Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-10
THE GRAND LODGE |. 0. 0. +

in this city last night with public re-
ception 10 welcome the visitors The
members OF the Grand Lodge assem-
bled in Potomac Lodge room, on north
Columbus street. at half-past seven
o'clock, where the members of the two
lodges had gathered to formally receive
The grand body. After hearty recep
ton mad been rendered the visitors they
were escorted by the members OF the
two lodges, preceded by the Friendship
Cornet Corps, to the Opera House,
where large and apprecia;ive audience,
composed Of the best people of the city,
including many ladies, had assembled
to greet the members of the Grand
Lodge and their friends. The arrange
ments had been perfected by joint
committee of Potomac and Sarepta
Lodges, OF which Past Grand Master
D. r. STAINS Jury was chairman, and the
affair from beginning to end was g de-
cided success, not the slightest blunder
being apparent in all the proceedings.
When the members of the Grand Lodge
entered the Opera House every seat ex-
cept those res erved for the visitors had
been pre-empted, and much OF the
standing room was occupied. The
more prominent members had seats
prepared for them on the stage, which
had been we'll furnished, and the tables
bore beautiful and appropriate floral
displays.
About eight o'clock Past Grand Mas
ter Stansbury raped the assembly to
order and made few appropriate re-
marks after which the ode of the order
vas sung accompanied by y. S. Greena-
way, pianist, and then Rev. Mr.. Meal
lister of Trinity NJ. E. Church, stepped
forward and invoked Divine blessing
upon the gathering and the objects of
odd Fellowship.
An address of welcome on behalf Of
the city was then rendered by Mayor
Henry Strauss to the members of the
Grand Lodge and the other members OF
the order who have accompanied them
to this city. The Mayor spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of tie Grand Lo1ge IF I'iJgiaia:
regard it as one OF the pleasant duties OF |
my position as Mayor Of Alexandra. 10 - /
cord you q welcome 10 the city. in the name
Of the good people thereof. The Grand Lodge /
Of Odd Fellows OF the State OF Virginia i
body any city would be proud 20 entertain. (
composed as it Is Of representative gentlemen /
u the Commonwealth. and the heac Of ~
honorcd orter. whose mission IN this worlG /
fraternity and 10 visit the iaher.cSS and tie .
WIDOW - their aiilict:on needs 10 encomiuu
from me. II would be- a wors superer0getioa I
indeed for any one 70 undertake 20 point our
The utility of such an organization. As vel! (
s.nown ~ it has been in the English speaking
world especially, during more than q century /
aud half OF its existence. The moral teach
ings of Odd Fellowship tell the story u few (
s9oIds-Fidelity not only 10 the laws and obj
cations Of the order bu. 10 the laws OF God, I
and 70 the laws Of the land aud all the duiic,
of citizenship. How simple the creed yet
BOW pregnant the me ming of this short and
simple code of laws There are hundreds Of
our citizens Odd Fellows. and all with whom
have become acquainted have found 10 be
GOOD fellows also, men who are Justly proud
Of the fraternity and who woj..d be worthy
acquisitions to any order. | an convinced
the same can be said Of every lodge represent
ed here Gentlemen, hope your stay among
Va will he pleasant. and that your visit to
the memories Of both the entertained and the
entertainers. Again cordially welcome you
10 Alexandria.
He was followed by Leonard Mar
bury, esq, who made the address on be-
half of the Odd Fellows of the city.
He said:
Gentlemen. Of the Grand Lodge, Brethren ald
Friends:
The pleasant dnty devolycs upon me to
welcome you in behalf Of the lodges OF Alexan-
dria, to q city rcplete with memories @. the
past, honored and famed in her history, but
none the less glorious in her allegiance and
fcalty to the teachings and principles of ODD
Fellowship. Your stay with Us will prove u
you that the ground was well prepared, the
seed well sown, and BY watchful care, IN
selfish work and strict pursuance CT time.
honored example. the harvest reaped. has ex-
ceeded our most Ssrguine expectations Ii is.
therefore. with pride that we can thus vel
come you il is with Friendship We greet you.
Love that we offer you, and with Tru:h that
VIC bind ourselves 10 YOU with a loyalty as
true as that which sounds from the
anvil struck by the heavy hammer OF the
smith, or from trusty shield sm!tten By
fine Damascus blade 1t is deserving OF the
highcs; admiration because il is given II
good and noble cause. In this life every man
must have flag. every man must stand for
some principle or set of principles. which 10
elevate him and help society must be found.
ed upon something good, something noble
something godlikc something that does not
live within Itself, but lives Tor others some
thing whose aim is TO bring about an ameliora-
ton OF the ills OF others To point their steps
in tire right direction, 10 lend a helping hand
TO the weak, the poor and the needy. 10 care
for the widow and the orphan. and by living
4 life that others can profit By example and
follow in our footsteps. This is the true worth
OF 4 man and Is the cornerstone aud FONDA
ton Of Odd Fellowship. We grow ike We
.ovc. The thoughts that sway our minds, the
ideals that thrill Us, leave their traces upon
our countenances and modulatc our services
and shape our designs. Spirit moufs matter
t. those eternal principles OF right, which arc
the life of our glorious order. cannot fail to
produce true man. There is a sublime truth
i'll those worda df Eme son Beauty is the
stamp which God sets on virtue | there
fore eXhort each one of my brethren to c2,i
to mind at ali times the memorable night you
were initiated in the beautiful mysteries of
Odd Fellowship, the teachings then :ncUlcat
ed, the VOWS then made, and ask Yourself how
nearly you have lived up to them and wheth.
er you have not prodted thereby. Let us
formulate firm purpose to live up to the
highest capacity of OR character for good and
an Odd Fellow VIII realize how beautifully
this has been expressed for him by those who
moulded his order. No Odd Fellow dare for
\ moment mediate faithlessnesS to his nobest
ldeal-hls order. No. you will be true TO her,
you will not forget her favors. you will SUP.
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