The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-24
Rev. J. Cleveland Hall Charmed
a Large Audience.
TIE PYTHIAN CELEBRATION AT
THE ACADEMY LAST NIGHT WAS
A SIGNAL SUGGESTIVE AL.
DIENCE WAS IMMENSE AND EN-.
TIRELY SYMPATHETIC = THE
PROGRAMME WAS CARRIED OUT
IN A HIGHLY ENJOYABLE MAN
NER.


assembled in the Academy of Music gath
cred last night to witness the thirty
third anniversary celebration of the
Knights of PythiaS, held by Oceolt
Lodge. No. Al, in conjunction with Roa.
noke Division, No. IL, U. r. X. of p.
The arrangement of the stage presented
IL most pleasing spectacle rs the curtin
arose. First were the officers of Oceola
Lodge in their robes of Office. Back Of
them were the past chanceilors Of the
lodge and still back of these were The
officers and members Of Roanoke Division
No. II, Uniform Rank.
The evenings exercises f,,.ned with -
Mlislcai selection bv the Ronnokc
Machine Works Band. followed by a
prayer By Rev, IRA w. liimmel. The reg
ular order Of the programme was then
taken uA l,5aSsSSSSS! Sc,
Afte' .ome beautiful selections by the
Sbcnaldoah Mandolin ana Guitar Club
and the Roanoke Machine Works Band,
Grand Chancellor II. NJ. Darnall, who was
master of ceremonies, spoke as follows:
&C. c., brother knights, ladies' and gen
tlemcn: Three years ago we gave you an
entertainment on the thirtieth annivcr.
Sary OF our order. Tonight we have as
sembled to celebrate the thirty third an
uiSersary and onshehalf of Osceola Lodge
No ~ NlllHulS vi NufJSc
auspices this celebration is had, am
charged with the pleasant duty OF extend
ing to you our appreciation Of Jour
presence.
Owe believe that the array of talent
shown upon our programme warrants us
in assuming TINT the evening will be Il
pleasant one.
'Threc years ago had the pleasure IF
giving you IL brief outline OF the history
of our lodge. In 1894 our lodge room.
puraphernalia and records were destroyed
by fire and will not attempt To again
review its slistory, except in IL very brief
way, in order to show you that our ledge
has kept pace with the progressive march
of the order.
''Three years ago we had invested in real
estate, S2.302.12; paraphernalia, etc, ST.
'000.7O; sick benefits paid, S2.5S5.OU.
Since that date we have eXpeT7dedGor sick
benefits the SUN of $4,o93.l4 Our in
vestnicnts have been increased to some
extent, but if 30 the 81, $50 paid out TO,
sick benefits up to January |, 1894, we
add the sum of :4,093 il paid for the
years "a, 30 and 90 we have Il grand
tot,ri of S6G7S. II paid out for sick bene-
fits and relief since the organization of
our lodge in 1888. Besides this we lmve
expended quite n sum for individual
charities and for funeral benefits.
- Each member of ouS lodge is entitled
to 81 per week in case OF sickness and in
revent OF death the SUM of S;2jU is imme
'diatey paid rs Il fuacriu benefit TO his
nearest relative.
This will give you some idea of the
benefits in "A financial way 90 membership
in orr order. With L uiform Ranl,
company Of young men, making up II
part of the great Pythinn army OF %. 00O
-
fiftyfour memis.r> carrying Sl;fl 900 of
insurance for the benefit OF Pyth;an wives
and children, ANA with II membership
composed of the best OF Dur citizens IL
stall of oil cerS devoted To the great prin-
ciples OF our order, Oscecla Lodge stands
to-day at the head OF the Pythinn column
in Virginia. and commands the admiI4l.
ton not only of 12ythians in our own
State, but wherever itsnume l. known.
Although only al generation old, this
young giant among secret fraternal orders
stands to-day the peer of any aud inferior
10 none. 1t has begun to write its mar
HE history and upon the glittcring shafts
that stand ID mark the city OF the dead
are recorded the names OF some OF the
brightest and best OF this great country.
Proud Of our order, conscious OF its
power for good, aud appreciatin9 Its glo.
rious principles we feel that We are right
i'll celebrating the mlest Ones of its his.
tory and commenting 1t to you as ~ good
thing" The beautiful Covers OF
Pythian virtue that bloom along the
pathway OF every loyal KNIGHT have been
water ed by the gratcfu. tears of Pvthian
widows and nouri-hed by the sunshine
'of smiling hearts made glad ny the warm
grasp of Iythian friendship. cannot
attempt to gather these fragrant bios
SONS and Irvine them into besutiful gur.
lands to strew at your feet, but will leave
that duty to one much better qualified
for the pleasant task.
And now, my friends, as my task j.
ended, take pleasure in announcing the
first number on the programme
After II selection by the band the
speaker of the evening, Rev. J. Cievalusd
Hall, of Danville, wits introduced bl
Grand Chancellor Darnal.
Mr.. Hall spoke in part Us follows:
PROPHECIES are not confined to Bibles
nor did all the worlds prophets live in
the hoary past. That young man in the
capital city of our nation who establish
our order saw visions in the night seasons
ana was a dreamer of dreams The wear.
oil has boyhoOd and youth had rolled by
amidst the bleak clouds that forbodc the
storm which was soon TO break The
thunder OF factional and sectional strife
"t words ac' ompanied his steps in the
Symnasia of his formative years Nut
terings and threats, factional harangues
and secret drillings in the manual ol
arm were familiar features Of the every
day life Of those years of American his.
tory. And ~ last the beat of drums. the
roll OF musketry, the lightning flash OF
swords in deadly conflict, the BOOMING
roar of cannon made the stern diapa.
son to the time OF which lie marched
from boy TO man.
Bat the end of ;hc cruel internecnt