The Portland daily press., 1897-09-08
OFF FOR woRCEsTE R.
Canton RidgeIy's Gift to Worcester
Odd Fellows.

Vuu GCllOUos
Two Pine Trees of Maine Raised on Mas
sachusetts Soi1-Programme of the
Event.
Tuesday evening there was general
air of gaiety and pleasure + about the
crowded wharf of the Bostonssboat. Grand
Canton Ridgely of Portland. in blue and
gold, and nodding plumes, headed by
Chandler's band, began there the first
stage of their pilgrimage tot Worcester.
Major F. L. Moseley was in command
and the officers of the Canton present
were: Commandant W. F. Robb and
Ensign L. G. Blaisdell. The Canton
turned out sixty men.
They carried with them an interesting
gift for the Worcester Odd Fellows. When
the Worcester Patriarchs came to Port
land in 1889 they were entertained at
Peaks Island. In the course of the eve
ming negro minstrel, as part of the per-
formance, entered into a soliloquy as to
the Creation. He said that after the AL
mighty had made the earth he had a
shoyelful of mud left. This he threw
down in corner and called it Worcester.
This fling. though not in the best of
taste, was received in good part by the
Worcester visitors. They remembered it,
however, and when Canton Kidgely went
to Worcester in 1890 they returned the
compliment.
In a beautifully constructed box they
presented to the Portland visitors a large
mass of Worcester mud. This was done
with much ceremony, the Grand Patriarch
of the Massachusetts, Odd Fellows making
the presentation speech.
The Portland men accepted the box
of mud and brought it home. Here Mr..
Charles A. Eaton and others took it, and
after mixing some Maine earth with it,
planted therein two little pine trees.
These trees have been growing seven years
and are now handsome young trees.
Tuesday evening Canton Ridgely took
these trees with them. They are to be
placed at the door Of Odd Fellows hall
during the reception, and afterwards are
to be set out in the grounds of the Odd
Fellows Home of Worcester, there to re-
main as mementoes of the Inequalities Of
the Worcester and Portland Odd Fellows.
Canton Ridgely arrives in Worcester at
9.45 today, and leave for home tomorrow
at $50 p. M, arriving here Friday morn
ing on the boat.
At Worcester there will be also Canton
Hebron of Fitchburg, Mass, and Canton
Eagle of Haverhill. The Worcester Can
tons have provided the following pro-
grainme Of entertainment for today: The
reception committee will receive the
guests upon their arrival, in the train
house of the Union station, and the Can
ton will receive them in Washington
square and escort them through Front
street to Salem square to Park street, to
Main street, to Front street, to Washing
ton square, where they will take special
train for Lake Quinsigamond.
On arrival at Lincoln park the four
bands will consolidate, and the lines will
be formed and march to the Belmont
house, where lunch will be served, after
which all will take steamers for Quinsi-
gamond park, where games and sports
and general good time will be in order
A "baked" dinner will be served at
Quinsigamond park at 400 p. m.
Leaving the park at $50 p. M, the
party will return to Lincoln park, where
cars will be taken for the city, arriving
there about 500 p. IN.
Lines will be formed and a parade will
be made through Front street to Main
street to Wellington street, countermarch-
ing through Main street, will pass in re-
view at City hall, before Mayor A. B. r.
Sprague and city government. The
parade will continue to Lincoln square,
countermarching to Washburn hall, where
lunch will be served.
1t is the intention of Cantons Hebron
and Eagle to return home, each by a
special train, late this evening. Grand
Canton Worcester, assisted by Canton
Ridgely, will escort them to the Union
station.
Canton Ridgely will make their head
quarters at the Bay State house until
Thursday afternoon. Thursday morning
the Chevaliers remaining will be given
carriage drives about the city to the Odd
Eellows' Home and other poipto nf in