The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-27
APPROACHING A CENTURY.
Odd Fellows Celebrate the Orders
18th Anniversary.


Fellows HaII-Speeches. by ProIni-
nent Members of tho order-The
Grand Sire's Proclamation.
The 18th anniversary of Odd Fellow
ship was appropriately celebrated by the
Odd Fellows of Savannah last night.
The spacious Assem- bly, hall Of the odd
Fellows building was filed TO its utmost
capacity when the exercises began at
$50 o'clock. and the crowd overhowed
into the supper room adjoining and the
corridors outside The gallery was
packed to overlooking.
There were not less than 1900 people
present. Nearly half were ladies, and
their presence added much TO the festiv-
ity of the scene.
The gathering was a thoroughly repre-
sentative one, and the fact that such an
audience could be gathered on the occa-
sion was itself magnificent tribute to
the Odd Fellows Of Savannah.
The exercises began with the opening
ode by the choir, followed by prayer by
the grand chaplain, Rev. l.. G. Nass,
D. ID.
THE GRAND wARDEN's ADDRESS.
Grand warden A. N. Manucy pre-
sided as chairman of the anniversary
committee The first address was the In
! LFOuu DN MI. -. ~ hlduuCJ. t1c
d paid an eloquent tribute to Odd Fellow
ship, in which he said:
Beneficial organizations, like the one whose
natal day we have assembled TO commemor
ate, have become important factors in the
| progress Of civilization.
| The power permeate5 every land, and few
indeed. are the civilized communities which
have not been benefited by their moral intiu-
enCes.
no day American odd Fellowship, with
it's II 900 lodges and 800 600 members is cele-
brating the 18th anniversary of its birth.
This wonder OF the nineteenth century has
kept pace with the marvellous achievements
of the age. Its permanency is assured; its
/ teaeats and principals are eashr!nea in the
hearts Of its membership, and will live for,
| ever Undor the inexOrab.e law OF death and
decay, the nations of the earth shall perish
and their names be forgotten OF men; but the
principles Of odd Fellowship are eternal
| They will teach men an old creed
clothed in new garb-the fatherhood OF God
and the brotherhood Of mnn-and it will com
pei the recognition of an admirlng world.
| The temple of Odd Fellowship will never
| crumble, Its foundation is stone, is friendship
and upon this is reared the twin towers Of
love and truth spanned with the enduring
arch Of faith and hope, and surmounted with
the cap stone of charity When we consider
the achievements of the past, the stupendous
work already accomplished, what may we not
hope for the futuref
IN EVERY CORNER OF THE UNION.
Already has the banner of our order been
unfurled in every state and territory in the
union. II CLEANS among the palms and
orange groves of Florida and brightens the
) pine forests of distant Maine the morning
light as itstruggles through the mists OF the
Atlantic, kisses its soft folds, and the
sun fingers lovingly upon it as he
sinks to rest in the Pacific; it has crossed the
cactus-covered plains of Mexico and floats
proudly over the land Of the MOnteZumas;
the storm shakes it 1eroely on bleak Nova
Scotian shores, and the langurouS breeZes Of
the Hawaiian isles stir gently its mystic
; folds; IL shines like beacon on the rock
{ bound coast Of New Brunswick, and tiut
| tiers brightly in the soft winds OF tropical
| Cuba; il rides upon the wild storms Of Mani
1 | toba and flies eXultant over the snow clad
. fields Of Canada; it has invaded Chill, and
| has been planted in the utmost region Of the
| very north, and so it goes in its onward
D march of fraterniZing the world.
ACROSS THE OCEANS.
1t has already sailed upon the broad Pacific
in the the s ySaPR seas
| has forced its way over the turDulau
Atlantic and the mystic letters upon its fold
= have conquered the Danes and Swedes; IL Il
: already shining like a bow OF promise owe
I the domes Of sunny France; IL has climbed
the Alps. and little Switzerland is proud o
It's advent the helmeted hosts OF Germany
are already marching beneath it
Q and the vast domain Of thC
! naughty czar shall soon feel and know
its power; il will soon cross the Pyrenees ant
i enter glorious Spain and then pass over thu
II Adrlatic and the Emperor Of Austria.wiL d.
Il it homage; ii win be waited over the MeditteI
! / f0uedH. ana the crescent Will 20 uOWn DelOIl
Q it; and in the valley OF the ancient Nile l
will startle the impaSsive sphinx as 1t float
from the pyramids OF Egypt. The natives o
/ the earth will bow beneath it, but its mission
q will not be accomplished until one law shal
}, govern all tongues and kindred of the earth
i and that law shall be the law Of universe
? brotherhood"
GRAND sIREs.
The anniversary proclamation was
read by Past Grand j. 5. Silva.
# PROGRESS OF THE ORDER,
IS Past Grand L. d. Rockwell, of Ogle
e thorpe Lodge No. l delivered an address
d upon the Origin and Progress of the
Or Order"
9 1t was replete with facts showing
e the widespread growth Of Odd Fellow
4 ship throughout the world. The 81
u lodges in Savannah he said
now have mem bership of 90(
In Georgia there are LOG lodges wit
D. about G00O members. The following
- figures quoted by Mr. Rockwell from hi
statistics at the close of 1898 show tn
strength of the order; Subordinat
grand encampmeuts 50, subordinate gran
- lodges IS, subordinate encampments 80;
subordinate lodges 1924, encampmen
members 1873, $40, lodge members 773, 49,
st Rebekah lodges 2,9lG, sisters members c
p Rebekah lodges 90, 3l2 brothers member
y of Rebekah lodges 64,72l, Cantons c
- Patriarchs Militant (estimated) 63(
w CheValefS, rank ana ME (eSJlmateQ) ~
10 400 number brothers relieved "a, 953, nun
Der widowed families relieved 6,244.
d A solo, lin One Year. was splendid
MS sung by Past Grand George w. Drum
~ mond.
n MAJ. MELDRrM's LETTER.
lg Mai. p w. Meldrim was to have II
OF spOnded to the subject, 'Objects of Cd
ST Fellowship in behalf of Live Gal
US Lodge No. 3 but was compelled to b
e. absent Chairman ManUcy read the 70
lowing letter received yesterday fror
Maj Meldrim:
Dear Sir and Brother:-I am compelled
leave the city to he in Augusta to-mOrro
RS morning on important professional business
n. and, therefore, cannot be with YOU tonight,
need not say how much I regret tins neee
Sary absence for l made an eame
,,s effort to return from Montgomery count
in order 10 be here this evening bi
'lr while succeeded in getting home, it We
MS only to find that l was again compelled
leave. did very much desire to speak
our brothers on the objects OF Odd Fellov
en- ship, and to urge that honest striving to a
- tain them, which has resulted in so niue
r good TO humanity and to impress uTon the
o. the great truth that NO friendship can c
Ill dure the test that stands on sotdid intere
he or mean self love" Fraternully yours,
be p, W. MELpRIM.
nc Mai Meldrim's absence was greatly +
be GREETED, as much pleasure had been anti
T,,.,f Tod 10