Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-15
THIRD EDITION. OpD FELLOWS WELCOMED, And Extended the City's Freedom
 by Mayor VanHoose. PRESS ALSO GREETS THEM Through Col Joseph Hodgsou-Large Delega- ton in Attendance Newly Elected
 Officers to Be Installed Today
PRESS ALSO GREETS THEM

Over 200 delegates, ladies and members of the noble order of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows were present at Erswell hall yesterday morning to hear the welcome address to the grand lodge of that body in this city. It was truly representative gathering of men who faithfully carried out the emblems of the chain, the three links of which cover so much of that which makes the whole world akin, "Friendship, love and truth"
 This is the fifty-ffth meeting of that august body in this state, and a glance at the faces or the delegates prove that the subordinate lodges made no mistake in the selection of it's timber to represent them at the grand lodge in the city.
 The meeting was called to order shortly after 10 o'clock by Past Grand Master R. E. Jones, who, in a few we'll chosen words, called upon Rev. k. M. Archibald to open the meeting with prayer.
 Rev. MT. Archibald offered a fervent and glowing prayer to the Maker of the universe, thanking Him for His many gifts to all mankind, and asking Him to lead them in the true principles of Christianity and the doctrines of Odd Fellowship.
 The entire congregation then sang one of the Odd Fellows hymns, as used in the ritual of that order.
 The past grand master then intro duced Hon. J. H. VanHoose, mayor of Birmingham.
 The Mayors Welcome.
 MT VanHoose, in his usual delicious manner, gave the visiting members welcome to this city. He said:
 Fl l. zens: I give you greeting, greeting to you all I welcome you in behalf of our city-freely, gladly, happily. l welcome you not in the exchanging of mystic signs, or grip or hocus pocus. Although I wear a badge I do not know the secret mysteries of your order, but l wear 1t as a mark of honor conferred upon me by member of your order. After the sol emn rites of the occasion it ill becomes me to deal in levty, but 1t IS such unique experience for me to be intro duced by some one else instead of ln- troducing some one that the thought or the change makes me trembe with de- light. It seems that the public is inn bued with the idea that have speech cut and dried for each and every oeca- sion to be sprung upon an unsuspect- ing public whenever l am called upon, but this is a mistake. l am like the boy with the tin pan. l amuse r'''self py
  pan But, in all seriousness, everybody in this county, in every village, hamlet and home has heard If not felt the benefcent effects of the noble order of Odd Fellows, and they are valued and honored wherever they are known and heard or You are reverenced honored and sought after and your charity is as unbounded as the limitless space. well come you, and I want to say right here that while I will not say, All fines promptly remitted,' I will say that the chief of police is particularly good friend of mine, and you are such noble fellows that the freedom or the city mas been given you.
 "Gentlemen, again, on behalf of Bir- mingham and her citizens, I welcome you"
 Col. Joseph Hodgson's Address.
 Col Joseph Hodgson, on behalf of the press, was introduced and said:
 About four years ago ] was honored by addressing a meeting of the Odd Eel lows in Mobile. Then as now l was asked to respond for the press. l can only re- neat now what I said then. The entire state is watching the growth of this or der in amazement. You owe your origin to the city of Manchester England, city whose industry is in many respects similar to the industries which thrive in our city There in the center of pulsat- ing labor, you thrived and existed for many years. From there you came to this country, to the city of Baltimore. It is upon morals that civilization is built, and exists, and depends. and when morality sinks decadence is sure to fol- low. This order is built upon the princi- ples of morality, and therefore its growth is great I welcome you on behalf of the press of Birmingham and of the