The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-04-30
4. q. O. r.
SEVENTEEN Anniversary of the ts-
aabiishment Of alEe ORDER in Afhcr-


tabii>hment Of diEe ORDER in Ancr-
tea.
Last Friday, April Goth, was The SEVENTEEN
anniversary OF the existence at the independent
Order OF Odd Fellows in America, the first
Lodge having been organized in the city ct Bal
,more on the Goth Of Apgil, 1919.
In CONTAMINATION OF this event, Leon Lodge
No. invited Hon c. b. ParkhiIl, State Senator
from Escambia county, and himself an earnest
worker in the Order, to deliver the anniversary
address. The public was invited 10 attend The
wives and daughters OF the members prepared
floral offerings; the Lod re room was festooned
with trailing vines and great banks oi beautiful
flowers, immense bouquets, notices, emblems
and floral dies gns richly wrought were scattered
about the room in manner most artistic and
pleasing To the eye
Among so many beautiful floral offerings one
feels at loss to know where Ia begin in desert =
ing TO do justice Ia ALL We would like very
much to give an Illustration of the whole heauti-
iul picture in all lis rich blcndingS Of colotiug,
bat This is out of the question. so we must con-
tent ourselves with brici mention Of hut few
OF the most noticeable.
Hanging over the Noble Grand's Chair was
the three links beautifully woven OF pure
white flowers, The work OF the ladies'. Over the
Nicc-Grand's chair was suspended three links
made of white and red roses, each individual
rose on separate link, looking as if growing on
the parent stem. this work OF art being he hand
iwolk Of Mr.. HORT, manager OF Leon Rose Park.
In front OF the Noble Grand's stand was py-
ramid of many colored flowers, and on the walls
appropriate notices
The most beautiful and impressive of ali the
offerings were large table, banked with pure
white flowers, taslefully arranged, dedicated to
the memory OF Past Grand Thomas E. Barefoot,
and an exquisite floral cross TO the memory of
Mr.. G.. W. Edmondson.
Promptly at o'clock p. NJ. the audience was
called to order by Noble Grand William B.
Schrader the usual ceremonies were inlroduc-
ed one of the songs of the Order was rendered
by the choir, and in a few well chosen words
the Noble Grand introduced The orator Of the
occasion, speaking OF him a representative of
Of the most progressive cities of Florida--a
city that has within its borders three strong and
earnest Odd Fellows lodges
Mr Idfkhlils auufcss WAS elOquent though
brief. He referred TO the rapid and steady pro-
gress of the Order; of their many noble works
of charity; of their faith and OF the solid foun-
daiion upon which The Order was based. His
remarks were interesting and Were attentively
listened to by the entire audience, which was as
large as the room could we'll ACCOMMODATE
Among The pleasing incidents OF the evening
was the presence of an Odd Fellow, Mr. b. j.
Garwond, who had been a member OF the Or
der for sixty long years. and that one Of the
active and worthy members of Leon Lodge that
noble old Patriarch, Mr.. George Damon, has
been Jealous member of the Lodge for over
lor'y years and has rarely ever missed a
meeting.
The ceremonies closed with song by the
choir and prayer by the Chaplain.