The Portland daily press., 1897-01-01
In ITS NEW HOME.
Odd FelloWship's Splendid Habita.
ton
IN THE FINE NEW BAXTER BUILD
ING,

An Informal Opening Yesterday Which
the Public Attended In Large Numbers
The New Quarters Credit to Archf-
tect, Owner, Builder, Furnishers and
Occupants.
| The poor mortal who thirsteth after the
mysteries of Odd Fellowship and would
fain acquire the mystic secrets of that
ancient and honorable order, has always
one mighty dread :-thesgoat.
He knows that to gain the knowledge
that he seeks, he has to ride. that festive
and historic animal of long hair and
scriptural reputation. 1t Ia not pleasant
thing TO contemplate at best and that
| particular specimen of the species-owned
by the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows
of the Forest City. has reputation OF be-
ing an animal of great agility, unusually
hard head, particularly sharp horns and
| courage undaunted.
| In the future, however the trembling
candidate has one consolation. AS ride
he must-it ia comforting to know this
ride will be 'laid in pleasant places,
and he will argue to himself that no
really hrainy goat would act in such
terribly disreputable manner amid the
beautiful surroundings of the fne
new home, which the Odd Fellows of
Portland occupied yesterday for the first
time, and of which they are justly proud.
These elegant new quarters in the Baxter
building were yesterday thrown open to
the inspection of the admiring general
public. The reception was entirely in
formal, and thousands Of citizens awaited
themselves of the opportunity to view
the new quarters.
Men who were pioneers in Odd Fellow
ship in Portland, whose recollsctions go
back over half century must have
been filled with special and pardonable
pride as yesterday they thought of the
contrast between the home of Odd Eel
lowship then and it's present palatial
quarters.
1t was in August, 1s45, that perhaps
dozen men met in
A SMALL ROOM
| O ver the Canal bank, then located on
| Union street, and planted the tiny acorn
that was to take root, flourish and grow
| into the giant oak of Odd Fellowship
that is now one of the institutions OF fair
Portland. "They builded better than
they knew" and probably the most
| roseate perspective of the most earnest
enthusiast than ever pictured any thing
quite SO grand for the future as is the
monument to success in which Portland
Odd Fellowship will hereafter make a
habitstion and home.
There was but one opinion among the
many people who visited the new
quarters in the Baxter block yesterday
afternoon and evening, and that was of
admiration for the rooms and congratu
lations to those who have labored SO hard
to secure the present state of
COMFORT AND PERFECTION
and who are entitled to a most pardon
able pride in the splendid results of their
labors. Mr.. A. d. Smith, whose long
training of half century in Odd Fellow
ship, especially fitted him for the task,
planned the excellent internal arrange
ments Of the quarters. Not one Of his
plans was altered by the building COM
mittee, and he was naturally happy over
the universal praise accorded his work
yesterday. His watohfui eye has followed
the work since its designing, and the
most careless observer can but notice the
splendid work manship which marks all
of Api oh fr1tr orc
will show with what care and thorough
ness 1t has been done.
1t is almost impossible in short news
paper sketch TO properly describe the new
quarters. There ara SO many rooms,
SO MANY POINTS
which merit praise, SO many little things
that perhaps strike the casual observer
as unimportant; but what mean so much
to those who are to occupy the rooms, that
it is impossible to mention them. 1t
really seems as If nothing has been
neglected that would add to comfort or
the facility for carrying out the various
functions of the order, sacred or secrot.
There has been great attention to detail;
even the signal knockers contain the de-
sign of the mystic "three links" and
this same minuteness OF taste and treat
ment characterizes the whole quarters.
The two top floors of the handsome
Baxter building are devoted to the order.
On the fourth floor the
CENTER OF ATTRACTION
of course, the big lodge room for the
use of the subordinate lodges. This room
is massive in its height and other pro-
portions. Lest the Odd Fellows of long
standing should feel pang of regret at