Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-11
ITO Be- IS NOW THE WORD
Birmingham Carnival Society Is
a Fixture.
A MONSTER MASS MEETING
Which Resulted in Favor of Continued Mardi
Gras Carnvals.
slxTY-oNE NEW MEMBERS ADDED
To the Roster of the Society Emil Lesser
Reelected President Other Officers
Officers Are Named-Great En-
thusiasln Prevailed.

The carnival has been decided a per-
manent fixture in Birmingham!
The magnificent Elks hall was well
filled last night with a representative
gathering of public-spirited citizens to
devise ways and means of meeting the
indebtedness of the last carnival and of
continuing the celebrations.
The meeting was called to order by
MIR. e. Lesser, president of the Carnival
society.
During the progress of the meeting
expressions of sentiment were made by
the following gentlemen:
Mr.. E. Lesser, Maj. F. Y. Anderson,
Capt. ]. B. Morson, Maj. Charles Whee-
lock and ndessrs. NJ V. Joseph, E. J.
McCrossin, B. Steiner, F. p O'Brien, j.
Asa Rountree ]. p. Mudd, Nat l.. Miller,
NJ A. Porter, Joseph Beitman. j. j.
O,RourlSe, August Schillinger, Erwin
Schillinger, Mr.. Lopez and Ben NJ ia
cobs, the weather man.
The concensus of opinion tended to-
wards the continuance OF the Mardl
Gras celebrations, and all present prof
fered assistance in every way. AS one OF
the gentlemen stated the future celebra-
tions We're a matter of necessity, as Biz
mingham must always progress and nev-
er go backward or show the white
feather"
Elks' lodge 70, most of whose members
are already members of the Carnival So
ciety, pledged itself to take and dispose
of 100 tickets to the grand entertainment
on Easter Monday evening in the Rex
Coliseum Others present guaranteed to
dispose of certain numbers of tickets or
pay for them themselves.
The question resolved itself into one of
''to be or not to be" and it was unani-
mously decided Ito be-" The vast ben
efits of the carnival were shown and
as one gentleman stated, New Orleans
will have to hustle next year to beat our
own mardi gras."
1t was shown that great deal of pre-
judice had to be and was overcome and
that the next carnival would be easier of
success than the previous ones. The
present deficit would be met and the
society placed in excellent financial con-
dition.
Maj. Meglemery stated that he had
been at the depot for ten years and
never remembered such crowd of visit
ors coming to the city before unless it
was the doubtful exception of that at
tending the confederate reunion.
Sixty-one applications for member
ship were received the youngest one be-
ing Mr.. Roy S. Peace, the talented but
youthful operator at the Morris hotel
Mr.. j. Asa Rountree offered the fol-
lowing resolu ton:
Resolved, That the thanks of the peo-
pie of Birmingham are heartily returned
to the energetic and enterprising presi-
dent of the society, Mr.. e. Lesser and his
able assistants for the success that they
made of the last carnival and that they
be urged to hold one another year.
Mr. Rountree, after submitting the
resolution, put the question, on account
of Mr.. Lesser being chairman of the
meeting, and 1t was unanimously carried.
The applicants for membership were
asked to retire and their applications
were considered.
MEETING OF CARNIVAL SOCIETY.
At the close of the public meeting the
Carnival society was called to order by
President E. Lesser Secretary L. Braun
was at the desk.
The regular order of business was sus-
pended and the admission of six new
members was conferred.
The doors were thrown open and the
new members admitted to the meeting.
Mr.. J. P. Mudd moved that in order
to stimulate the members to greater ac-
tivity, that prize of an elegant cos
tune be given to the one presenting the
greatest number of applicants, the cost
of the costume not to be less than $25.
This motion was amended so that the
member bringing the greatest number be
made a prince in the Mardi Gras, and
will receive the appropriate costume
from the society free of cost. The
amended motion was unanimously car
ried.
A motion that every member be COM
mittee of one to solicit new members,
made by Mr.. E. ]. McCrossin. was also
carried.
1t was suggested that only members of
the Carnival society be allowed to par
ticipate in the Rex ball, except they be
visiting people.
Mr. Meglemery moved that the mat
ter be deferred until another meeting.
This motion was amended by Mr.. Steiner
that the matter be referred to the eXecu-
tive committee. The amended motion
was carried
1t was reported that there was de-
ficit of over $4,000 Four hundred dol
lars have been paid out since the carni-
val, and it was requested that efforts be
made by the members to dispose of the
tickets and the money be turned into the
treasury in order to pay off the pressing
indebtedness of some 81 200.
The election of officers was announced
as in order, and Maj. F. Y. Anderson was
called to the chair.
Nominations were called for, but Mr.
N. L. Miller moved that the meeting,
when adjourned, should be adjourned
over until a meeting two weeks hence
This motion was amended by Mr. ]. w.
O'Neill, that the officers be elected at
this meeting. This motion was carried
Nominations being in order, Mr.. John
O'Neill nominated Mr. E. Lesser, who
asked to be excused, hut he was elected
unanimously.
derson was nominated by Mr.. NJ v.
Joseph, and also unanimously elected.
So many nominations were made for
the remaining vice presidents that, upon
motion Of Mr.. NJ L. Miller, the slate was
cleared fl
Upon motion of Mr. M. v. Joseph, a
committee of five members was appoint
ed to present nominations for the un--
filled Offices. This committee consisted of
Messrs. F. Y. Anderson, J. M. Davidson.
]. r. Mudd Maj Charles Wheelock and
August Schillinger.
The committee retired to an ante-room
to prepare its nomina tons.
After recess of short duration, the
committee reported the following nomi-
nations, which were concurred in:
Vice-Presidents-R N. Rhodes, ]. Asa