Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-25
A GRAND CELEBRATION
By Members Of the Ancient Order Of Uni
ted WOrkmen.
Gardiner Coliseum Packed Full Speech
es, Music and Good Cheer

Gardiner Coliseum Packed Full Speech
es, Music and Good Cheer.
Despite the rain. snow, slush and mu
which reigned predominant yesterday, tn
work of the me mbers of Dirigo Lodge, An
cieut Order, and the members of the severs
ladies' committees went steadily forward al
day yesterday, just as though the sun ha
shined and the air had been balmy. The ia
oles were attrsctively spread for about sew
en- hundred and fifty, in the big Coliseum
and most abundantly loaded down with al
kinds of substantial and fancy visnds. TIL,
grand officers of the New England jurisdic
ton arrived at o'clock p. M, and durin,
the afternoon members from neighborin.
lodges began to reach the city.
The special train from Waterville brough
fortyfive from that city, one hundred ant
seventy-tve from Augusta and thirty-fiv,
from Hallowell. Delegations were ais,
present from Skowhegan, Oakland, Vassal
boro, Fairfield, Mt. Vernon, Readfeld
South China and Whitefeld. AT 6.3(
O'Clock reception in honor of the gran,
officers was held at the residence of Bro. G
L. Steward the recorder of Dirigo Lodge
and the first man initiated into the order il
the State of Maine. Among the gentlemen
invited TO meet the grand officers at Brother
Stewards were several members of lodge,
in this city and Augusta, including Master
Workman l.. ii. Dudley, +. w. Ellis, S. L.
Boardman and Lewis Selbing, Augusta; +
S. Bigelow, Skowhegan; Sumner Smiley
and several others of DIrigo Lodge. Thi.
I h..
ileged to share it. Had the evening been
pleasant much larger number would have
been present.
The work of the arrangements for the Gel
ebration has largely devolved upon the gen
eral committee consisting of G. L. Steward
A. f. Andrews, S. Z. johnson, James Walk
er, Wallace Tarbox, j. c. Morrison and
Oscar McCausland. While the member,
have all worked well it is but just to say
that to Messrs. Stewart and Andrews the
credit of the perfectly made arrangements,
SO well carried out, is largely due.
! The committee of ladies who had charge
of the hall and its arrangement consisted OF
Mrs. j. G.. Lander chairman, Mrs. Gustavus
Moore, Mrs. Ben. Smith, Mrs. A. L. An
drews, Mrs. ii. l.. wilkins, Mrs. A. j.
Packard, Mrs. j. c. Morrison, Mrs. Artemas
Jewell, Mrs. Ed. Burr, Mrs. George Bowie,
Mrs. S. X. Weymouth, Mrs. VIM. Dill, Mrs.
L. c. Dill, Mrs. A. X. Z. Jewell, Mrs. l..
Leman, Mrs. Charles Boyington, Mrs. Ed
ward Lewis, Mrs. A. NJ. Spear and Mrs
George Morrill,.
The committee of young ladies who acted
as walters at the banquet consisted of Misses
Mary Smiley, Mabel Moore, Blanche Law
renee, Mary Lawrence, Edith Landers, Bes-
sic Landers, Lizzie Smith, Lena Smith, Ger
tie Morrill,. Inez Wakefield, Leila iarring-
ton, Lille Jordan, Hattie Marr, Linnie Doug
lass, Myra Haines, Cora Haines, Sada jew
EFT, Caddie Jewett, Flossie Boyington, Alice
Clark, Lena Jewett, Alice Blanchard, Jennie
Weymouth, Matte Morrison, Annie Booker,
and Mrs. Cora Merrill.
Plates were laid for 750 and every spot
was occupied. The galleries were filled with
spectators, and the Augusta and Gardiner
bands occupied positions near the stage.
The Speeches.
After a few moments recess at the close of
| the banquet, the Toast Master, OBJ. Clason,
| Esq. called the audience to order and said:
We have met here tonight to celebrate the
twentieth anniversary of the organization of
the Ancient Order of United Workmen Its
history and its rapid growth will be related
to you in detail by speakers who are to
follow. 1t is fitting that the anniversary of
an order with history of twenty years with
membership scattering all over the United
States and which counts its members in our
State by thousands, should be appropriately
observed. Our coming together tonight, as
brothers, representing several lodges in diff
ferent sections of our State, augurs much
for the future. 1t displays the fraternal fel
low ship and love that exists among us, and
proves that the principles of the order are
securely founded in the hearts and affections
of its members. While we are benevolent
order, we are a fraternal order; while oui
object is to protect our homes, and if mis-
fortune overtakes us, that those dependen
upon us may be properly provided for; YET
the fraternal ties that bind us together are
strong and insperable. 1t is not idle curiosity
that calls SO many of our brothers here to
night, but love for the order and the noble
principles upon which it is founded. We
have seen its practical workings again and
again, and it has never been found wanting
The rapid growth of the order among tn,
young men, among the business men of Oul
State proves more conclusively than word
can show that the order is based upon bust
ness principles, and has come to stay.
enables the young man just starting out il
life to make provisions for the contingen
cies of the future; it enables the middl,
aged man to add to the mite he has accumu
lated, and to provide for the increasing de
mands and necessities of his family; in fac
it fills an indispensable place in every house
hold, one that can not with safety be neg
lected.
We are glad to see several of our gram
officers present this evening. Your zeal TO
the order is shown from the fact that man
of you have come from out of the State t
ttend our anniversary and participate in tn
exercises. Your words of cheer, and you
advice and counsel will be cherished an
appreciated by us all. In behalf of Dirig
lodge and our visiting brothers present
thank you for your presence.
Our visiting brothers and friends we ar
rejoiced to meet. 1t is pleasant for Dirig
Lodge to feel that its efforts to observe on
anniversary are appreciated. We hope yo
all will be repaid for your pains, and wi
depart feeling that it was good for US to b
; here.
After the opening remarks of Mr.. Clasor
, that gentleman proposed as the first toss
"Dirigo Lodge No. l." which was responde
to by Bro. f. E. Lewis. who made yer
happy and felicitous speech, full of goo
points and witty remarks that were highl
appreciated Dy tne large assembly. n III
; history of Dirigo Lodge No. was presente
in which statistics of each year were giver
The lodge was organized March 10, 1877!
. with twenty charter members, and it no
numbers 2l0 members. The total amour
; of assessments from the first has been SIS
! 022 the average amount of assessments pal
per month has been Sl3l.7s. The rate of a,
sessment has been three-fourths of one pc
} cent. on the amount insured. -Four member
only have died since the lodge was organized
The lodge has now 81 $50 to its credit in
bank account. Mr.. Lewis closed with tn
sentiment, "Dirigo Lodge, No. |, in every
thing"
! In the absence of Mayor Berry, Mr.. Wn
J. Landers, city auditor, responded in beha
of the CITY of Gardiner the second toas
and welcomed the members of the order
( the city of Gardiner in most appropriate
D well worded, and truly eloquent and mode
: address, in which he eulogized the order an
its noble work. He congratulated the ordt
5 on its success, and hoped for it much {
: greater success and prosperity in the futur'
a We are proud of our city, of its busy mani
factories, its Eoble institutions, its good cit
zens and their benevolence, sociability an
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