The Forrest City times., 1892-03-11

sented in Forrest City and are in q fiourishing condition. Forrest City Lodge No. 19s, F. & A. M., has n numerous and influential member ship. Charles H. Sanders is wor. shipful msstor and John R. Brown is secretary. It is the oldest of the secret bodies in existence in this place. When Forrest City became the chief town of the county, the lodge was transferred from Madi- son, the former county seat.
 There is also a flourish ing Chap. ter here, of which c. II. Sanders is the present high priest and Ellis Turley secretary.
 In May, 1888, Apollo Comman- dery No. II, Knights Tomplar, was organized with a membership of twenty-threc. At that time it was the only commandery in tho state east of Little Rock, and it's juris- diction extended north and south from Missouri to Louisiana, and east and west from the MississIpp, river to the Cotton Belt railroad. 1t drew upon the surrounding towns for it's membership, Helena, Marianna, Wynne, Vanndalo, Jones' boro, Brinkloy and other towns contributing their quota to it's splendid makeup. Hon. P. D. Mccullough, of Marianns, is i.s eminent commander, Hon. George P. Taylor is genoralisimo and Ron. K. J. Williams is captain general. It is ofiicered by and composed of the very best citizens of this sec ton of the state--men of high so- cial standing, wealth and wide in. fuence in all vacations. George P. Taylor, the generalisimo, is grand junior warden of the grand oommandery of the statc and life- member of that eminent body. Apollo Commandery now has for ty.two members. Its apparent slow growth is explained by the fact that number of it's members have been demitted to other 10 ges which have been organized within the bounds of it's former jurisdio' ton.
 Early in 1887 was organized General Forrest Lodge No. 33 Knights of Pythias, and it's present chancellor commander is George P. Taylor, with Charles Lewis "a keeper of records and seals. Later in the same year, . uniform rank was instituted, of which John Cat ling is the present captain of divl. sion. This order has grown and fourished from the start, and is composed of the best people in the community.
 A lourishing lodge of Odd. Fol lows once existed hero, but owing to the migration of a large propor- ton of it's members, it was deemed best to surrender the charter. It affords us pleasure to state, how ever, that & movement is now on foot for 8 reorganization, and in Q short time it will probably be placed upon a more satisfactory basis than ever.
 Among the bonifcent orders, none IS moro popular than the Knights and Ladies of Honor, which is presided over by Mrs. Mamie J. McCrary as protector, with J. T. Fondren as secretary. Its mem bershlp is large, and 1t IS doing Q noble work.
 There is also a AourishIng lodgo of Knights of Honor, whose pre-. siding officer is John l. Jones, while J. T. Fondren looks after the correspondence and accounts. The bsneficence of this order has been felt a number of times in this com mun,ty, and families are now in comfort which might otherwise have been loft in strsightened cir. cumstances.
 All things considered, few towns of equal population enjoy so many of the benefits accruing from the social orders as Forrest City, and the good they have done and are doing is recognized by all who have gwen the matter 6 thought.
 The unsightly ditches which once disfgured the main business streets have been severed and filled up, parks have been laid off, fenced and planted with trees, and what was formerly an eys-soro has boon transformed into pleasing scene.
 No intoxicating liquor is sold in Forrest City. As the result of a petition under the provisions of the three-mile law, all the saloons were closed on January l of the present year.
 The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern road has just oom- pleted handsome and commodi- ous depot about 200 yards north of the Little Rock and Memphis crossing. and will dissolve the joint agency heretofore exlsting. At the corner of Front and lizard streets new and elegant opera house rises as a perpetual monu- mont to the enterprise of Messers. Becker & Lewis, who, seeing the noed of such building, proceeded to It's ere ction. It has a seating capacity of about 600, is supplied -;sh n1 v, fo vt o hla oha;ro and rs