Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-28
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal


Monday evening, yesterday dawned bright
and beautiful and at an early hour all was
activity among the members of Crystal
| Fount Lodge, No. 10, !. o. o. F., for the
| preparation for the I'D anniversary of the
| organization Of Odd Fellowship in the
| United States and the members of the
lodge were not alone in making prepare
ton for the gala day that 1t turned out to
be. Nearly all of the citizens were pre-
| pared for Il great time and one that will
| long be remembered by all who were here
to witness the events of the day. The
carly morning was spent in flying flags
and the putting up of bunting, which was
| profusely used all over town, not only by
| the members Of the fraternity but by
patriotic persons who wished to make an
impression upon the visiting lodges and
they succeeded to an astounding degree.
ARRIVAL OF VISITORS.
The arrival of the S.43 a. M. train from
the south brought scores of visitors and
sight-seers, besides the lodges from George
town and Lewes, which lad been invited
to attend the celebration with Crystal
Fount Lodge and the lodges from the upper
part of the State.
The arrival Of the special train from
Wilmington, which reached here at IL %
O'Clock, brought Eden Lodge and degree
staff, accompanied by the First Regiment
Band and lodges from all along the line.
The special came in behind the regular
mail train and consisted of five cars, all
loaded.
There were several hundred persons at
the station to welcome the visitors, besides
the members of the local lodge and men,
bers of the lodges from the southern part
of the STATE. Upon their arrival all the
visiting lodges were escorted to Dorsey
Hall. where the indoors celebration was
to be held.
Each lodge formed line at the station
and marched in order to the hall, preceded
by the band, which furnished music for
the occasion. 1t being noon and the din
ner hour upon their arrival at the public
hall, they broke ranks and repaired to the
hotels for dinner. The proprietors of all
three hotels, the National the Central and
the Dorsey House, had made extensive
preparations and distinguished themselves
by the manner in which the immense
throng were accommodated. 1t has been a
number of years since the capacity of the
local hostelries has been taxed as it was
yesterday. Dinner over, the members OF
the fraternity had been ordered to meet at
the hall at | o'clock. and arrangements
We're at once made for the parade, which
was announced to start ut i,30.
THE PARADE.
The committee of arrangements from
Eden Dodge, which came down the night
before under the direction of John NJ .
Whitford, director Of Eden degree staff,
were busy getting their men in line until
the appointed time when the parade
started with the right of line resting on
north Front street. w. Il. Lank of Crystal
Fount Lodge, was chief marshal and had
for aids Frank Reedy and w. q. Salmons,
also Of the local lodge, while each lodge in
attendance had a marshal for their rcspec-
tive lodge. George NJ. Fisher was mar
shall for Eden Lodge, which carried of the
laurels off the day.
The parade was headed by the chief
marshal and his aids, followed by Eden
Lodges committee of arrangements and
their marshals John NJ. Whtford, j. II.
: Butt, y. Y. Mccall, w. r. Kirby and
George NJ. Fisher. They were Immediately
followed by the First Regiment Band of
Wilmington with p pieces. Eden Lodge
followed, with 100 members in line.
Next came the following lodges: Gate,
/ No. 40, Bridgevile Charity. No. q, Laurel;
Patrick Henry, No. II. Delaware City;
Morning Star, No. g. smyrna; Unity, No.
, 20, Camden Chosen Friendship No. IS,
!. Huntingdon Golden Rule, No. II, Milton;
: Union, No. 3, Georgetown; Crystal Fount,
e No. 10, Milford. In all, there were nearly
Y 300 uniformed men in line.
The parade formed on North Walnut
{ street, with the right of the line resting on
4 North Front street. Promptly at the ap.
. pointed time the ranks moved from Front
i | uHh nHliNtt OUT NalHul 10 1eCOuu, ul
J Second to TRUTHS avenue. down TRUTHS
! avenue to Front, down Front to Walnut
b the starting point, out Walnut to South
: Fourth, over to Washington, down Wash.
4 ington TO Second. out second to Franklin,
down Franklin to South Front, out South
!. Front to Fishers avenue, countermarch
n down Front to Walnut, up Walnut to the
e hall, where they broke ranks
G FLAGS AND BUNTING FLYING.
u / A 81 a1 II a
profusely displayed and IL was indeed d
!, beautiful sight to sec the 100 members oil
: Eden Lodge marching four abreast with
i their silk hats, dark clothes, standing col
n lars, white tics and light gloves, carrying
~ canes, leading tic parade and the large
number Of Crystal Fount Lodge with theil
dark stiff hats, turn down collars, white
bows and gloves bringing up the rear
marching down the street with many
1t other lodges in between 1t was an I'M
A pressve march and one that those who
witnessed it will not soon forget. All tn,
Ii time during the march the First Regiment
If Band was playing such music as only they
K can play.
If ]. y. Foulk was master of ceremonie.
is and performed his duties well, receiving
10 the congratulations of all the members
at present for the manner in which tn,
whole exercises were carried out.
m THE PUBLIC MEETING
d was announced for o'clock and long be
q, fore that time the hall in which il wa
70 held was packed TO overlooking with tn
&c town and country folks, anxious to SCI
y and hear Assembled on the platform
"a were the officers Of the Grand Lodge, tn
;, past noble grands of the different lodges
ne and the noble grands of the various bodie
n present, and Rev. H. l.. Bunstein, pasto
X Of the Presbyterian Church, who though
ISL not u member of the organization. va
re there by special invitation,
J, Y. Fonlk presided over the meetin
which was opened by music by the BAN
II. followed by prayer by the Rev. A. Gree
4y Of Greenwood. Music by the band fol
us lowed the prayer, after which the Rev. II
yn J.. Bunstein was called upon to address IN
he gathering. lie sad thai odd FelloNshi
in commands welcome wherever II goes an
he ! welcome you this afternoon to the no.
pitality Of our town and people II is
rs society that is a credit and an honor t
ell civilization and is chieiest among socetit
ne in the nineteenth century. II il not 0uit
re- so odd now, however, as il was 10 veal
Ter ago, when the organization was fir.
of effected Allthc secret organizations Of th
present day sprung from the loins of cd
in Fellowship, and it is thus the parent lodp
oil OF secrecy, and is exalted above all other
ty, have never III ali my life heard or rca
any charge against the order of Cd
Fellows, except from those who do II,
believe III any secret organization, an
this was owing to their prejudice This
compliment to the LODGE
hai The Rev. A. Green was next introduces
oc- He said ~ am Green from Greenwood.
m that is my home lApplausc,l After Il
W. kindly greeting that has been rendered
ir. BY Mr.. Bunstein feel perfectly at HON
:. a We no doubt now present sorry appea
lily ance, after marching up and down IL
re- streets inhaling the dust But we In,
seen your town and feel glad that we ha,
vas had the opportunity. And the greetif