourse of social life, ant
through o represent the agricultural
mechanical, commercial and professions
> interests of Northeast Missouri, and eacl
of US are rivals as cities o. individuals TO
supremacy in u varied calllngs
: Yet tonight We lay aside the individual
interests of trade and consecrate the hou
: to special enjoyment. We meet to eat
drink and be ~merry-not to revel in tn
b~achinalian excess ola BelShaZzar's court
: but to extend the lines of social inter
course and cultivate fraternal feelin:
with this as the prime object of our meet
ing. Comrades ard brethren, we CIV
:. you q hearty welcome, one and all, to tn
city Of Mexico, and while you may not b
received in that courtly splendor whic
characterized the halls of the old Monte
LulldS VI Sidttltucu III ait u III
e Plumed Knights of the days of chiyalry
yet we will receive you with open hand
and warm hearts, and shall do all in GU
power to make your visit one to whic
your memory will revert with pride an
pleasure. We welcome you as citizens c
the great commonwealth of Missouri; W
welcome you as the protectors of all tha
is nearest and dearest to us-our familie
defenders of their virtue and trustee
' of a legacy to be bequeathed by you gen
erosity and guarded by your honor. Wit
such feelings, brethren, Mexico LOdg
takes you by the hand and bids you sue
a welcome as Burns, the laureate poet {
Scotland, expresses when he says:
When Deaths DARK stream you terry DER,
A time that surely will come,
70 In heaven Itself you'll ask no more
Than just a Fl ehland welcome.
y Then came the supper at the Cen
tral-Ringo. and we must say it wa
9 one of the best we ever helped pu
out of sight. There was plenty G
everything-everything was good
co everything was well cooked-every
elr thing was quickly served. The table
ar had been decorated with flowers an
plants, under the supervision of l
70 d. Shippee, the florist. Every tab
IS was elegantly arranged, the flower
or and plants lending a bewildering a
pect that was pleasant and enchan
no ing. No one knows better tina
tn Shippee how to do such things RICH
DO During the banquet sweet strains {
music hoated through the supp'
halls, and the most fastidious couI
:, have thought of nothing that wouI
= add to the surroundings. After SUI
per John A. Brooks delivered
sound speech on the object of Il
's order. Like all his speeches, it W
T. pointed and to the purpose.
81 Last but not least, CAME the ba
which was largely attended, al
it pro red one of the most enjoyah
re- features of the day. The s. X.
nd Tho A n IT W's are tn he c1nprat