Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-04-30
THE THREE LINKS,
FOR SEVENTY TWO YEARS
BOUND TOGETHER.
Local Odd Fellows Celebrate
This Great Event in the His
tory of the Org
@a1 @as

ty-two years an organization which
has been world renowned for it's
strength. its great work and its phe-
nomenal growth.
Monday night last the three lodges of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
celebrated the turning of this mile
stone along the pathway OF time, with
splendid public demonstration.
Parading along the public streets with
blazing colored fires and meeting with
friends in public place to hear noted
members of the organization of the
State discuss the principles which have
bound this noble army of men to-
gether.
Early ia the evening, North Laurel
and Commerce streets were crowded
with people to see the formation of
the parade, and it WAS about half past
seven o'clock, possibly a little later,
when the line moved at the order of
Marshal II J. Grouse. Assisting the
Marshal, in the capacity of aids, were
mounted Past Grands: ]. D. Fisher,
Joseph Il. Powell, Cohansey; William
Holmes, Daniel Loder, Cumberland; 4;
Orestes Cook, Bridgeton.
The City Cornet Band, it's members
attired in their natty new suits, was at
the head of the procession and delight
full music was furnished. Cohansey
Lodge, No. 2o5 about sixty strong, fol
lowed. In the rear of their line was
float, representing David playing the
Tyre before King Saul. Bridgeton
Lodge, No. 129, came next in line with
about fifty men in order, and old Cum
berland Lodge, No. 80, the pioneer of
the county, brought up in the rear of
it's children, with some fifty or more
men. The line was brilliantly illumi
mated all along the route with
dazzling red and green fires. The In
dex fife and drum corps assisted the
City Band in furnishing music.
After the parade was over, Gross
cups Hall was packed with great
concourse of people. The City Band
Orchestra played selection, and Dis
trict Deputy Joseph Powell presiding,
announced James W. Trenchard, who
at the next session of the Grand Lodge
will be elected Grand Master, to speak.
He did not make any speech. Upon
behalf of the Odd Fellows. he well
coined the people present, and an
nounced as the speaker of the evening
Grand Chaplain r. F. Y. Pierce, of
Mt. Holly.
The Grand Chaplain, q fine looking
gentleman, with the insignia of his
Office thrown about him. arose and
was given a warm reception. He is a
very pleasing speaker and prefaced his
remarks very happily. Not once did
he refer to the birth of the organization
or its anniversary, but he devoted an
hour of his time to announcing and ex.
planning the principles of the organiza-
tion. The sentiments that bound the
men together, he declared were not
earth born. They are the most SUBJ
ime ever presented to mortal man
Friendship, Love and Truth. Odd
Fellows are not self fruit. The organ
ization widens and broadens the love
for the brotherhood. The order had
often been assailed, but like a great
ship at sea, it had weathered the storm
while there had been countless organ
izations, which had sprung into exist
ence since the birth of Odd Fellow
ship, which had been wrecked and
gone down somewhere along the shores
of time.
The organization had been assaied
because 1t was a secret one. Has not
the home its secrets, sacred to those
who gather at the fireside? Has not
the business man his secrets, made nee.
essary if success is to be achieved? Has
not the nation its councils which in
secret session resolves upon those meas.
ures best to the good interests of the
people? Why not the lodge its secrets?
Odd Fellowship had been called po-
litical. 1t had been termed in many
mean ways, but all know that this
city of Bridgeton would suffer irrepar-
able loss if the Odd Fellows should
drop out, for its members were the
most patriotic, the most aggressive,
the most noble of men. While in the
past the Odd Fellows had encountered
all manner of opposition, yet tonight
the people of this city turned out en-
masse to do:homage to the order as it
paraded upon the streets.
At this time, the speaker said, that
70O, 600 men we're bound together with
these same living principles and girded