Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-09-20
The Mystic Links

| TOPEKA, september II.-MOldaY morning
| found the city full of Odd Fellows, and a
crowd taxing the capacity of the hotels, the
hospitality of the city and filling our streets
with bustling throng. Ut is handsome
throng, a gathering of representative men
and women from every state in the union,
| and from other countries.
The ceremonies of the SOVEREIGN Grand
Lodge began Sunday morning by RELIGIOUS
services at the First Presbyterian church.
The sermon was delivered by the pastor,
rev. Dr. Kay. both SovereignGrand Chaplin
tenable and Grand Chaplin Bright being i'll.
Monday morning the visitors were form
ally welcomed at the Grand opera house.
The supreme grand officers of the order. the
grand representatives and the members of
the National Rebekah degree convention
were escorted to the Grand opera house by
Canton Topeka, headed bv Lincoln post
drum corps. The opera house was crowded.
FAST Grand Master George W. Jones Off
ciated as master of ceremonies. In calling
the gathering to order, Chairman Jones said:
we have met here this morning for the
purpose of rendering a reception and ex-
tending a cordial welcome to our honored
and distinguished visitors-the officers and
representatives to both the Sovereign Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows and the National
Convention of the Daughters of Rebekah."
After music by the orchestra, DR.. McCabe,
pastor of the Third Presbyterian church
pronounced the invocation, which was fol.
lowed by a solo by Miss Lima Wyatt. Miss
Wyatt was encored and in response she and
her sister, Miss Gertie Wyatt, sang a solo,
receiving very hearty applause.
Governor L. U. Humphrey welcomed the
assembled guests on the part of the state.
In the unexpected absence of Mayor Cot
ran, occasioned by a misunderstanding of
the proposed time for the reception, Rev.
Dr. +. >. McCabe was called upon to extend
a welcome to the visitors in behalf of the
city. DR., McCabe said that he wanted it
understood, IN justice to himself, that he was
not the mayor. Laughter. He was intro
duced, however, he supposed, because he
was connected with the police department of
the city. In his official capacity, if there
was anything he could do for the visitors. he
was at their service. Laughter. He as
sured the visitors of a hearty welcome and
broad-guaged treatment aud hospitality while
here, and said that if there was anything
within the law laughter which they wanted
and was not IN sight. they had only to call
for 1t. He assured the visitors that there
was no politics or religion in the hospitality
of our people and that they were welcomed
all, from east, west and south with equal
heartiness.
Hon. John NJ. Price, past grand master
ana past grand representative, in the una
voldable absence of Grand Master A. L.
Vorhis, was introduced and welcomed the
visitors in behalf of the grand lodge.
Grand Patriarch d. NJ. Ferguson was in |
troduced and welcomed the guests ON behalf |
of the grand encampment.
Mrs. Ahce b. Dawson, president of the |
heoekah Degree state convention, was then |
introduced, and on behalf of the Rebekan |
Degree delivered a very interesting address |
OF welcome IN the name of almost 100 Re- |
oe kan lodges IN Kansas. She reviewed the |
n lob -,
grand work which it is accomplishing bv CO.
operating with their fathers, husbands and
brothers. She pictured the Kansas of TO-DAY
not as the home of the grasshopper. the
cyclone, the Indian, the buffalo, but as
prosperous commonwealth comprising more
nan nan million and half of prosperous, IN
eiIigent, and happy people who extend true
hospitality to the wayfaring stranger within
heir gates.
After music by the orchestra, General John
:. Underwood, of Kentucky, grand sire of
ne order, being the head of the Sovereign
jrand lodge and of the military order of the
'atriarchs Militant, was introduced. TO re-
pond to the addresses of welcome on behalf
# the Sovereign Grand lodge. General I'm
erwood Is large distinguished looking |
nan and very polished speaker He paid |
ne most hearty and glowing tribute to the
)dd Fellows and the people of Kansas gem
rally for the unbounded hospitality which
iCJ h1O ehOHA OIlC OEUcE Oh J0lS ana Dr6Vl-
us occasions. He said Topeka was une- Q
ualled for its beauty and its thrift by any /
ity Of its size in the United States. He had T.
made the acquaintance of the Kansans In q
Philadelphia in 1876, at the session of the
overeign Grand lodge, he found them warm d
earted. generous and true. He had known D
hem ever since. and his respect and regard
Dr. them had constantly increased. He loved
ansas. While southern man he was also
WESTERN man in sympathy and feeling.
!e admired the push and the enterprise and
lo1ed in the prosperity and advancement
Kansas, and he assured his entertainers s
lat it gave him the greatest pleasure to be
18th them on this occasion.