The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-26
LAST SUMMERS VISITORS.

Canadian Members of the a. O. u. w.
Show Their Appreciation OF Kindness
That the hospitality extended to tho
various national conventions that met in
Helena last year was appreciated, has been
proven by the hundreds Of newspaper
articles that we're written by delegates and
visitors after their return home. The
members of the supremelodge. A. .. U. w.
particularly have snid many kind things
about Helena Rnd her people. In the
printed report of the proceedings OF the
grand lodge of Ontario, the report of their
representatives to the supreme lodge. IL as
follows:
"Helena, the queen city of the Rockies, is
situated in the center of an extensive min
ing district, and has a population OF about
| [, 1000. Its buildings, public and private.
although but a few years old, are substan-
tial and elegant. betokening the energy and
enterprise of it's inhabitants.
mo body of men in convention could have
been more royalty ente tanned than were
the members of the upreme lodge by the
brethren of Montanu. Not only were the
member of the order enthusiastic in this
respect, but the citizens of Helenn decked
their business places in holiday attire and
kept them 20 during our stay there; and
every town in the state seemed to have
added its quota in honor of the supreme
lodge. Unfortunately. the heavy rains and
the melting SHOWS OF that mountainous
country swslled the streams. causing nearly
all the railways leading into Helena to be
injured by washouts. go that MANY of the
delegations to the supreme lodge were pre-
rented srom arriving IN time for the recep-
ton ceremonies.
After the Montana brethren seemed to
have exhausted the ontpourings of their
noble and generous hearts IN the reception
ceremonies, they capped the climax by
presenting each one of this representatives
with 4 beautiful souvenir, consisting OF u
small briok of solid silver. in the center OF
which was set a brilliant sapphire, all the
product of the state. Long will we remeni-
Der the noble and generous welcome &C
corded by our Montana brethren"
The report is signed by j. II. Miller, a
prominent barrister of Ontario, Daniel
Sprv. the head of the postal service in her
maiesty's dominion, and j. Milne, the
MAYOR of Kingston. The other representa-
tive from Ontario was Aaron Iotten, mayor
of Woodstock.
In the same complimentary vein is the
following, taken from the Canadian Over
seer. the, official organ of the A. q. U. w.
in Canada, and which reaches each month
$4,000 members:
Supreme lodge meets in the city of
Toronto in June next, and we understand
the Ontario grand lodge reception COM
mittee met q few days ago to arrange mat
tiers in connection with the event. Two
years ago when supreme Master Workman
Kinsley and Grand Receiver Sullivan in
vited the supreme lodge to their mountain
| home for the session Of June. 1892,
some doubt was expressed rs to tue
ability of u city like Helena. Of less than
10000 inhabitants, being able to take
ca g Of the representatives. The represent
tatives of the jurisdiction of Montana.
backed by telegraphio messages from the
governor OF the state, and from the mayor
of Helena. promised the supreme lodge
that if they would 20 west. that Helena and
Montana would make up in hospitality
what they lacked in size. And they did it.
What with banquets. entertainments. e1-
cursions and presentations, sapphire SOU
venirs and gold bricks, it is doubtful if the
supreme lodge ever had or will again re-
ceive such a glorious welcome as they did
in 1892. Toronto and Ontario follow Hell
ena and Montana as the hoEored of the
supreme lodge for the present session. We
can make size enough, but are we going to
do as we'll i'll according the supreme lodge a
whole-souled hospitality and downright
Workman welcome? 1t is time the grand
lodge executive and Toronto A. 0. Z. ".
lodges especially were hard at work in the
matter.