The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

There was a great crowd of Hepta-
sophs and their friends at Lake Ariel
yesterday to celebrate the Eighteenth
anniversary of the organization of that
well-known order. During the after
noon 1t was estimated that there were
fully 1000 persons on the picnic
grounds. The majority of them were
Scrantonians, but nearly every city and
town between Carbondale and Nanti-
coke was also represented.
Importance was lent to the occasion
by the fact that three supreme officers
were present. They were Supreme Ar
chon Morris G. Cohen, of Pittsburg;
Supreme Medical Director j. II. Chris
tian, of Baltimore, and Supreme Or
ganizer John w. Cruitt, of Baltimore.
The arrangements for the celebration
were in charge of a general committee
composed Of members of the conclaves
Of I.ackawanna and Luzerne counties.
The first batch of excursionists went
over on the S.45 train in the morning.
Other trains went over during the
morning and early afternoon, and the
regular train at 22S p. m. contained
several hundred persons. During the
morning hours the exCursionists en-
joyed themselves about the grove and
on the lake. Bauer's band furnished
excellent music for dancing, and there
was an abundance of delectable re-
freshments served by Caterer Kelly. OF
course there was the wheel of fortune
to furnish excitement and amusement
to those who love to hazard their
dimes on any kind of a chance. The
weather was delightful and the day
was thoroughly enjoyed by the large
| party of excursionists.
SOME SPEECH MAKING.
At 2.30 p. m. the balcony at the end
of the platform facing the lake was
| converted temporarily into a speakers s
| platform and City Treasurer c. G. Bo-
| land, who acted as chairman, intro
| duced the supreme officers, each of
| whom made a short address. Supreme
! Archon Cohen spoke in a general way
of the aims and objects of the order,
and of it's steady and substantial
growth. He is now serving his second
| term as supreme archon, having been
reelected at the convention in Louis
| vile, KY, last May. The term is two
| years. Mr.. Cohen came here and at
tended yesterdays celebration at the
lake, although the conclaves at his
home, in Pittsburg, had arranged for
a big demonstration yesterday. Fif-
teen thousand persons were expected
to attend 1t.
Supreme Medical Director Christian,
during his remarks, outlined a more
liberal policy towards the hitherto re-
jected applicants for membership, who
work about the mines. DR.. Christian
has been supreme medical director
ever since the order was organized
and It is largely due to his care in
selecting risks that the Heptasophs
have been able to give such a low
insurance rate.
The remarks of Supreme Organizer
Cruitt were in the nature Of re-
view of the progress of the order. He
has been it's organizer for number
of years, and has seen it grow unit
now it has a membership of over 4O,'
000 and is one of the strongest fra
ternal organizations in the country
| Following the remarks of the SUI
preme officers, Chairman Boland in
troduced Walter V. Handrick, chair
man of the general committee, which
had charge Of the excursion, and At
torney John NJ. Harris, both of whom
made short addresses. One of the prom
inent Heptasophs on the platform dur
ing the speechmaking was A. NJ
Peters, of Lotus Conclave, of Danville
who is one of the most popular mem
bers of the order in the country. H
was the guest of the general commit
tee. After the speechmaking the su
preme officers held a reception.
CHANGE OF POLICY.
During the day an important an
nouncement was made which was yer.
, gratifying to the members of the orde
in this part of the state. Heretofor
, men employed in and about mines hav
, been refused admission TO the orde
and at the Supreme conclave at Louis
vile in May p. A. Philbin, of Arch
bald, and Charles Bettys, of Peckville
made a strong effort to have that ba
, removed. In this work they were as
, sisted by c. G. Boland and other rep
, resentatives from this region. They b
, lieved that If the supreme medical di
I rector would come here, examine tn
4 collieries and get better idea of tn