The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-10

ANDREW M'KENZIE.
their families and friends. who had gathered
for tho purpose OF celebrating the silver anni'
versary of the lodge About o clock Past
| Chancellor Robert j. Clegg. who was master
of ceremonies. welcomed the guests In behalf
| Of the lodge. and introduced Grand Chancellor
Andrew Mckenzie, who il a member Of the
lodge, vino gave history of the organization,
| a synopsis of which Is as follows: In the early
part uf 1871, when olneyville was small
village with but one mill of any consequences.
there were but two lodges OF secret societies
there, one was Manufacturers Lodge Of odd
Fellows and the other was lodge OF the
Temple Of Honor. In those days all i'm
| portant matters were talked over in little
tailor shop, which was managed by John n.
Williams and Joseph jackson, both o. whom
were member OF the Temple OF Honor. and 1t
was in this little shop tnat it was decided
that williams, jackson, John Dore. MARKHAM
and Andrew Mckenzie. be made members OF
Damon Lodge. and IL they were favorabiy
| Impressed, that lodge should he formed In
OlneyviIle and on tho evening Of January ls,
1871, they were admitted Immediately after
this petition for new lodge was circulated,
and in few evenings afterward the member
met in Armory Hall, organized, selected the
name and number OF the lodge, and elected
tho following named officers: Venerable
| ratriarch, John N. Williams; worthy chan
cellor. Andrew Mckenzie; worthy vice-chan-
cellor, Joseph Jackson: banker. David No
Kay; financial secretary, Joshua Stetson; re-
cording secretary, jeremiah Mckay, guide,
| James Algers; inside sentinel, Reese Whittle;
| outside sentinel, Samuel wf1de The lodge
was Instituted March o, 1871. with about 25
members, in Irons Hall by Grand Chancellor
Clarence T. Gardner, NJ. D., and here 1t
fourished, for before the end OF the year the
mem mbership was about l45.
About January ], 1872. the lodge met with
quite a reverse, as a number Of Its members
withdrew to form what was known as Crusa-
der Lodge, which lived but Ave years
On the afternoon Of February 8, 1872, the
lodge had the misfortune to lose all OF its
belongings by fire. and then came the hard
times Of 1874, and tho membership was
greatly reduced. The lodge moved about
considerably until 1884, when IL moved into
the ball in the Narrapansett block on West
minister street, where il has remained ever
since, and has enjoyed a season Of prosperity,
and today has a membe rship of 02, and Is tho
only lodge of tho order in the state that has
paid and does pay, q continuous benefit to its
sick members.
The speaker then gave facts and figures,
told OF the thousands and thousands Of dollars
that had been paid out OF the treasury Of the
lodge fer death and sick benefits, watching
with the sick. burying the dead and relieving
tho distressed. This portion OF the evenings
exercises was perhaps the most interesting.
The other speakers OF the evening were: Su.
preme Representatives Charles A. lee and
Frank W. Taylor, and as both are interesting
takers, added much to the occasion.
Statistics and speeches did not by any means
compris, the whole program. for the otm'
mittee arranged a very pleasing musical and
literay program. in which Dot Fisher, the
well-known and charming little vocalist, rem
dered n mum ber Of selections, rs did Miss +.
T.. streoter, j. b. Doyle aud W. II. Child. b.
h. Follett and II. II. Merrett, gave selections
on different sorts OF musical instruments. and
Albert q. Price entertained the audience
with several well rendered readings. Frank
f. streeter presided at the piano.
At the conclusion of this part Of tho even
in,'s exercises, Mr. Mckenzie was doubly sur
prised first by being the recipient OF large
basket Of handsome flowers. and last. but not
iens,, by being presented the gnvel which he
had used 30 years ago. Inc
speeches were made by Attorney -at'L Law j.
j. McGiiL The gavel In question was found
by tho late Past Chancellor David Barr In the
ruins OF the fire, when their hall was burned.
and he presented IL 90 brother X. Green, who
in turn gave it to tho grand chancellor.
After this pleasant incident, n delicious
lunch was served by Burlando, after which
dancing was IN order uhtil 10 was time for all
to go to he'd.
There are but Eve OF the charter members
of the lodge now connected with IL. They
nre; Grand Chancellor Mckenzie. James
BottomIy, II. Il. Reynolds, Joshua EtcheI and
James brown, all Of whom were present last
evening.
The present orrs ot officers is Chance'-
ior commander, Thomas n. Bacon, vice-chan-
celior, Robert !. sullivan; prelate, G. l..
Doyie; master q work, Rufus j. spregues =.
c.; aster-at.srmy, f. Green: keeper OF
records ana seal Charles II. Brown. y. {. {;
msster OF finance. Robert l. Clerg, H. {. I;
r,aster OF excheouer james Brown. r. q. |;
inner guard, John Williams; outer guard,
william Hermsn.
Among the grand officers present were
grand Keeper Of records and seal William A
Wilson; grand master OF exohequer James NJ
washoorue; grand prelsts Donslas M. John
| stone; grand and outer guard, Carl Litchen'
berg: past grand chsncellors Walter Scott,
George l.. Gates and Pred N. Gou were
among the invited guests.
Zhe committee that 30 successfully arranged