The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-22
odd FELLOWS
ON PARADE.
Twenty Thousand Men
Participate in Great
Pageant in Bos-
ton,

day Of the week OF tho Odd Fellows con-
vsntion In this city, and 1t was signalized
by one Of the greatest pageants that has
ever been witnessed In Boston,.
Twenty thousand men were In line
when the word of command was given,
and the great parade moved toward amid
the cheers of thousands Of spectators, tn o
shrill blasts from the bugles being lost In
the blare of hundreds Of bands. Tumul.
tuous applause greeted the head Of the
column as the chief marshal, General
Francis Il. Merriman, and his aides esoor-
tod by the Underwood Hussars in glitter.
ing regalia. mounted upon galy bedecked
horses swung down Boston's greatest ave-
nue., at the head Of line miles In length.
1t was a brilliant pageant, the like of
which has never been seen in the history
Of Odd Fellowship. Brilliant in their re-
gala of flashing gold, the Patriarchs Mil
liant marched on the right of line. Re-
spendent in the royal purple, She members
Of the Encampment Branch divided hon.
ors with their brother patriarchs. Less
splendidly attired, vet more numerous.
came tho Grand Division, comprising subs
ordinate loges of the great order.
These divisions completed tho spectacu-
lar features Of tho parade. They were
greeted with great enthusiasm through
out the long march through the oity's most
prominet resident section, and over the
great thoroughfares in the retail and
wholesale district.
There were two other other divisions,
however, of peculiar interest to the hun
dreds Of thousands of members of'the frat.
ernity. In carriages forming the fourth di-
vision were the officers of tho Sovereign
Grand Lodge the Venerable Past Grand
Eires, the officers of the Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts, and the officers from the
Grand Lodges Of otherNew EnglandStates
Last Of all the inflrm members OF tho or
Ter were seated in carriages and formed
she fifth grand division Of tbs parade Be-
hind the III was drawn u magnlticenty
dscked float, typical Of the emblems Of Odd
Fellowship.
The reviewing stand for tho Grand Sire
was In the balcony Of tho Hotel Vondome.
Hero Grand Sire Fred Carleton and Deputy
Grand Sire Alfred S. Pinkerton, attended
BY the standard. bearer for the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, took their places.
Tho parade started at 1880 o'clock In
their resplendent gold trimmed uniforms
the patriarchs militant formed tho most
Interesting spectacle. Many of the can
lonesome OF them winners-were
proficient in their peculiar drills and
marched, countermarched, Or formed
squares and crosses, to the great delight
Of the thousands along tho line Of march.
Probably the most enthusiastic reception
was accorded the cantons from New York,
which formed regiment in the first
grand division
Many of these cantons were atiircd in
white leggngs and their marching. align
nent and general bearing were fer better
than tho majority Of tho patriarchs mill
tAnt Another canton that won applause
was Canton Mclieen, of Terre Haute, Ind.
They were drilled on the march by a cap
tain OF the Thirty third Michigan Volun-
teers, and won considerable applause for
their proficiency.
At the head of Bunker Hill Encamp.
mont was carried a miniature monument.
The standard Of the Rhode Island encamp.
ments was borne by Il brother attired as
an Indian. Palestine Encainpment of
WOonsocket, II. l., carried one Of tho few
mascots seen in the parade. 1t was fat
white billy goat that trotted along most
unconcernedly.
Following the encampment came tho
subordinate lodges, which turned out with
full ranks.
A letter received yesterday from X w.
Jester, who Is attending the meetings Of
the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd Fol.
lows at Boston, states that this state has
been we'll represented. A large delega-
CATION of Wilmingtonians are in attend
ance and the delegates from this state
esve been prominent at the meetings.
Jsmos WEIGH of Milford was appointed
member of the comm on constitution.
George II. Taylor of this city on the COM
mittee of tho Patriarchal branch: Il. w.
Jester of this city on the committee on
Positions, and J. w. Perkins of Elkton on
the committee on correspondence.
) II my Of tho Wilmington contingent on
Monday evening attended tho banquet |
given in Music Hall and 1t was O notable |
and enjoyable gathering.