The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-19
PTKENDRICK LECTURES
ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF
WIFE HUNTING.
BOUNTIFUL REFRESHMENTS SPREAD
And Large Crowd of Members Of the Coun-
Gil, Their Families and Friends
Enjoy the Occasion.
Enjoy the Occasion.

The Raleigh Council No. 551 Royal
Arcanum, held a public reception and
entertainment in the hall of Seaton
Gales Lodge I. 0. o. f., in the Pullen
building last night, that was one of the
most pleasant occasions of the autumn
evenings in the Capital City. The men,
bers of the Council, with their families
and a large number of invited guests,
were present, and all who attended are
indebted to the Council for two hours
of real, genuine pastime and pleasure.
The programme began with splendid
music by an orchestra made up of home
talent whose selections were very de-
iightful. The feature of the evening, as
had been previously announced, was an
address by Capt. w. b. Kendrick, or,
rather, his famous lecture ON the Ups
and downs Of wife hunting" Capt.
Kendrick was introduced by Mr.. Joseph
G.. Brown in one Of the happiest little
ten-minute speeches that has been de-
aivered in Raleigh in decade. The
brethren of the Lodge who listened to
Mr.. Browns Introductory remarks,
wondered if he had not missed his call
ing, and, if, in making popular and
successful banker out Of himself, he
had not robbed the forum out of
born orator and lecturer. Mr.. Brown
spoke with much effect of the great
achievements of the Royal Arcanum
during its short existence of only
twenty years. From the nine men who
were directly instrumental in its or
ganization, it had grown into grand
army of two hundred thousand men
who were enlisted in cause for the re-
lief of the widow and the orphan. Dur
ing these twenty years the Royal Ar
canum had paid to its beneficiarles
forty-two millions of dollars, or $4,000
for every day it had been in existence.
Its first assessment amounted to only
$4,000. Its last assessment amounted
to 100000, and the Royal Arcanum in
North Carolina alone had paid to wild
ows and orphans of deceased Brothers
100000.
Mr.. Brown abiding to Capt. Kendrick
spoke of him as 'the only original wife
hunter" and congratulated the audi
ence that the occasion was at hand
when they could hear from him
thirty years experience of laborious, pa
tient, pathetic, humorous and eloquent
wife hunting.
Capt. Kendrick then entertained the
audiance for one hour and ten minutes.
4O I'LL Oul duy VI lhC SuP-
tain's lecture on wife hunting would be
doing injustice to all the other para
graphs. To print one of the flights OF
charming eloquence with which the leo
ture is adorned would be treating in
Vulnerable other flights with gross i'm
Justice. To embody in anything like
synopsis any one of the sweet or hui
morous views would be gross partial
ity to a hundred others, and to glide
with the speaker verbatim ct literatim
up or down any one or two of his wife
hunting exploits would be neglecting
perhaps the prettiest and most lovable
Of the many heroines of the lecture. 1t is
all good, all entertaining and all anus
ing, and the genial captain at the close
of the lecture was the recipient of I'M
stinted praise and hearty congratula-
ton from his friends and neighbors, all
of whom expressed themselves as de-
lighted with the lecture. After the
speaking was over Mr.. Brown, on be-
half of the Council, extended an invita-
ton to all present to repair to the
Henry building where a repast had been
spread. The crowd adjourned and re-
gathered in a few moments at the place
named where delicious refreshments
were served by charming young ladies'
The occasion was a pleasant one
throughout, and establishes this noble
organization more fully, if possible, in
the good will of its members and of our
people generally.