The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-24
RALEIGH REPRESENTED
THE SESSION REPRESENTS THE
ORDER THE WORLD OVER.
THE PARADE WAS THREE MILES LONG
Among North Carolinians Present are Mr.. an
Mrs. c. N. Busbee, Messrs. Lums-
den of Raleigh, Benton Of Wilson,
and PeIIetier, of kewbern.
Springfield, ILL.,, Sept. 20. 1897.

TO the Editor: The Sovereign Grand
Lodge of the world being in session in
this city take it that you will appreciate
few lines concerning same. This being
the first of the session, ] VIII tell you of
the Introductory ceremony. At 8 o'clock
a. m. the Sovereign Grand body was
formed at Leland Hotel and proceeded
to the capitol, where the sessions are be-
ing held in the hall of Representatives.
Headed by a superb band from the watch
factory, the procession was very impos-
ing, and the capitol building, which is
handsomely decorated, bespeaks the fact
that the Odd Fellows Of the world have
at last taken full charge OF one Of the
grandest States in the Union. The open
ing ceremonies We're ably presided over
by the Hon. Alfred Orendorff, of Spring
field. The first address OF welcome was
made by Governor Tanner, of Illinois,
who said in part that ut has been TWEEN
ty-six years since this grand body met in
| this State, in the city OF Chicago. Since
that time the population of the State
has been doubled, but the great order of
Odd Fellows has trebled it's membership.
| Illinois knows what the order is; the
whole State saw its beneficent work to
our Chicago sufferers In the shadow of
Lincoln's tomb is a fitting place to legis-
late for any benevolent institution and for
the good of humanity. The order is not
only recognized, but is popular in this
capital city,
Loren e. Wheeler, the mayor of Spring
field, then delivered an eloquent address
Iof welcome. He said: "You are welcome
because you are the representatives of
the strongest civic order on earth; be-
cause you are working for humanity and
for the elevation OF human character
and because you are the handsomest body
Iof men who have ever gathered in Spring.
field. Since / have been mayor | have
never entrusted the key of this beautiful
city to any one but since you have taken
the State buildings, ] now surrender the
key to the entire city. which will open
every door and every heart in the city.
Here it is, take it."
After singing "Illinois" by the Lincoln
Glee club, the Grand Master of Illinois
and Mrs Mary D. Stone, the president
of the State Rebecca Assembly, made the
finest speeches of the day Mrs. Stones
address was concluded amid a storm of
applause. The Grand Master in speaking
|of Lincoln. Grant and Logan, who were
furnished to the nation by this grand old
State, also spoke Of Schuyler Colfax. who
lies buried near the borders of Illinois,
and who said, 81 want no higher epitaph
than this, Here lies an Odd Fellow"
The above addresses We're responded to
by the head of the order, Grand Sire
Fred Carleton. of Austin, Texas. The
Grand Sire said: "While this body has
been frequently welcomed by Governors
of the different States this is the first
Governor whom we can take by the hand
in appreciation of his many kind words
and say. thank you. brother" Both
Mayor and Governor are active Odd Eel
lows and are glad to be known as such.
The order numbers $4,000 members in
this State and OWNS one of the finest
homes in the world for the maintenance
of the widows and orphans.
Among the North Carolinians present
are Past Grand Sire and Mrs. G.. NJ
Busbee, who is accompanied by her two
beautiful younger sisters. North Carolina
Grand Lodge is represented by Messrs.
Lumsden, Of Raleigh, and Col. j. +.
Benton, of Wilson The Grand Encamp-
ment is represented by 2. II. Pelletier, OF
Newbern. These gentlemen help to COM
pose the following committees: Mileage
and per diem. judiciary, constitution, and
patriarchial branch of the order. The
grand parade takes place at 2 o'clock
tomorrow. The city is literally wrapped
IN flags and bunting. The procession will
be Just three miles in length. Great heavy
arches, lighted by electricity, span the
streets, crossing each other diagonally,
hn
made of small electric lights.