The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-05-10
Minneapolis, April Is, 1885


Yours, etc. W. NJ. II.
Minneapolis. April Is, 1888.
The 69th anniversary of the founding of the
independent Order of Odd Fellows in America
was celebrated by the local members of the or
der to-day, assisted by large delegation of
brethren from Eau Claire. The opening num-
Der on the programme of exercises was a
grand parade. which brought out about 800 of
the order i'll full regalia or uniform and made
very pretty street exhibition. The order of
march was taken up at } =. NJ, from the corn
CT of Nicollet and 3l street. Geo. H. Thomas
acted as grand marshal and he was assisted by
G. W. Flanders. W. &. Nye. J. b. Mueller
and +. b. Clark. Robert Stratton acted as
master of ceremonies. The parade was head
eel by detachment of the mounted police.
commanded by Sergt. Coffin. and a platoon of
patromen commanded by Lieut. Nelson. Mil
lard \ Thyle's band furnished the music The
various lodges and encampments were very
line IN appearance and a great deal of cheering
greeted the parade all along the line Of march.
The march extended up Nicoet to 10th St.
thence to ID Avenue and back by way of It'll
81. to llennepin. following down Iiennepin to
Washington and thence by way of Ntcollet Az.
and Bridge Square to the Peoples Theatre.
where the public exercises We're held.
The spacious theater was filled to its capac
lty with the Odd Fellows and their ladies and
friends. At O'Clock. when all were seated.
Rev. Robert Forbes offered the opening pray
er. and all joined in singing the grand hymn
Nearer My God to Thee Robert Stratton.
grand representative, then made an address
touching the sovereign grand lodge. in the
course Of which he reviewed the noble work
OF the order and paid eloquent tributes to it
and its accomplishments. lie was followed
by Grand Master }. G. Cockburn, with an aG-
dress based upon the grand lodge. Past Grand
A. II. llcmiup, spoke on Subordinate Bodies
and Sister IL. ii. Johns, said some pleasant
things of the Daughter of Rebekah's. Bro. I.
j. fearre read an original poem dedicated to
the order and the band inter>per>ed all the
numbers with delightful music.
This evening a grand ball and banquet will
be given at the Nicole.
odd Fellowship in Minneapolis began on the
evening of Feb. T.. 1886. when North Star
Lodge. No. &. was instituted in the hall of the
old building that was torn down to make way
for the present st. James hotel. The first
officers Were: Noble grand. George W. Chow
en-; vice grand, Charles EIoag; secretary, Isaac
}. Lewis; treasurer. H. b. Wright. OF the old
members +. b. Clark is the only one now in
the lodge. The next lodge instituted was Rob
rrt Blum. No. u. in lSG>. st. Anthony, No.
10. was the next. in 1873. Fraternity, No. g.
followed. in 1871. The ordec now has in Min
neapoli> 10 lodges. four encampment>, six Re
bckah lodges and three companies of PatriarchS
Militant with membership of over 1000. The
names of the lodges are North Star No g. Rob-
Blum No. n, st. Anthony No. 40. Fraternity
No. 80. Rdgely No. 81, Anchor No. S. High
land No. 80. Flour City No. is. Nicolet No.
100, Northern Light No. l21. The cncamp-
men> are >chettcr No. }. L Mon No. II. Ridge
ly No. -. and Minneapolis No. 81. The Re
hehah lodges are Myrtle No. Il, Mnnehaha No.
Is. Martha No. -. Inc No. -. lioag No. =.
There j. al,oa general relief committee through
which the order carries on its benevolent work
and under whose auspices the parade and 9TH
En- exercises to-day are Gotten up. Its members