The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-27
ODD FELLOWS CELEBRATE.
The Seventy Eighth Anniversary OF the
Order In the Opera House.

All those Wilmington Odd Fellows who
could crowd into the Grand Opera House
were there last night to hear the exercises
commemorative of the seventy. eight ami.
versary of the order. And never were
similar exercises more interesting. On the
stage was seated officers of the Order in
this state and Grand Master George NJ.
Fisher who presided. Between the lodge
men and the audience was bank of
flowers and these with the stage setting of
a conservatory made the effect the pretti-
est that has been seen in the theatre for u
long time.
The exercises began at o'clock with
selection from Grace Orchestra, after
which Rev. W. L. 5. Murray of St. Pauls
M. E. Church led in prayer, the audience
rising The Temple Male Quartette com
posed of Messrs. Harbcrt, Mason, Triggs
and Ayers sang "Dreaming of Mothers
Angel Face" which was well received.
A. C. Bartlett recited the dying Odd
Fellow so pleasingly that he was recall
ed. The other numbers on the program
were: tenor solo "Only Once NJ ore, J.
Frank Ayers; mandolin and guitar selec-
tions by the Orient Club; bass solo, king
of the Road" r. Emmett Triggs Quar-
tette Uncle Sans Party" Temple Male
Quartette; Selection. 'rhe Lady Slav ey'
Grace Orchestra; tenor solo, "Tho Sex
tons Story" James V. Harbert; recita-
ton, Chariot Race from Ben Hur," A.
tions by Orient Club; bass solo, "rhC Old
Toll Keeper" Frank H. Mason; quartettc,
Negro Medley" Temple Male Quartette;
march, king Carnival" Grace Orchcs-
ira
There were also addresses by DR.. +. w.
Cooper. of Camden, Del, and Post Grand
Representative DR.. G. H. Koon OF Phila-
delphia. The former referred to the for
nation of the order rs years ago in
Baltimore by five obscure Englishmcn
and its rapid growth since, which to-day
is without parallel. The benevolent
work Of the order was referred to and
figures given of the years work.
DR.. Rooms address was interesting and
tingcd with humOr. He also referred to
the benevolent work OF the society and
urged the members to greater activity.
He closed by inviting tho young men Of
the city to join themselves TO Odd Fellow
ship and thereby uplift and help them
selves and also plac5 themselves in a
position where they could do good toward
their fellow man.
The committee in charge Of the Cclebra-
ton was composed of j. A Bennett, q.
II. Taylor. l., f. Adair, 5. Marshall, Il. f.
Morrow, j. +. Price, WIN. File, A. Dill
II. Stein, 6. &, Nallor, o. h. Edwards 4.
G. Doud, W. II. Harriott, w. II, Oliver,
G. Hening, +. II. Overd6er, Il, 4. Fuulk,
G W. Pyle II. A. Crozier, G. B. Anthony
H. Burton, Jr., G. h. Roberts, NJ. Jester
G. &. Byron, c. Spoorl, G. Il. Pfromor, G.
Yeager, j. NJ. Whitford, Mahlon Belts and
II, II. Schick.
A NIan Who Stands by His Convictions.
A bill was introduced in the Legislature
last week to compel the Wilmington City
Railway officials tC, reform their service
in that city. 1t ID aimed particularly at
the long hours the employees are com
PEELED to work, the running OF summer
cars in winter, the occupying of streets on
which cars are not run, and tho bad condi-
ton of the track on Front street.
On Tuesday night last the Board of
Trade, of Wilmington, took the matter
up, intending to dGnOunce the measure,
when Peter j Ford rose and calmly told
the Boa d that he was the father of the
hill. A discussion then discovered Il c
fact that Mr., Ford had good grounds for
h is action.
Dr. Smith said that the railway company
was showing discrimination. The facil-
tics on Delaware Avenue, where the rich
man rides, arc all right, but on Front
street, where the poor man rides, the road
was not fit to travel over On both of
these lines the same fare Is paid.
This is Peter J. Ford as we always knew
him, II man who fears not to always
stand by his convictions. When wo urged
his nomination last campaign, we did it
wholly and solely because we knew lie
was this sort of man, and though we
were then roundly abused by the same
oOtere who yet vent their spleen, we wele
consistent in the course we pursued.
10 the oft insinuntcd, buJ never openly
made, charge then and now used, we WISH
to say again, omphatically, that Peter j.
Ford never did, and does not now own or
control in any part or manner the
Countian; never directly or indirectly
contributed or donated dollar to Its sup
port, nor is the Countian Indebted to
him in any way,
We admire the man; he's self-made;
has risen by his own efforts to be one Of
the loading manufacturers of Delaware.
We are proud of him and of his record,
and yet hope to see him chief executive of
tho State.--Sussex Countian. 4