The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-25
ANLO.O.F. ANNIVERSARY
THE ORDER OBSERVED 1T IN TOM
LINsOS HALL YESTERDAY.
The Members VIII show Their Loy-
atty to Country During the
War with Spain.

The different organization Of the L o. O.
F. of Indianapolis yesterday afternoon cele-
brated the seventy-nipth anniversary of the
order at Tomlinson Hall. A large audience
attended the exercises, which began at 2
o'clock. TWO addresses were given and
there was music by the Third Christian
Church choir. Uniformed members OF the
I. o. o. f. occupied chairs on the stage,
and silken banners indicating the different
degrees of Odd Fellowship were conspicu-
Gus on the platform. William H. Leedy,
secretary of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fell
lows, presided.
The exercises opened with the singing Of
the ode, Il. Q. Q. F. Anniversary" The in
vocation was by Rev Robb E. Earring
After the chorus, THE Flag of Liberty
by the choir, Will II. Talbot past grand
representative, was introduced and deliv-
cred an address. His remarks dealt chiefly
with the organization and benefcent work
Of the Order of Odd Fellows He said that
the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows la
bored for recognition when both good and
bad men made war against it, but the
charge of hypocrisy was followed by the re-
lief of distress. The order has grown until
measured by the good work it has done, it
stands unrivaled among the organizations
of the world, he said. Odd Fellowship, he
said, has taught lesson as no other organ
ization has taught 1.-THE lesson that is
nearest the American heart to-day--patrot-
ism. The speaker said that in the Order of
Odd Fellows would be found men who are
ready to go to the front-to die, if need be,
in avenging the death of the sailors of the
Maine In the Odd Fellows lodge are
taught the lessons that make better men.
Each candidate for membership in the or
der must expect to give as well as receive
benefits. Each man must be taught that
he is his brothers keeper In becoming an
Odd Fellow the sweetest lesson one expects
to learn is the lesson of self-sacrifice In
every lodgeroom in the land, the speaker
said, there is being taught the lessons Of
friendship that are bearing fruit.
After a song by the choir, Send Out Thy
Light" Mrs. Olive E. McGrew gave an adj
dress on "Rebekah Odd Fellowship" She
said it was the plain duty of the Rebekah
TO comfort the mourner and do everything
in her power for all who are afflicted. Mrs.
McGrew spoke of the early history of Re
bekah Odd Fellowship, reading from the
records of those sessions of the Grand
Lodge which had under consideration the
question of recognizing a Rebekah Degree.
The late Schuyler Colfax. she said, was the
friend of the new movement; and she. was
proud to say now that the history of the
Rebekah Degree had proved the fallacy of
the argument that women can't keep a
secret.
women can keep secrets" declared Mrs.
McGrew, land the Rebekah Degree has
come to stay. AS a general thing where
you find good Rebekah lodge you will find
q subordinate lodge that is prosperous and
progressive The speaker recalled the re-
mark of a grand master of Iowa to the eff
juncts the lodge has ever had Mrs. Nc
Grew said the true test of the order is it's
influence for good. Women must learn well
the lesson of forgiving and forgetting. 1t
should be the highest aim of the Rebekah
Degree to comfort the afflicted and bring joy
to the hearts of the aged and the orphan.
Mrs. McGrew gave some statistics showing
that in 1897 there were $50 lodges of the
Rebekah Degree in Indiana, with member
ship of $4,000. The order has now fund
of $6, 900, with which 1t expects to contribute
to the building of an Odd Fellows Home
After Mrs. McGrew's address an anthem,
1.-THE Glory of the Lord" was sung by the
choir William H. Leedy, in a few general
remarks, referred to the war with Spain,
and said that the sound of tramping feet
brings responsibilities to the Odd Fellow
In this great emergency he must be more
than a patriot He must be an Odd Fell
low and a patriot combined. The choir and
audience then sang America" while a
large American flag was waved from the
stage. Rev. D. r. Lucas delivered the ben
ediction, speaking Of the conflict in which
the government is now involved, and pray
ing for the ultimate delivery of the Cubans
from sovereign rule. w. Fl. Leedy an
nounced during the exercises that on Tues
day the Odd Fellows would participate in
the anniversary celebration at Terre Haute.