Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-09-25

TOPEKA, September 17.-Monday morning
crowd taxing the capacity of the hotels, the
hospitality of the city and filling our streets
with bustling throng. It is a handsome
throng. 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.. Ray. both Sovereign Grand Chaplin
Venable 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.
Past Grand Master George w. Jones Off
ciated as master of ceremonies. In calling
the gathering to order, Chairman Jones said:
1--WE have met here this morning for the
purpose OF rendering reception and eY-
tending 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 solo,
receiving very hearty applause.
Governor I. L. 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.. F. S. McCabe was called upon to extend
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:l He as
sured the visitors of hearty welcome and
broad guaged treatment and 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 it. He assured the visitors that there
was no politics or religion in the hospitality
of our people and that they were welcomed
hi, iToiH tdst, NeSt anu SOutn with eQual
heartiness.
Hon. John NJ. Price, past grand master
and past grand representative, in the una
vodable absence of Grand Master A. L.
Vorhis, was introduced and welcomed the
visitors in behalf of the grand lodge.
Grand Patriarch ID. NJ. Ferguson was in
troduced and welcomed the guests on behalf
of the grand encampment
Mrs. Alice B. Dawson, president of the
Rahokah DeyrQo state woc thay,
introduced, and on behalf of the Rebekan
Degree delivered a very interesting address
of welcome in the name of almost 100 Re-
bekah lodges in Kansas. She reviewed the
history of the Rebekah, it's rapid growth and
grand work which it is accomplishing by 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
than million aud a half of prosperous. IN
telligent, and happy people who extend true
hospitality to the wayfaring stranger within
their gates.
After music by the orchestra, General John
c. Underwood, of Kentucky. grand sire of
the order, being the head of the Sovereign
Grand lodge and of the military order of the
PatriarchS Militant, WAS introduced, to re-
spond to the addresses of welcome on behalf
of the Sovereign Grand lodge. General IN
derwood Is large distinguished looking
man and a very polished speaker. He paid
the most hearty and glowing tribute to the
Odd Fellows and the people of Kansas gen
orally for the unbounded hospitality which
they had shown the order on this and previ-
Gus occasions. He said Topeka was une-
qualled for its beauty and its thrift by any
city of its size in the United States. He had
made the acquaintance of the kansans IN
Philadelphia in 1876, at the session of the
Sovereign Grand lodge. he found them warm
hearted. generous and true. He had known
them ever since. and his respect and regard
for them had constantly increased. He loved
Kansas. While southern man he was also
He admired the push and the enterprise and
gored in the prosperity and advancement
of Kansas, and he assured his entertainers
that it gave him the greatest pleasure to be