Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-12
VISITATION OF;.:SlR KNIGHTS
Annual Convention Of the Maccabees in
Progress.
z!gs
WELCOMED TO THE CITY BY THE MAYOR
First Meeting Held in the Nebraska
Building on the Exposition
Grounds-RaiIrOnd Rates
Keep Many Away.

What the prayers of a lot of good people
who are interested in the exposition have
| failed to accomplish was brought about by
the knights of the Maccabees of Nebraska
| Yesterday afternoon. For when they came to
the exposition the clouds that had hung per-
sistently over the White City were scattered
and the sun came out in a setting OF blue
sky and babe them welcome. 1t was the
first really encouraging weather the eX-
position had during the week and it was
celebrated by a decided increase in the at
tendance.
1t had been expected that the occasion
would bring out a large visitation of the
sir knights of Nebraska, but owing to the
failure to secure the railroad rates eX-
pected their number was comparatively lin
tied. There was enough of them to ill the
rotunda of the Nebraska building and the
insignia of the order was conspicuous all
over the grounds. The exercises at the Ne
braska building consisted of an address Of
welcome by Mayor Moores and appropriate
responses by members of the order.
welcomed to omaha
In calling the knights to order, State Com
mander w. w. Hubbard explained the fail
ure to secure the rates that were expected
to bring out a more extensive representa-
ton of the members, but urged the knights
present to make the most of the occasion.
He introduced Mayor Moores, who welcomed
the visitors with a cordiality that was re-
ceived with hearty appreciation. He spoke
al first of the extent and Importance of the
order and humorously alluded to lis in
tention of becoming a member. lie espe-
cially endorsed the action of the grand COM
mander in ordering that each tent should
keep up the dues of its members who were
at the front and in this connection he
aroused general enthusiasm by declaring
that one effect of this war had been to elm
mate the Mason and Dixon line. This was
now one country under one flag and when
the boys in blue and the boys in gray
marched shoulder to shoulder there WIS no
power ON earth that could successfully OPP
pose them. In conclusion he presented them
with two huge golden keys representing the
freedom and hospitality of the city.
F. M. Fiondsburg of Trenton responded
briefly in behalf of the knights. He ex-
pressed their appreciation OF the Hospitality
that had been rendered them and excused
himself from a more extended speech on
account of the fact that most of his audience
was composed of people from out of town
who were anxious to'see the exposition.
The exercises at the building were con-
cluucu ~ a huiboiOub ltCildllOH III lTlSn
dialect by II. NJ. GoodnooVw of this city, which
was an exceptionally bright and entertain
ing feature. Then the knights and their
women filed out for a tour of the grounds
leaving only in time to attend the enter
tainments that had been arranged down
town by the local tents in the evening".
Reception to Visitors.
More than forty tents of the knights of
the Maecabees were REPRESENTED at the re-
ception given to the visitors by the local
members of the order at Wolfe's hall, cor
ner of Cunning and Twenty-second streets,
last night. The first part of the evening
was devoted to the initiation of candidates,
after which an elaborate banquet was served
and a social time was had. Most of the
Maccabees who came 10 the city will remain
tilS.after Nebraska day, when a large dele
cation of members of the order is expected
from distant parts of the state.
The Ladies of the Maccabees also enter
tained the visiting ladies very handsomely
at their hall IN Labor temple. An excellent
program was given of piano solos by Mrs.
Gore. Mrs. William Bay, Miss Rena Black
and Mrs. G. A. Garlick; recitations by Mrs.
A. T. Sigwart, Miss Maud Butler and Mrs.