The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-26

Sessions of the Grand Lodge Held in
Montpelier Grand Parade of Patri-
archs Militants-Public Meeting in Gel
ebration of Fiftieth Anniversary-Ofi-
GERS Elected - Annual Assembly OF
Daughters of Rebekah.
The fifty-frst annual session OF the Grand
Lodge OF Odd Fellows of Vermont was held
in Montpelier last Wednesday and Thurs
day. The first meeting was held in Odd
Fellows hall Wednesday morning at ten
o'clock, Fl. l.. Parker OF Lyndonville, Grand
Master, in the chair. The grand lodge de-
gree was conferred on several candidates,
and the reports ofGrand Master II. L Parker,
j. w. Goodell and Crosby A. Perry, Grand
Representatives, II. e. Parker, Grand Sec
rotary, and the trustees Of Gill Odd Fellows
Home at Ludlow were read. The report OF
the Grand Secretary showed that forty-one
brothers have died during the past year.
There is total subordinate membership Of
4, 839, net gain OF 181 during the past year.
There is a total Rebekah membership in the
state Of 2, 766, a net gain OF Alb since last
year. The net gain in subordinate mem
bership in the past ten years is 2,7SS; in
Rebekah membership of 1915.
The reports Of the Grand Representatives
to the sovereign grand lodge, held last year
at Dallas, Texas was OF unusual interest to
Odd Fellows. These reports included the
decisions OF the Grand Sire relating to
Rebekah lodges and assemblies, as provided
by the sovereign grand lodge, the amend
ments to the sovereign grand lodge consti-
tuition, and extracts from the new digest
touching important subjects,
The report of the trustees of Gill Odd
Fellows Home at Ludlow showed that the
home has already two inmates, with pros
poets of others in the near future. The
trustees have received S9,71799, expended
1882, and have balance on hand OF
$195.99 They had the pleasure of donating
the home to the grand lodge free from debt.
After the transaction OF routine business
the grand lodge adjourned until Thursday
morning.
Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock Col.
L. G. Grant commanding the Patriarchs
Militant conferred the Decoration OF Chiv-
| airy upon several candidates, among them
Mrs. David L. Sanders of Montpelier. This
| exercise was public and was the first time
in Vermont that this order n, has been con-
ferred in public on a lady. The work was
performed in creditable manner by Can
| ton Vinton of Barre.
The grand parade at four o'clock was a
| prominent feature of the week 8 programme.
| Headed by the Montpelier Military Band
the First Regiment Patriarchs Militant sub
ordinate members and grand officers in
| carriages paraded through the principal
streets of the city, returning to the Pavilion
where dress parade of the regiment was
held. The residences and places of bust
| ness along the line OF march were very gem
| orally decorated.
AT eight O'Clock Wednesday evening a
public meeting was held in the Blanchard
opera house in celebration of the tiftieth
anniversary of the establishment OF the or
der in Vermont. Standing room even was
at premium, and, although the exercises
were very lengthy, nearly the entire au-
dence remained until the close. On the
stage were seated Grand Master Parker,
who presided the Past Grand Masters and
speakers of the evening. A fine musical
hu lnli
Gross, vocalist, George II. Wilder, pianist
and flutist Miss Kate Hutchinson, pi-
anist, and Miss Fannie NJ. Parmenter,
violinist. A cordial welcome to the capital
city was extended by Mayor George H.
Guernsey. Mayor John w. Gordon of
Barre was on the programme to extend a
welcome to visiting members in behalf of
Vermont Lodge, No, 26. Mayor Gordon
was absent because of illness, and letter,
written by him, was read by E. A. Mutt,
who added few words OF welcome.
A historical address of rare value and in.
terest was given by Henry l.. Stillson of
Bennington, Past Grand Master, and his
torian of the grand lodge Rev, DR.. Nor
man Seaver of Montpelier delivered an elo-
quent address, in which he referred in par
during the last fifty years. Hon. A. s.
Pinkerton OF Worcester, Mass, Deputy
Grand Sire, was the last speaker Of the
evening. His audience was somewhat
wearied and restless when he began to
| speak, but his charming, forceful oratory,
| soon won the close attention of every one
| present.
The grand lodge reconvened at nine
o'clock Thursday morning with H. l.. Par
ker, Grand Master, in the chair. At the
forenoon session the following officers for
the year ensuing were elected Grand Mas
ter, II. M. Mcfarland of Hyde Park; Dep
uty Grand Master, j. II. Blakely, Bellows
Falls; Grand Secretary. H. e. Parker of
Bradford; Grand Treasurer, e. P. Adams
of Swanton; Grand Warden, e. W. Bart
lett Of Island Pond Grand Chaplain. Rev.
j. e. Farrow of Wilmington; Grand Repre-
sentative for two years, II. l.. Parker Of
Lyndonviller Grand Marshal, e. III. Jack
son of Windsor; Grand Conductor, Frank
A. Sherburne of Montpelier Grand Guard
ian, s. B. Waite Of Hyde Park; Grand Her.
ald l.. V. Greene of Rutland. During the
sessions Of the day no legislation of public
| importance was transacted with the excep-
| ton OF granting charter to the State As
| sembly of Daughters OF Rebekah. This
charter was granted after lively discus
sion. 1t was voted to pay the Grand Mas
ter salary of $400 per year the Grand Sec
rotary $780, and Grand Treasurer S25 per
year. At the Thursday afternoon session
| the officers were installed and the following
district deputies were appointed: District
| No. /, Henry Sherwln of Manchester; No.
2, w. p. Horton of Rutland; No. 3, I'll. r..
Holden of Middlebury; No. 4, II. M. Spauld-
ing of St. Adams; No g. A. Wacott OF Bar
ton; No. 6, s. G. Otis Of West Burke; No. Z,
w. #. Minard of Waterbury; No. s. b. L.
Boyle of White River Junction; No. 9, w.
d. Howe of Readsboro; No. 10, j. II. Blake
ly of Bellows Falls; No. II, j. M. Dugan OF
Brattleboro.
Thursday evening a reception was ten
dered to Deputy Grand Sire A. s. Pinker-
ton of Worcester, Mass. by the Daughters
Of Rebekah, in Odd Fellows Hall The
same musical talent that rendered such ac-
ceptabe service at the public meeting
Thursday evening, gave choice programme
during the evening. Light refreshments
| were served.
The twelfth annual assembly OF Rebekah
| Lodges OF Vermont convened in Odd Eel
lows hall Friday morning with the follow
ing officers in the chairs: Mrs. Ida b. Perry
of Readsboro, president; Mrs. Alma W.
Louise L. Boyce OF Barre, secretary; Mrs
| Ella @. Einnax OF LYndnnYilla traasurar.