The Washington times., 1894-06-23
ODD FELLOWS FRATERNIzE
Grand Masters Of England and Amer
lea Visit Washington.
COMMISSIONER ROSS WELCOME
He Speaks Glowingly Of the Future Of the
Colored Race-Addresses by the Distin-
guished Visitors-Color Question Dis
cussed-Reception and Banquet.

Grand Master Captain Richard Hill-Male, OF
England, and Grand Master William NJ. 7. For
rester, Of America, fraternal visit to the
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in the Dis
trict of Columbia, arrived in the city yesterday.
They were met at the depot by the Washington
Patriarchie No IL, Capt William p Gray CONF
mandng, and Georgetown Patriarchie, No. AZ,
Capt Joseph C. Beckett commanding, headed
by the National Brass Band, p y. F. Thomas
Washington, leader, and were escorted TO the
colored Odd Fellows new hall. 1906 n street
northwest
The grand masters there reviewed the order,
which thereupon marc ed to the metropolitan
A. NJ l. church, where exercises were opened
with an address of welcome behalf OF the
citizens OF the District by Commissioner j. w.
Ross. Mr. Ross spoke in part as follows:
Il take great pleasure in the honorable part
assigned me on this occasion. In all our cities,
towns and villages the lodge is organized, and
We all recognize II MS n power for good IL has
been my pleasure to watch the growth Of the
colored race for many years, and / am of the
opinion that no man can put limit on its
growth and development in America.
II welcome you for the people of England
which you represent In behalf OF the people Of
the District of Columbia i welcome you TO the
capital, and hope you will not feel that you are
a stranger in foreign land, but that you are
among your friends and brethren"
Daniel b. Webster, district grand master of
D. G. L., No. ~, followed with an address Of
welcome on behalf oil the order
GRAND MASTER HILL-MALE.
NJ p David Warner master of ceremonies,
then introduced Grand Master H!ll-Male, who
made a short address, in which he said that he
had not come to impart instruction to the
American lodges, but on the contrary was here
to receive instruction.
"Let Us try to consider" he said. "the motive
force which carried me across the ocean. Some
will say the Teutonic brought me,and, In asense.
Efif nj lNah md
call them liars. Some will say that 1 came TO
receive honor Iwon't say there isn't certain
taint OF guilt in chat direction, but the principal
power which caused me TO leave wife and chA-
dren was the power which has brought these
honorabl- gentlemen here.
LAS long as live shall not forget the recep-
tion accorded me at your hands. One purpose j
had in view in coming here was to do away with
the idea that you may possibly have that there
Is the slightest prejudice to color in the
lodge across the ocean. When you look on the
Great Grand Master of all do you think the ques-
tion will be raised, what is his color? Do not be-
come preIudiced. Try TO keep from your minds
the thought that there is any prejudice existing
among us
Let the world at large Judge you by your
works. Ii is not sufficient TO have great dis
play, bright badges, and noisy bands, but let
your light SO shine that men may see your good
works Ever keep with you the thought that we
live for those who love us and know that We are
ali for wrongs that need resistance, for the
good that We can do. From the words Of the
honorable Mr. Ross and officers of your lodge
am constrained TO thank you for your kindly
welcome"
RECEPTION AND BANQUET.
At the conclusion of Grand Master Hill-Male's
remarks ex-Grand Director Thomas II. Wright
spoke on the difficulties encountered by the coli
ored men in their efforts to enter the order, and
was followed by William NJ. f. Forester, grand
master of America, who contrasted the treat
ment of colored applicants for admission to the
order by America and England, and welcomed
A. NaEs IL Ia lta tttfr
Grand Directors II. l. Holmes and David A.
Clark also made speeches complimentary TO the
order III England
In the evening the visiting officials were ten
dered a reception and banquet ut the Odd Fell
lows hall, and the festivities in honor Of their
advent and of the fifty-one years history of the
order in America were heightened by a dance 10
the strains of the Washington National Musical
Organization, directed by Prof Charles Queen.
Al the banquet toasts were responded to as fol-
lows:
&c L. O. o. F In America" William T. For.
rester, grand master; odd Fellowship NJ V.
p. j. F. n. Wilkinson, ex-grand director; "Our
subcommittee of management" Charles II.
Brooks. grand secretary; "Our Relations TO Eng
land" p. " &. NJ. John \. Simms, sr.. first dis
trict master; "our Households OF Ruth" NJ.
P. II. L. Holmes, grand director; Our Dis
Watson. district grand secretary; What Can
Be Done 10 Better the Condition of the
Order in America" Pat. David A Clark, grand
director; The Worth of Woman to the Order"
P. W. 6. NJ. James l. Turner; "Uur Odd Fellows
New Hall" P. W. G. NJ Thomas Ii. Wright, presi-
dent; How Best TO Memorize the Founder OF
Our Order-Peter Ogden" p. W. G. NJ Charles
H. Brown, deputy district master: 'How to Sue
ceed," NJ V. p Thomas ii. Johnson; THE Odd
Fellows Union Relief Associations" NJ. V. p.
Charles +. Murray, president
The celebration was under the direction and
supervision of the following committees Gem
eral committee-M. v p David Warner, chair
man: NJ. v p Thomas H. johnson. vice chair
man; V P Addison A. syphax. secretary; p. G.
NJ. George Beason, assistant secretary; p
y G. Mrs 4. V. Thomas, treasurer
Reception conmittee-M. '. r. ID. b Webster,
chairman; p. y. +. W ". Purnell, VI. D., secre-
tary; NJ V. F. Samuel ". Watson, V, p samuel
H. Hunter, T. VI. n. C. Mrs. Amelia Webster p.
NJ " G. Mrs Sarah Nailor, NJ. \. e. Mrs Mamie
Banks, NJ n g. Mrs. Fannie Powell.
Banquet committee-M. V. p Wilmore
Davis, chairman: p y. +. A. 4. Owens, secretary;
NJ. v p Frederick Douglass, NJ. V. p. Thomas
Griffin. p VI. y. &. Mrs. l. J. Jones, p \. +. Al
gier White, p. NJ. " e. Mrs j. {. Cross, p. n. f.
Louis Bryant, p NJ y. g. Mrs Sarah Robinson,
p \. F. William Middleton, 7. W. y. G. Mrs.
Elizabeth Lee, 2 \. +. George X. Watkins, and
p. n F. Jeremiah Adams