Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-06-21
CELEBRATION.
Second Anniversary of Co.
hansey Lodge.

sey Lodge, No. 205, I. O. O. F., finished
up their private business and opened
their doors to that part of the public
who had in their possession a little
green ticket, which entitled them to
enjoy the festivities of the second ami.
versary of a prosperous Lodge of that
wonderful Order.
Theroom was brilliantly illuminated,
and by half.past eight an audience OF
not less than three hundred had gath
cred. After all had been seated by
courteous ushers in full regalia, Chap
| lain Jos T. White, who had charge of
the program, arose and announced
that the exercises would commence
with instrumental music; H. Frazier
Bell followed with words of welcome,
which were in a very humorous
vein, and brought peals of laughter
from the audience. The members
probably understood much better than
those outside some of the hits and
jokes he got off, and they showed
their appreciation by their applause.
He addressed the ladies and told them
how noble their husbands were be-
coming under the training of Odd
Fellowship.
Next came a vocal quartette by
Messrs. E. Wilson, Spence, Chambless
and G. Wilson. S. F. Gaskell then
recited ''Our Notices and Emblems, y
which. was a very pretty thing, and
Richard Yrenchard was announced to
give the history Of the Lodge. This
he accomplished in very short time,
not that there was so little to say, but
from the fact that his speech was SO
formed as to be both interesting and
to the point. In substance he said:
The organization of Cohansey Lodge
No. 2O5, l. O. O. F., was effected June
11th, 1886, and the institution was
brought about through the energies
of Joseph Powell and V. D. Fisher
At that time it was hardly deemed
expedient by many, to form a third
Lodge of Odd Fellows in this city, but
it had been proven through this orga-
nization thatthis was wrong, andtnot
only had Cohansey Lodge grown in
that time, but the other lodges had
also increased in membership. At
the organization of this Lodge, Grand
Master Hammell was present, with his
staff and officers of the Bridgeton and
Cum mberland Lodges, and from the
few who were initiated there had
grown to be now 153 members in this
lodge.
S. H. Gaskill again recited, this time
his selection being, ''He never would
be missed" Elephalet Wilson fol-
lowed in couple of humorous songs,
and it was then announced that can
didate was to be initiated.
The door of an ante room was opened
and in marched, to the time of slow
music, a band of weird looking lodge
men, headed by ''The Human Terrier
dressed in bright red and carrying a
sword The officers, attired in gloomy
black, assumed their chairs and the
candidate was sent for. He was a
modest youth and wore cap. AS he
entered the room and caught look at
one, his knees smote together and he
was sore afraid. But nervously he
faced an officer who propounded to
| him a number of questions, all OF which
he answered satisfactorily, and he was
moved away to the next where he was
given good advice. which he meekly
received, and in few minutes he was
standing before an ugly looking man
who read poetry from a big book, with
skull and cross bones upon it. One
verse ran like this: Through pleas
ures and palaces though [ may roam,
be it ever so humble, It's better than
home" After listening to this poetry
and service, thus showing his con
stitution to be good, he was taken to
! the man of High Degree, and after
some terrible words of warning, he
was handed over to the tender mercies
of the Human Terrier A tripod OF
joists were arranged. and dangling
from the top hung a chain. The vic
tim was placed under it and the chain
attached to moose about his neck
The chair upon which he stood was
drawn out from under him, and he fell
in space with a dull, sickening thud
Quickly he was carried ont and exam-
ined and found to still live. Again he
was brought in, and branded with a
red hot poker upon the back. Then
the secrets of the order were imported
into his ear, and the gentle grip of the
order given and he was pronounced
brother.
Following this delightful bit of non
sense came bananas and apples, and
during the remainder of the evening
those present, (and there were repre-.
sentatives from all surrounding lodges
of Odd Fellows, enjoyed themselves
socially, and it was after eleven O'Clock
before the last Odd Fellow had passed
the thrpShn16N Of