, 1892-09-19
A ROYAL RECEPTION.
Annual Session of the
Sovereign Grand Lodge.
Odd Fellows Gather at Portland
From Every Part of the Country
TOday's Great PrOcessIOn--
How the Visitors were Welcomed

How the Visitors were Welcomed
PORTLAND, Ore, September 19.-Cool and
cloudy weather ushered in the opening
day of the sixty-eighth annual session of
the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. This morn
ing's trains brought in the remaining rep
resentatives and large number of visitors
from the interior of the state. The streets
present an animated scene and are hand
somely decorated along the line of this af-
ternoon's parade, with red, white and blue
bunting and the royal purple, tastily
draped. On all sides the visitors eye is
greeted with the.word "welcome' and the
symbolical three links are to be seen every
where.
In front of the Odd Fellows temple on
First street has been erected triumphal
arch in evergreen and bunting. Depending
from its center is a large picture of Thomas
Wildey. The reverse side of the picture is
covered with emblems of the order, sur
rounded by the inscription: ave COM
mand you to visit the sick, relieve the dis
tressed, bury the dead and educate the or
phan." A similar arch spans Sixth street,
at the Sovereign Grand Lodge headquar-
ters From the Masonic Temple also float
flags and penants of the Knight Templars
in recognition of the event. Marching and
conntermarching of uniformed cantOns
giye.a martial appearance to the scene.
at 9:30 a. m. large crowd had gathered
at the Marquam Grand opera house where
the representatives of the Sovereign Grand
lodge were formally welcomed to the state
of Oregon and city of Portland by Cover
nor Pennoyer and Manager Mason. ]. ].
Walton welcomed the representatives in
behalf of the grand lodge and the grand en-
campment of Oregon. Hon. Charles M.
Busber made fitting response. AT the
conclusion of the exercises at the opera
house, the grand representatives, escorted
by Canton Portland No. 1, marched to
Arion hall, where the sixty-eighth session
of the Sovereign Grand lodge was formally
opened by Grand Sire Busbee. After read
ing the different reports and referring them
to the proper committees, the lodge ad-
iourned to allow the representatives to par
ticipate in the parade this afternoon.
In his address of welcome Gov
ernor Pennoyer said: "Under the
provision of our state constitution, the
governor of Oregon is fully authorized to
repel any invasion which may be made
upon its sacred soil by an alien force.
But coming as you do, not bearing in your
hands the hateful implements of warfare
neighbOr but marching rather under the
white ensign of peace and good will, to all
l cordially welcome your invasion and eX-
tend to you the freedom of this whole
state.
Although not a member of your organiza-
ton 1 have always entertained for it a
high regard. Its beneficial results have
been clearly perceptible even by the alien
behOlders. No other Lnan the Infinite
knowledge can ever measure the wide
scope OF its salutory power, calculate its
numberless benefits or establish the bound
ary lines to the vast domain of its eleYat-
ing influences. There is no service so en-
nobling than that bestowed in the benefit
ting of fellow man and that man serves
God best who best loves his neighbor."
Grand Sire Busbee, on behalf of the visi-
tors, said in part: Your eXcellency has
generously granted us the freedom of all
the state. The magnitude of the gift over
whelms US, we know not how to fifty use
the abounding opportunity but from our
hearts we thank you. beg to assure you,
Mr.. Governor, that we appreciate your
presence here today. We know your dill
gent devotion to the duties of your high
office, and we congratulate ourselves upon
the fact that for the first time during your
service as chief executive of Oregon you
are absent from yOdr Office on Monday. l
regret ladies and gentlemen to hear
your governor say that he is not an Odd
Fellow. His name Is not strange to us.
We knew him before we came to Oregon,
for his reputation as statesman, patriot
and gentleman is not confined to the
limits of this state. But he needs one
thing to make him perfect man."
We believe in Odd Fellowship, because
we have tested and proven the underlying
principles that inspire it and make it
strong. 1t is the largest fraternal organiza-
ton in the world the strongest in point of
NM lnvso
benefits, throbbing with more abundant
vitality. It's growth during the past few
years has been phenomenal, its member
ship being more than eight hundred
thousand, and it dispensed for the use of
its members during the past year more
than three million dollars. 1t stands for
love of country, for devotion to wife and
child and tiresIde.
At 2:30 this afternoon the procession,
consisting of six divisions, formed at Sixth
and Washington streets and at the signal
moved in procession along the gayly deco
IL -