The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-22
DEDICATION OF A temple
Ceremonies Of Interest to Odd Fcl-
lows Of Pennsylvania.
RAIN INTERRUPTS THE PARADE
The Dcd ication Services, However, Take
Place at the Appointed Time-An AL
tar Erected Interesting Sym.
bOls Of Odd Fellowship.

Philadelphia, May 2l.-An incessant
rain played an important but unfortu-
nate part In today's celebration incl
dent to the dedication of the $l,O00,O 900
Odd Fellows temple at Broad and
Cherry streets. For several months the
10000 members of the order In Philadel-
phia, and thousands of Odd Fellows In
other sections have looked forward to
the parade arranged to take place to-
day, with considerable interest. The
procession, which was to have been
composed of 10000 men and 100 brass
bands. was to have started at 2 p. m,
but at that hour the grand marshall
Samuel McKeever. reluctantly an
nounced that the parade was abandoned.
The rain had been coming down In tor
rents for several hours prior to this
time. but the heads of the order would
not declare the event off until the last
moment. As 1t was, Broad street. which
was to have been the scene of the pa
rade, was crowded with thousands of
prospective and umbrella protected
sightseers. The dedicatory ceremonies
proper. however. were gone through
with, they being held, as was arranged,
In the auditorium Of the temple. By
nightfall there was an exodus Of the
thousands of odd Fellows who have ar
rived In the city during the week.
Only members of the Independent Or
der Of Odd Fellows and the Daughters
Of Rebekah Cthe feminine branch of the
order were admitted to THE dedicatory
services, which began at 10 a. M, but
the auditorium was crowded far beyond
its capacity.
....t- The Exercises Begin.
The exercises began with a voluntary
on grand organ, and then a ritualistic
form of public dedication prepared for
the occasion was followed throughout,
Grand Chaplain David Craft Offering
prayer. Grand Master-elect Charles
Chalfant announced that the grand
officers were present for the purpose
Of dedicating the building, and the
erection of an altar was then COM
menced, the artisans and bearers be-
ing summoned. and ceremony follow
ing that was profoundly instructive
and earnest.
The grand marshal, Samuel Mckee
yer, summoned the heralds. one by one.
with appropriate addresses to each one,
while he faced the direction represent
ed, he standing in the center Of the
hall. Ait the conclusion of the reply
of the herald of the north, a large
white rectangular block of marble was
taken by the four bearers as the basis
Of the altar, 1t typifying purity. Thew
came a pinkish block from the south
for Friendship" and with new
trowel, new level and a new square, 1t
was adjusted in place by the artisans.
From the east came a blue block to
represent "love," and from the west
crimson stone to place truth" in the
altar
Entrance Of the Patriarch.
There were then four blocks in place
and when the organist finished the
trumpet-like Damascus march, the tur-
baned patriarch were ushered in, with
Augustus Pfaff, sr., in the robes of the
high priest, and Christian Fisher
George Borden, William H. Wagner, j.
j. Wynn, Nathanial Peacock and El-
mer Rodenbaugh as patriarchs.
Faith, Hope and Charity" were pre-
sented in the form of one green, one
yellow and a top brown block. These
seven large stones.
Following a prayer, and the singing
OF the "Jubilate" by a choir of forty
voices, Henry Kengott, secretary OF the
building committee, turned over the
key to the grand master, who, In ac-
ceptance, made thoughtful speech.
The keystone Brotherhood" was
sung by the choir to the tune OF "Jer'
usalem the Golden" and the grand
master and grand warden. Amos ii
Hail. announced the bringing on of the
Bible. which was borne in open by -four
bearers. ...
Reading of the Scriptures.
Part of the tenth chapter of Luke was
read, and the grand master and the
bearers recited the twenty-third Psalm
The choir sang chorus, and the grand
master declared the building dedicated
while a burst Of music from the orgar
punctuated his closing words. Declara
tions were then made by the herald.
that the temple was dedicated to friend
ship love and truth, water being
sprinkled, fire burned and wheat scat
tered to each separate pronouncement
Then the herald of the west mad,
his announcement, and the orphan!
children entered, making a pretty ant
touching sight. "Rebekah," represented
by Emma May Blanchard, and attand
ants, strewed flowers. The choir sans
two beautiful choruses and the cere
moniea closed with the DOxology nm,
benediction.
The grand lodge held a short session
in st. Georges hall this morning fo
the purpose of formally distributing tn,
report of the grand master, Harry l.
Neall.
At the Academy.
Today's celebration was brought Il
an end tonight at the Academy Of
Music. The building was crowded
when Grand Master Neall stepped t
the front of the stage and, in brie
speech introduced Grand Sire J. w
Stebbins, of Rochester, N. Y. An ad
/ dress was made by the grand sire ant
by Mrs. Eunice Melville, editor Of tn,
, National Rebekah, her subject beint
1.-THE Daughters Of Rebekah."
, At the conclusion of the programme
there was a full dress reception by tn
/, officers of the state assembly and th
lady patronesses of the Daughters o
Rebekah and their friends at the Acad
envy. There were also numerous enter
I tainments by local lodges rendered I,
yisitisg lodges. which were held II
, various halls throughout the city.