The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-01
SILVER JUBILEE.
Oriental Lodge Observes Twenty
Fifth Anniversary.
One of the Most Prosperous Secret Soci-
Giles In N:w England.

Twenty five years ago last evening
Oriental Lodge, Knights OF Pythias,
now one of the most flourishing and pros
porous secret organizations in New
England, was instituted. Its silver an
niverssry was fittingly observed last
evening at the lodge room at the corner
OF Westminster and Dean streets, where
a large mum ber gathered to enjoy ban
quet.
John Perkins, master OF ceremonies,
welcomed the members and guests. and
without much ado directed all to eat
drink and be merry. After all mad had
their I'LL, Grand Chancellor Andrew Nc
Kenzie was introduced and made an in-
teresting address upon legislation. He
was followed by Supreme Representa-
tives Charles A. Lee and Frank W. Tay'
lor, Chancellor commander NJ. ii. Kane,
Grand Prelate Douglass X. tombstone,
Grand Master-at-Arms Frank .. We
bosky, Grand Outer Guard Carl Litchen-
berg, Past Grand Chancellor A. Il. Glad,
ding, Past Cnapcellors A. Il. Howe OF
Ivanhoe Lodge, q. p. Bragg OF Blake
Lodge OF Worcester. Mass, and Others.
Oriental Lodge was instituted July 81,
1871, in the old Academy OF Music by
Grand Chancellor Clarence B. Gardner,
NJ. D., with 43 charter mem bers. The
My one of the Original! 43 now a men,
ber OF the order is Past Chancellor A.
b. Gladding. who during his Pythian life
has held more than go different offices,
which include the lowest and the high
est orders that the memb bers OF his own
lodge and the members In the State could
bestow upon ham. Until recent change
In the rituallstic work, ho was consider
ed the best authority in New England,
and had but few superiors in the coun-
try. The lodge has always met upon
Thursday evening. and II was learned
last evening that Brother Gladding had
missed but one Thursday evening in the
quarter of a century that he did not de-
vote to Pythianism.
The books of the lodge show that dur
ing these years 56l persons have been
initiated, but deaths, Withdrawals to four
other lodges, and suspensions has left the
lodge with 1873 members, most OF them
being among the best PythIans in the
State, and there is no branch Of the order
but what has few representatives from
this lodge.
OF the men who Joined the lodge the
first year of 'ts existence and are still
active mem bers are: ". ii. Mavis, A. 4.
Farnum, NJ. X. Sphinx, William Lloyd,
A. Il. Cady, Job A. Armstrong, Lyssnder
Bennett, Charles Morgan, y. A. sheldon
and q. A. Cahoone. The late brother II.
Il. Osgood was also member of the first
year. The lodge has had Its ups and
downs, and while In the Academy OF
Music Hall had the misfortune to be
visited by Gre. For a while meetings
were held In different halls In the city.
but IL years ago the hall in Burrows
block was leased, and the lodge has con-
tinued TO meet there since. The present
board OF officers Is. Chancellor COM
mander, NJ. ii. Kane; vice chancellor,
NJ. L. Happoldt; prclate, A. Mungiven;
master of finance, Alb. Gladding; master
of exchequer George u. winslow; keeper
of records and seal, A. g. Orcott; master
at arms, W. L. Morrissy; master OF work,
j. w. Boak; iunerguard, George T..
Sunderland; outer guard, W. s. Sprague;
trustees, A. b. Gladding, J ohm Purkis and
Il. j. Collamore. The committee who
had charge of last nights affair were /:
John z. Purkis, Charles F. Richards, Z.
ID. Carpenter, William A Cornell, &. b..
Hawkins, A. B. Gladding and {. 4.
Gildard. The festi closed at mid
night.