The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-09-14
AN ODD FELLOWS, EVENT.

SN ODD TGELOWo ENCNis
Coming Demonstrations over tho Meeting
of the Sovereign Grand Lodge In ohio--A
Parade OF 10000 Fraternity Men Ex-
pcctcd--Rcceptions and Drills.
During the week commencing September
10 the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd
Fellows, composed of representatives from
all parts of the world, representing the
supreme legislative and executive powers
of the order will hold its annual session in
Columbus. That occasion will bring together
an immense crowd of people from all parts
OF the United States and Canada to witness
one of the largest and most imposing pa
rades ever seen In the country.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is
the largest secret society organization in
existence, numbering more than /, 3OO,OUO
members, scattered throughout every CIVIL
ilized nation in the world. In the United
States and Canada there are more than
100000, of whom there are in Ohio "a, 600; in
Pennsylvania, 9S,000;.in Indiana, $4,000; in
Michigan, 10000; in Illinois, $4,000; in Ken
lucky, 13,000 and in West Virginia, 5000
The September session will be the first
meeting of the Sovereign Grand Lodge ever
held in Ohio, and the Odd Fellows OF the
Buckeye State are making great efforts to
exceed all former displays. The Grand
Lodge of Ohio has appropriated the sum of
s., 600 toward the entertainment of the Sow
ereign Body, and the Odd Fellows of Co
umbus have raised $4,000 to be given
away in prizes, while the Columbus Board
of Trade and citizens have given $4,000 to-
ward defraying the expenses incident to the
occasion. Great preparations are being
made by the members of the order in the
Central States and especially those of Ohio,
f,,,.,, x,,t fn
distinguished representatives from this and
many foreign countries.
To assist in the reception and lend eclat
to the occasion, the Second Army Corps OF
the Patriarchs Militant (the military branch
of the order) has been ordered into canton
ment for the week, and the remainder Of
the army, numbering 10000 men, has been
invited to attend and participate in the
competitive drills and grand parade.
Reports from various portions of the
United States and Canada indicate an at
tendance of from 0,000 to 5000 Patriarchs
Militant and from $1,000 to 100000 Lodge
members. Five hundred different organi-
cations, with membership of nearly 10000,
have already signified their intention of at
tending and participating in the grand
parade on September 1S. The competitive
drills will be held on the Ohio State Fair
grounds on September II and 10.
Numerous military companies, including
the Montgomery Grays of Alabama, the
Louisville Legion of Louisville, KY, and the
Wooster (O) City Guards, and other cele-
brated military organizations from distant
States, as well as organizations belonging to
other secret societies. have rendered their
services as a complimentary escort 1t is
probable that $4,000 men will be in the line
of Ja tl,o
Gently uniformed and finely drilled body Of
cavalry. making the grandest pageant ever
known to history.
During the same week in September the
Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment of
Ohio will hold special sessions; and Sep
tember II the Daughters of Rebekah,
composed of the wives, sisters and daugh-
ters of Odd Fellows, and numbering more
than 100, 600 members, will begin their first
national convention. On the evening of
September II civic reception will be
given to the officers of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge at the State House Senate Chamber;
on the 10Th a military reception to the same
officers; and on the evening of the 18th the
crowning social event of the occasion will
be II grand ball and reception to General
John b. Underwood, the official head of the
order, and staff.
AT the reception Of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge which occurs on September 1G in the
Hall of the House of Representatives in the
State House, welcoming addresses will be
delivered by Governor Foraker on behalf Of
the State; Mayor Bruck on behalf of the
city; Grand Patriarch H. L. Frost, of New
Lisbon, Ohio, on behalf of the Encampment,
and Grand Master j. L. Mckinney, of
Piqua, on behalf of the Grand Lodge.
All the railroads of the country have
made reduced rates for the occasion, and
unusually low rates are being secured by
running special excursion trains from all
the large cities. All companies operating
railroads in the United States and Canada
east of the Rocky Mountains have agreed
to issue tickets at the rate of one fare for
the round trip, while nearly all the railroad
lines running into Columbus have already
given rates for one cent per mile or less.
Past Grands who want to visit the
Sovereign Grand Lodge should present
themselves before the Grand Lodge on
Monday, September 16, at nine o'clock at
Columbus and take the Grand Lodge de-