Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-17
SAMARITAN LODGE
Odd Fellows, aWatervi|Ie, Dedi-
cate Fine New Hall.
Grand Officers and Visitors from All
Parts Of State Present.
After Dedication Exercises, a Sumpiuous Ban.
quet and Ball Follows.

Waterville, Me-, Dec. 16.-(SpeciaD. -
Three or four hundred years hence,
when the children of that day have oc-
casion to look over the Maine Farmers
Almanac for a record of important
events that have occurred in the his
tory of this country, they will find op-
posite the date of Thursday, Dec. 1G,
1897. the following: Hall of Samaritan
Lodge of Odd Fellows of Waterville.
Me-, dedicated. Some of the children
may wonder then what Waterville was
on that night, but if they could search
through the history of the State, they
might learn that Waterville at the
period in question was about the only
town in the State that could afford u
real nice, convenient and commodious
hall. At least that is the way some
folks talked. last night.
Samaritan Lodge. No. 80, had man
aged to exist for long time down on
the corner of Main and Silver streets.
but as soon as Attorney General
Haines started in on his new block on
Common street, it was plain to be seen
that he intended to put up something
substantial and the Odd Fellows were
bound to be in the game for a new hall
and they got it. They agreed and he
agreed and finally one of the handsom-
est halls that can be found anywhere
in Maine was the result. The Journal
has given description of the hall IN
previous issue, showing the floor
plans. Everything was all ready for
the dedication and the date for the
same was set down for last night.
The lodge raised the following commit
tee to have charge of the arrangements
for the dedication: J. w. Morrill,. noble
grand; f.. N. Keen, past grand: G. w.
Wormell. past grand; W. III. Dearborn,
ice grand; w. A. Hagar. past grand: N.
j. Norris, past grand. 1t occurs to the
reporter that there was considerable of
the past grand business to the event but
as the said event is now of the grand past
of the lodge, there is no complaint legally
coming.
To being with. the grand officers of the
Grand Lodge and the grand officers of
the Encampment and the Uniform Rank
We're invited to be present and they were
here. 1t was a brilliant sight that greet
ed the reporter he entered the hall.
last evening. There Were brilliant uni
forms everywhere. There We're we'll
gowned ladies. than which there are none
more beautiful than in Waterville. There
We're men of means and men of staple
character without the means. There
were friends who had come from long
distances to attend the grand affair.
There was music in the air There was
a cheerfulness of association that made
one feel at home amid the SurSinS
throng.
Past Grand w. A. Hagar had charge of
the feast that was spread in the banquet
room on the fourth floor. Well, some of
you have partaken of a society supper
gotten up by Waterville people, and you
know how that is. or was. Anyway. it is
said that $50 people sat down to the feast
and it is the opinion of the reporter that
the estimate is low enough. judging from
the crowd that filled the halls and ante
rooms. After supper there was short
space that was occupied by the strangers
becoming acquainted with each other
Among the grand officers were noticed
Grand Master A. l.. Pike of Norway
Deputy Grand Master Albro E. Chase of
Portland Grand Warden Charles o. Small
of Madison. Grand Marshal J. w. Crom,
NETT of Norway. Past Grand Master
Samuel Adams of Belfast. Past Grand
Master A. s. Kimball of Portland, Past
Grand Master Russell G. Dyer. Portland;
Past Grand Master George Goss of Lew
iston, Grand Chaplain Elbridge Gerry of
Ellsworth.
Of the grand officers of the Grand En-
campment were present: Grand Patriarch
F. l.. Pond of Augusta. Grand High
Priest H. S. Thoms of Bangor. Grand
Senior Warden A. b. Kimball and Grand
Junior Warden Horace Lowering of Wa
terville.
OF the Uniform Rank there We're the
following: General Herbert G. Foster of
Waterville. department commander; Col.
A. b. Neatly of Lewiston, chief of staff
George p. Colby of Waterville assistant
adjutant general Major j. F. Hill of Wa
terville assistant quartermaSter general;
r. II. HOwes. assistant cOmmisSary gen.
eral: F. l.. Mosely, assistant inspector
general; Major C. E. Weeks. chief of
equipment; c. L. Fox. aide de camp, and !
F. NJ. Glass, aide de camp.
At $50 the dedication exercises began in |
the lodge room. The programme con- |
sisted of music by a quartet and Halls |
Orchestra. Then followed the address by |
Rev. George D. Lindsey of the Pleasant |
Street Methodist church. The address. too !
long to be given here was of a congratu- |
latory nature and was listened to with |
much attention. Following the address |
came short speeches by the grand master |
and other of the grand officers of the |
different branches of the order. The
speeches We're in a way of congratula-
ton to the lodge and were very happy in
their phraseology.
The services at the hall having con-
Guided. all hands repaired to the City hall
where the floor had been cleared for &
ball. The music was provided by Halls
full Orchestra and the many dancers en-
ioyed many hours of the night in trip
ping the toe that will get fantastic. All
in all. the dedication of the hall of
Lodge was by far the happy
event of the history of the lodge.