St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-05-17
THE ODD FELLOWS.
Meeting of the Grand BODIES.

the visitors with open arms and for the
third time in its history the grand lodge
was entertained by our townspeople.
Dedication of the HaH.
The hall was well filled on Monday
evening, when the rededicatory exercises
took place. After the opening ode which
was sung by the audience, prayer was
offered by the chaplain, Rev. H. II. Hoyt.
c. w. Farr, Noble Grand, gave cordial
welcome to the members of Caledonia
Lodge, visiting members and the ladies
present. An interesting historical sketch
was given by L. F. Miner, Past Grand.
He said the first lodge was established
in 1919. In 1915 Green Mountain
Lodge, No. /, was established at Bur
lington. The same year lodge was
started at Montpelier. In 1916 lodges
were established at Windsor, Bethel and
Bratteboro. Caledonia Lodge, No. 6,
was established at Danville Jan. /, 1S47.
Z. S. Dana was the first Noble Grand
and David Boynton was the first treas
urer.
In 1850 permission was granted to
move this lodge to St. .Johnsbury. Gale.
donian Lodge started with 10 charter
members and II Joined while the lodge
was in Danyille. In 1858 a division
occurred in the lodges in the state over
the color question and only four lodges
kept up their organization. The st.
Johnsbury lodge was among those that
disbanded, and not until Jan. 10, 1869,
was this lodge re-instatcd. In 1874
company was formed TO build block,
and the corner stone of the present struc
ture was laid July %, 1874, Past Grand
Master Henry Clark of Rutland (the old
est past grand in the state) making an
eloquent address. In closing Mr.. Miner
congratulated Caledonia Lodge on their
present prosperity and wished a continu-
ance of the same.
Miss Sadie Batchelder followed with a
violin solo. and Miss Carrie S. Woodruff
gave a reading. Miss Woodruff read
very nicely pathetic piece entitled The
| Runaway"
Rev, H. H. Hoyt, was the next speak
er. He SAID that the very little he knew
about Odd Fellowship led him to place it
next to the church. A fraternity is a
great blessing to mankind; it brings to-
gether men it bids us believe we are chill
dren of God and bound together by a
common Tie, that of brotherly love. 1t
makes men good Samaritans.
A piano solo was given by Miss Ina
Farr followed by another reading by
Miss Woodruff. The latter read "The
Old Gunner's Shot"
An original poem, "The Odd Fellows
Roll Call" was recited by Rev. H. M
Douglass. The poem was well writer
and well received. A flute solo by George
c. Felch concluded the programme, after
which ice cream and cake were served.
The Renovated Hall
The hall of the St. Johnsbury Odd Eel.
lows is situated in the third floor of their
block on Railroad street. Under the
direction of B. F. Rollins, the president
of the Building Association. extensive
repairs have just been made on the hall
and adjoining rooms. Gale and Adams
have put in a steel ceiling and the walls
and ceiling have been handsomely decor
ated by Louis Gingras & Son. n. X.
Switser had charge of furnishing the new
draperies, and they are very rich and
ornamental. Electric lights have been
added, and the rooms are resplendent
when the lights are turned on. The ante
rooms have been thoroughly renovated
and new conveniences added, and the
hall and its connecting rooms are now
as fine as any in the state.
Grand Encampment Session.
The twenty-fiith annual session of the
Grand Encampment opened in regular
form at a. m. in Odd Fellows hall. Al
the grand officers were present except the
Grand Representative, l.. G. Burnham
of Burlington, and two of the committee
on credentials. About 100 member.
were present from all parts Of the state
The usual committees were appointed
after which Grand Patriarch David l.
Saunders, of Montpelier, presented hi.
annual report. He said there were 2$
encamdments i'll the state with tota
membership of 1,167. Four encamp
ments have been instituted thepast year
Ahambra Encampment at Waterbury
Mount Tom Encampment at Woodstock
Eagle Encampment at Springfield, Cham
plain Encampment at Swanton. He wa
confident that other elcampmentsW Woul(
be instituted the coming year. He re
commended that a new charter be grant
ed Green Mountain Encampment, whlcl
lost all their property and their charte
by fire during the year. The Crane
Patriarch then gave brief review of hi
visitations and also the decisions tina
had been made during the year, In clos
ing he extended thanks to the Patriarch
for their uniform kindness where vista
tions were made, to district deputies TO
courtesies, and to officers and members
of Columbia, Thomas Wildey and Colder
Rule Encampments for their able assist
ance at the institution OF encampments
The reports of the other grand officer
; were then made. Among the vote
passed at this session was one to re-dis
trct the encampment in the state.
These officers were elected in the morn
ing and installed at the afternoon sessio
by the retiring Grand Patriarch David |
) Saunders:
Grand Patriarch, l.. V. Green, Rut
land.
Grand High Priest, D. o. Wallace, 81
: Albans,
, Grand Senior Warden, L. J. Brown
, Bradford
Grand Junior Warden, E. F. Smitl
Barre.
Grand Scribe, Charles w. Farr, s.
Johnsbury.
Grand Treasurer, D. w, Dudley, Mon
5 peler.
= Grand Representative, David L. Saut