The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-21
ODD FELLOWS'PARADE
Diamond Anniversary Of the Or
der to Be Observed deliberately.
Programme for the Exercises on May
16-Highest Official of the Order
to Be Present.

On next Thursday local lodges of Odd Eel
lows throughout American will observe
with appropriate ceremonies and exercises
the diamond anniversary Of the establish
ment of the order in this country. Seventy
five years ago, on April &c, 1919, the first lodge
of Odd Fellows was organized in the United
States by Thomas Widely, John WEIGH,
John Duncan, John Cheathem and Richard
Rushworth, at Baltimore, Md. Grand Sire
Clarence T. Campbell, Of London, Ont, the
highest officer in Odd Fellowship of the
world, has issued a proclamation calling
upon Odd Fellows OF this country to OBJ
serve the seventy-fifth anniversary and this
has been supplemented by calls from the
grand masters Of all the States. The order
now numbers about 100000 members in the
world.
In this city there will be a celebration
of the diamond anniversary by all lodges
of the State on May 16 at the time Of the
meeting of the Grand Lodge. This will be
in addition to the celebrations by local
lodges on next Tuesday. Elaborate ar
rangements are being made by the persons
in charge of the arrangements for the May
demonstration and w. H. Leedy, chair
man of the committee on arrangements
says that if the members of the committee
succeed in securing the railroad fare which
they now believe they will the demonstra-
ton will bring to the city fully q, 600 Odd
Fellows. Among the individuals of high
rank who will be present c. T. Camp
bell, grand sire, the highest official of the
world, of London. Ont, and members of
his staff. Among the prominent Odd Fell
lows Of the State who will be present are
w. II. Talbot, grand master. Of Orleans;
Enoch G. Hogate, Of Danville; j. B. Ken
ner, Of Huntington; George Shirts, grand
patriarch, of Noblesville and others. The
programme, subject to change, will be as
follows:
Forenoon, reception of cantons, lodges
and encampmentS.
The parade will form at Ills p. m. and
move sharp at 2.
At p. m. Canton Elwood-Stokes medal
prize winners-will give an exhibition drill
in Monument place.
AT 4:5O the Patriarchs Militant degree will
taine, Hail., From to s p. m Sister Re
bekahs will give an informal reception to
the grand sire and grand master In the
at English's Opera House, Grand Lodge
Hall and probably at other halls if neces-
at Englishs and Grand Patriarch Shirts
| at the Grand Lodge Hall. and during the
Speakers Will be Grand Sire re- CAM
Judge Chapman; D. G; NJ. G. F. Northern,
grand grand warden warden John b C9ckrum, p G: P;
G. NJ; j. d. Kenner, +. q. NJ; Enochh G.
Hogate, p CT. NJ; w. X. Myers, p c.
| dent Rebekah convention; the president of
| the national convention and others Hon.
Ben $. Parker will read an original poem
on the occasion. The programme will be
| SO arranged that the grand SIRE grand mas
| ter and grand patriarch may appear dur
| ing the evening at both meetings.
| Mr.. Lesdy expects to have over 5000 peo-
| pie in the parade, which will be elaborate
| There will be fifteen floats in the line repre-
| senting special features of Odd Fellowship,
| and on one Of these will be the smallest,
| the tallest, the largest and the oldest odd
| Fellow in the State. the Oldest odd Fellow
| in the State being also the oldest in Amer
| lea. He resides in Hendricks county. and
has been a member in good standing for
| in the State is Frank G.. Epply, of Ander-
| son. He is four feet, four inches high, and
| tallest in the State. Louis Steeg, Of Green
| castle, who is six feet, six inches high. The
largest odd Fellow in the State is Mr..
| Thurman, of Mooresville, whose weight is
| $50 pounds As another feature of the pa
rade there will probably be in line from
500 to LOCO officers, as follows: Two hun
| retaries and 200 treasurers. Chairman
| Leedy, of the arrangements committee,
| says he never knew of an occasion where
| the disposition 10 take part was so general
among the lodges throughout the State. a
| number of lodges have already notified him
| that they would attend in a body, and in
| other cases the delegations will come as
| counties. Nine cantonS have already signi-
| fled their intention OF attending, and il is
State will be present. Those that have al
| ready expressed their intention Of being
! here are: Canton Elwood, which holds the
| Stokes prize as the best drilled canton in
| the world: Canton Marion, which held the
| Stokes prize for years, and surrendered il
| voluntarily two years ago. This canton has
| in addition TO holding the Stokes prize for
! years, won ESQ in cash prizes in COM
! petitive drills. Cantons will also be present
| from Winchester, Wabash, Worthington
| LaPorte Sullivan. GreencastIe, Rochester
| Muncie, North Manchester, Lafayette Peru
| Knightstown. Terre Haute. ShelbyvilIe
| Jonesboro. Montpelier, Brazil. and other
| places.