The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-28
THOUSANDS In LINE
The Largest Secret Order Parade Ever
Witnessed in Butte.
MEETING OF ODD FELLOWS
Rev. Mr.. Stull Delivers the Grafton
of the Day-Remarks by Pres
ident Miller and J. r.
tinckle of iowa.

members of that great order The eel
ebration was most imposing one, an,
the expectation that II would eclips
all previou sanniversary observance
was fully realized. The parade was tn
greatest display of membership tina
has ever been made by any secret or
der In Butte, and was one in which
every member of the order is justifieC
In taking an individual pride. 1t wa.
composed Of the six lodges in Butte
Walkerville and Meaderville with Sum.
NIT encampment and the Patriarchs
Militant, and a conservative estimate
places the number of men who were in
line at 1,500. Fidelity lodge, the pioneer
lodge OF Butte, was represented by
more than 300 of its members. The
parade left the Auditorium at a little
after O'Clock and marched through
the city in the following order:
Marshal and Aides.
Il. e. NJ. Band.
Widely Canton No. /.
Summit Encampment No. T.
Svea Lodge No. 81.
Enterprise Lodge No. 40.
Colusa Lodge No. 49,
Olive Branch Lodge No. 2s
Butte Cornet Band.
Ridgeley Lodge No. IL.
Fidelity Lodge No. s.
The streets were thronged every
where and the parade was witnessed
and admired by thousands. The Patri-
archs Militant attracted a great deal
OF attention in their handsome uni
forms, and all of the others in line were
attired in full regalia- The parade was
not only large but 1t was a fine appear
ing body OF men and was thoroughly
representative of the order of the three
links After traversing a line of march
which included all of the principal
streets, the parade returned TO the Au-
ditorium where the exercises of the day
were held.
]. w. Miller. president OF the day
presided over the afternoon meeting at
the Auditorium, which Immediately
followed the parade, and when he
raped for order. at 3:15 O'Clock. every
seat In the large hall was occupied and
nearly all of the available standing
room was taken. The opening ode of
the order was sung, after which Grand
Secretary o. ]. White read the procla-
nation ordering the celebration.
J. w. Miller then delivered the OPEN
Ing remarks. MY remarks viii be very
brief" he said. for am not much on
the remarking business. We are here
to celebrate another anniversary of
this grand institution called Odd Eel
lowship, whose innumerable acts OF
benevolence and charity are known
only to the recipients, the Giver and
tnt supreme IuttI OF the universe.
Twenty-Five years ago the first lodge
of the !. o. o. F. Of this state was in
stituted in Helena and to-day's dem
onstration evidences the progress
which the order has made in Montana.
We have now 50 lodges and nearly 5000
members in Montana. and odd Fellow
ship will continue to grow and progress
as long as time lasts. odd Fellowship
makes better men and husbands, bet
Ter fathers and hotter ~ 20
bers and inculcates teachings of bene-
violence and charity.
II regret that. for some reason the
Daughters of Rebekah were not repre-
scented In our parade of to-day. for they
are a most important factor I'm the
growth of Odd Fellowship. They exer-
else a beneficent influence over men,
and ann glad that the growth of their
order Is keeping pace with that of the
parent organization. i believe that
every Odd Fellow should be a member
of the Rebel0ahs."
MIR. Miller concluded by speaking of
the prejudice which existed agains.
the i. o. O. f. and other secret socie-
ties 90 years ago. when he was a boy,
and expressed qualification that II was
rapidly dying away.
Miss Rose Morris sang and Miss Jane
Morris rectted. Both were heartily APP
plauded.
]. NJ. Hinckle of Fairfield, Iowa, was
then introduced and delivered an ad-
dress on odd Fellowship and its aims
and principles. which was listened to
with great attention. He spoke IN
substance as follows: AT this time
and age in this country there are COM
paratively few who oppose the prln-
ciples and teachings of this grand and
benevolent organization. and the time
Is not far distant when there will be
little or no objection urged against the
order. We. as members. should not
complain at or abuse those who are OPP
posed to the order, because that is their
right and privilege. AS a rule they are
honest in their opposition, although
their objections are based on prejudice.
We should not forget that none of US
are free from prejudices and that a
great many of our conclusions are
based thereon. II we would be respect
ed and reap the pleasures derived from
sociability and friendship. we must be
friendly and sociable ourselves. Blot
out the social features OF our lives and
we would be selfish and miserable. in
deed. Where can we ind any organiza-
ton outside OF the school, church
and family circles that does more in ef-
fecting sociability and friendship than
the l. o. o. F.? Its influence does not
stop with the membership IL extends
in a greater or less degree 20 all Glasses
of society. Its good work can be seen
on every hand; the seed IL has sown is
bearing fruit abundantly. The most
incredulous and prejudiced minds
against the order in searching for OBJ
jections can only say, Its meetings
should not be secret II they would
but stop a moment and brush away
the clouded prejudice from their minds
and let the light OF consideration and
reason dawn in upon their Intellect.
11ar objection would vanish as the
shadow Of night before the sunlight OF
to-day. II 81 IS right foe the husband
and wife. the mother and daughter.
the brother, sister. the doctor and pa
tent and the lawyer and client TO have
secret consultations and keep them in |
violate, then II would not be wrong for |
friends and neighbors to meet together |
in secret sessions for good purposes. |
As we struggle through life we fee THAI |