Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-18


came as the pioneer organization to
cross this great American continent.
There are no lazy men in our midst. We
are composed of the very bone and
sinew of the land which we inherit, and
that we may call the whole world for We
are found everywhere. The men that
compose the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows are the business men of the
country, for among us you find no aristo-
Gratis, and but mighty few millionaires.
AS l said, we crossed this continent,
and We were met at Omaha
by a committee of Odd Fellows
who came on q special train ct
their own expense, one of the noblest
acts that think any order ever did. NY
second trip is now, when, in company
with General Underwood, visit this
beautiful city of Los Aangeles and find
country worthy for occupation by the
gods. have spoken of the way Cali
fornia is made up-of people from almost
every clime-and we who have crossed
the continent have, in nearly every in
stance, found in this city people who
have come from the surroundings of our
Eastern homes. cannot but
feel that I owe debt Of graf
itude for the magnificent way in
"nlCu yOu Lave lIcdtcQ uUG Ouly yrcll,
but every member of the order of Odd
Fellows. There are doubtless a good
many here who do not belong to the In
dependent Order of Odd Fellows and
should like to say to you few words as
to the magnitude and importance of that
order. You know that there are more
Odd Fellows in the world than any other
organization, even the Masonic order num-
bers 100, 900 less than that of our ranks.
The Order numbers in the United States
and Canada over $50 900 men, and they
are all grown men and citizens of the
several States and countries in which
they reside. Just think for a moment
what a power these $4,000 men must
WELD in this country of ours, for allow
ing the usual average of five to man we
have about two and one half millions of
persons associated with the organization.
Then we have $4,000 of Ewes fairest
daughters in our Order of Rebekah, and
though it is what we cali side-degree
| it possesses great importance. l will not
detain you longer. l will say that the
Sovereign Grand Lodge now in your
midst is a thoroughly representative
gathering, and you can see that they
must be men of some prominence and
standing in the nation. If you 60 on and
increase in prosperity in the future as in
the past you will be able to say that you
not only outnumber any other jurisdic-
ton, but that you double them. The
order of Odd Fellows was never more
prosperous than # is at present, for last
year we showed net increase of 25, 600
men. In conclusion l will say that we
| appreciate the generous manner in which
you have taken us in your midst, and to
| q hot w hov uvo forfh will
be with regrets that We could not longer
tarry in your midst"
Mr.. Whites address was listened to
with marked attention and won frequent
applause from his auditors. At its con-
clusion the ceremony of conferring the
grand decoration of chivalry was COM
menced.
THE ORDER OF CHIvALRY.
This proved to be very interesting
proceeding. The Marion Canton of In
diana formed line in the center of the
room and then the various Cantons and
Patriarchs Militant marched in and took
up positions, the design being perfect
panied by his staff, formed the
head of the anchor and then there
appeared from the side of the
stage four ladies attired in the white
dresses and black capes worn by those
who act as sponsors, when the decora
ton is conferred. They were Miss Dora
Fyke, Miss Jennie Adams, Mrs. Bard
and Mrs. St. Clair, and with them was q
little girl named Miss Hattie Marten who
was delegated to pin on the decoration.
A white cloth was spread on the ground
in front of General Underwood and then
an order resouuded and then the Cheva-
liers of the Canton forming the line re-
moved their chapeaux and sank on one
knee. The four ladies who were to be
honored with the cross then appeared,
their names being Mrs. General Albin,
Mrs. General Francis E.. Merri-
man, Mrs. VIM. Ryan and
Mrs. Colonel E. M. Sloan. They
knelt on the cloth while General
Underwood administered the ritual, and
then the cross was pinned on their breasts
and they were declared duly invested
with the Order of Chivalry. They re-
tired, and then a number of officers and
Chevaliers were summoned, and under
went similar proceedings, the only diff
ference being that the Canton forming
the lane crossed their swords overhead
instead of kneeling, as before. Quite a
large number received the decoration,
| duu tIc tlLuo COuSuLQ6u DTOuRut tQo uOUk
to nearly IL. In addition to the ladies'
mentioned, the following is q complete
list of those receiving the decoration:
Truman Smith, New Hampshire; w. H.
Frazier, Washington, D. c.; Major w.
L. Whepley, Arizona; Major Henry G.
Hedges, Ohio; General E. X. Russell,
Oakland; Colonel E. nj. Sloan, st. Louis;
F. B. Bryant, Omaha; Lieutenant Colo.
mel James B. Blanks, Petersburg, Va;
Captain d. P. Selley, Vermont; Alex.
Rogers, Salt Lake; j. T. Hedrich Cap
tain w. c. Pinkham, Butte City d. A.
Bircher, Bridgewater, Va. Lieutenant
Colonel Stephen Terry, Hartford, Conn.
Robert w. Taber, New Bedford, Macs. |;
Arthur Gibson. Fremont, Neb.; VIM.
Mccall, New Westminster, B. c.; Colo
mel T. A. Robinson, Sioux Falls, d. T.
Colonel L. l.. Alexander, Oakland; J. q.
Aydelott, Tallahome, Tenn. Thomas G.
Watson; Edwin Hirst; General Francis
f. Merriman, Boston; General John H.
Albin, Concord, N. H.; General o. A.
James, Hillsdale, Mich. Lieutenant
Colonel F. T. Merrill, Portland, Me. |;
Lieutenant Colonel G. K. Gait, Los An
geles; Major E. l.. Stern, Los Angeles; /;
Colonel Eugene German, Los Angeles;
q. F. Pickett; Oliver Dufour, Washing
: ton, D. G.
AN EXHIBITION DRILL