The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-09
TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY.
ODD FELLOWS EULOGIZE THE LATE
GRAND SECRETARY DEITz.

1sor over Half Century He Has Been
an Active and Ardent worker in
the Fraternity--He Carried the
Tcnets of odd Fellowship Into
everyday Life-Commfttee Repre-
senting All the Lodges to Draft
resolutions.
memorial service in honor of the late
PAST Grand Master John G. Deltz of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows was
held last night by Oglethorpe Lodge. Of
which he had been a member for fifty
three years. Members of the other lodges
were invited, and it was desired to have
speakers present from each lodge of the
order here.
After the usual lodge business brief ad-
dresses eulogizing the deceased were made
by p. G. j. H. II. Osborne of Oglethorpe
Lodge p. G. l.. Butler of Live Oak, p.
G. ]. S Tyson of Golden Rule, and Broth
er e. 5. Mason of Concord.
Past Grand Osborne paid a high tribute
to The worth of the late grand secretary.
He spoke feelingly of the sense of per-
sonal loss that had come TO every Odd
Fellow who had been associated with Mr..
character as a man and appreciate his
untiring zeal and unselfish devotion for
odd Fellowship. In him was typifed an
odd Fellow who believed in and practiced
the tenets of the order. He was a faith
full friend, a wise counsellor, an ardent
advocate of the fellowship of man. Mr..
Osborne referred to the tender love exist
Ing between the late grand secretary and
his daughter, who preceded him to the
T,r,t f-,T 1orr
the prayers and sympathy for the bereav-
ed and desolate widow to whom death
might soon bring relief from her double
korrow and union forever with her loved
ones.
In his remarks Grand Secretary Tyson
spoke of the deceased as his close. init
mate friend for forty years. mo man
in The history of Odd Fellowship in Geor-
gia" said he, has drawn so closely
around him. the affections of the entire
brotherhood of the state as John G. Dletz.
II was as an Odd Fellow that brother
Detz stood pre-eminent, manifestng that
spirit of love and fraternity for his fellows
which ever kept him prominently before
the order and marked his course among
men, He was Initiated into Oglethorpe
Lodge No. / in July, 1S45, and was there
fore in continuous membership for period
of over ffty-three years. He soon passed
the chairs of V. G. and n. c.. and entered
the grand lodge as a representative in 1855.
In 1857 he was elected grand warden
and in 1868 grand master. In 1866 he was
chosen grand representative, serving full
term In 1869 he was elected grand secre-
tary. which office he held continuously TO
the time of his death AS a grand secre-
tary he had few equals, no superiors. He
never abused the confidence reposed in
him. He was TO the grand lodge of Geor-
gia what Ridgley had been
to the sovereign grand lodge, the
beacon light in our pathway
that led US on to glory and greatness. An
mated by the pure principles Of odd Eel
lowshlp, his practical exemp1hcation of
his eovenanted engagements was fairly de-
1aeast Rated in his daily walk among his
fellow men"
Past Grand Master Manucy said that
"Odd Fellowship in Georgia has lost a
leader and every brother is sorrowing
knew John G.. Deitz many years, and
can recall sweet memories of his faithful
loving wife with whom, side by side, he
has trod the varied paths of life for nearly
half d century. Brother Deitz
was an odd Fellow in all that the name
implies. He loved the order. Never was he
more happy than during the hours passed
with the brothers at our annual grand
lodge gatherings. He believed in Odd Fell
lowship, and in his daily walks practiced
its tenets. He pleaded its cause at all
times and demonstrated the sincerity of his
professions by the labor of his hands. To
the old he was a valued counsellor, to the
neophyte a sympathizing friend. He shared
the hopes and ambitions of the younger
men and never betrayed their trust or lost
their confidence. He was modest and I'M
assuming and was ever ready to bestow
upon others the fruits of his ripe exper-
ience. He had the gentle heart of womaE
and the loyal soul of a man."
A resolution was adopted under which
Noble Grand Colding appointed a commit
lee to draft suitable resolutions expressing
the sentiments of Savannah Odd Fellows
at the death of the grand secretary. The
committee includes a representative of
each lodge, as follows: Oglethorpe, j. II.
H. Osborne; Haupt, A. N. Manucyi Gold
en- Rule, ]. S. Tyson; Live Oak L. Butler;
DeKalb U. H. McLaws; Concord, E. S.
Mason; Acorn, C. II. Heitmann.