St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-14
THE ODD FELLOWS.
They Take Possession Of the Flour
City.

City.
The Odd Fellows had possession OF
Minneapolis Yesterday as well as the
Exposition, and they were welcome to
them both-made doubly welcome by the
municipal authorities and the EXPOSE
ton management While the elements
did not bid a hearty greeting in the
early part OF the day, but threatened
with clouds and rain, they, too. sue
cumbed by noon, and except for the
film of mud in the streets, everything
was favorable to the men of the order
and the Daughters of Rebekah.
There were hundreds of visitors from
outside the city. No day set aside by
the management has been responded to
as universally as was yesterday by the
Odd Fellows. At little after noon the
streets were crowded with the red
badged and uniformed visitors gather
ing for the parade; by little after
2 o'clock the parade was formed
at the corner of Henuepin and Wash
ington avenues. A platoon of mounted
police, commanded by Sergeant Fred
Coffin, headed the procession proudly.
The Thirteenth Regiment band was IN
its element. as it came next, filling the
iantly uniformed Grand canton, Mime
apolis. st. Paul and Mankato cantons
followed in perfect marching order.
Behind the cantons came the Minneap-
oils and St. Paul lodges, filing in from
Third street, and then from Fourth
marched the visiting delegations from
outside the Twin Cities, about LOCO
strong. Faribault No. 149, Cay
lord 14O, Maple Plain No. 81,
Schiller of Mankato No. 20, Pine Island
No. "a, Montevideo No. rs, Mime
sofa No. l, Saltwater: Centennial NO.
Sc, of Spring Valley; Crescent No. llO,
West Concord; Sleepy Eye No. So made
up the list. Back of the lodges came
carriages containing Mayor Babb and
the grand officers, with those who took
part in the exercises later at the Tx
position, and other carriages with men,
beers of the Rebekah degree lodges.
There were over 5000 men in the pro-
cession. The line of march was up
Hennepin to Seventh street, across to
Nieollet, then to the Exposition.
Thousands of people witnessed the
parade. When the head of the pro-
cession was opposite the Exposition, EN-,
trance on Central avenue the rear mad
not vet passed Fourth street on Nlcollet.
Two bands and drum corps, besides
the Exposition band, were In line. Inc
uniformed cantOns and mounted police
formed line at present while tne
Daughters of Rebekah, the mayor and
high officers, and the lodges passed them
with dotted hats. The procession halted
and formed in close order before march
ing through the great doorway and was
then full fifteen minutes in entering,
making allowances for all delays. For
that length of time solid stream of
humanity four abreast poured through
the entrance.
The visitors passed directly to the
third floor where the Daughters OF Re-
bekah and CantOnS filled the seats back
of the dignitaries who occupied the
stage. The remaining seats were filled
by wearers of badges.
Robert StrattOn was master OF cere-
monies and by his direction the lnnes
band formally opened the Odd Fellow
ceremonies. Rev. DR.. Miller, of Cen
tenary church, offered prayer, and then
Mayor Babb was introduced for an adj
dress OF welcome from the city.
Minneapolis said he, has been much
called on of late to extend welcome to her
visitors and when it has been possible, |, as
her mayor, have performed that service reel
ing that it was duty that involved upon me-
But thank you for the privilege OF greetlng
YOU to-day, and l will do it not only as the
mayor of the city, but as director of this
Exposition. 1t is not expected OF me that
will say much in glOrifcatlon OF the oroer,
that will be done by the speakers who fol-
low. l extend the freedom Of the city 10
you"
Grand Master G. NJ. Sprague, of Sank
Center, after reading the proclamation
which he issued some time ago, said:
In response to this proclamation we have
met here this day for the cordial greeting and
warm fraternal welcome to your city when
you have extended to this Drotherhood
return YOU the hearty thanks OF its officers
and members In reply to the very kind
words in which you have conveyed TINS wei
come ask you indulgence for few mo-
ments. The people of Minnesota have
great cause to be proud of their state.
Grand in its geographical proper
tons, unlimited and varied IN us
productive powers. prolific in its great men
and unsurpassed in the grace and beauty OF
its fair daughters Minnesota must and will
continue to occupy commanding posluon
in the sisterhood of states. The citizens OF
Minneapolis, whom you represent on this &C.
casion, and whose welcome you have so
cordially extended, have just reason to be
proud of their beautiful and growing city,
Astounding in manufacturing establishments,
distinguished for Its commercial enterprises,
its railroad facilities, its great water power,
its intellectual culture and refined hospital
ity-but. above all. distinguished for its In
dustrial EXposition-and Minneapolis must
and will continue to be recognized as the
reigning queen among the great cities OF the
West.
After speaking for a few minutes of
the growth and prosperity of the order,
in which he said that there were
GOO. 900 members in North America,
$4,000 Daughters OF Rebekah, and 10000
Odd Fellows in Minnesota, he closed
with the words:
Again for your warm greeting and cordial
welcome, return you the grateful acknowl-
edgment of the grand officers and members
of the order Of Odd Fellows OF M1nneso@'
for the prosperity of this Industrial E1posi,
ton. Che city of Minneapolis, and OF Odd
Fellowship in this Jurisdiction, and for your
individual welfare and happiness. accept our
best wishes.
Robert Stratton made the last address.
After speaking of the impOSsibilitieS OF
making ones self heard above the noise,
he said: "This din of machinery, this
hum of industry brings to my mind the
thought of Odd Fellowry and its origin.
The two have grown up in this land to-
gether. Odd Fellowship cannot boast
of its antiquity, but it can boast that it
was born in the intelligence and
industry, and the life of this
nineteenth century," The speaker
referred to the growth of the order
and its present prosperity ana inflence
highly cOmplimenting the Daughters OF
Rebekah. He smoke advocating the
initiation OF young men at the age OF
eighteen, saying:
1--WE must admit that the young man Of
this day at eighteen is more of a man, in
many cases, than many of us were at the age
of twenty-one."
A beuediction by Rev. Willer closed
the exercises, and dismissed the visitors
to all portions of the great building.