The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-29
THE SOVEREIGN GRAND LODGE
Past Grand Sire Br,sbee Tells of the
Session in Detroit.

The session of the Sovereign Grand
IaDdge of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, which was held hast week in
Detroit, Mich, was of special interest to
Odd Fellows being the seventy -iifth an
nual session of that body.
There was a full attendance of repre-
sentatives, the body consisting of 1S9
members said Past Grand Sire Chas
NJ. Busbce. who returned home from
Detroit yesterday morning. There was
no business of special Importance trans
acted, the business consisting of such
matters as ordinarily come before the
body at its annual session, without There
being anything of any special moment.
There were a good many appeal cases.
but none Involving amy matters of great
Importance. The appeal of Manteo
Lodge against C.. b. Edwards, involying
the question of benefits. WIS decided in
favor of Mr.. Edwards. This case has ex-
cited some local interest among the mem.
bers of the order in this State.
"A book published by Hazen and Com
pany, which purported to be AN Official
History of the Order, was declared to be
a fraud. the session of the Grand Lodge
having two years ago endorsed the his
tory published by the Fraternity Pub
fishing Company Of Boston. Mass, Of
which L. G.. Hascall is president. i.
WAS declared to be the only official his
tory of Odd Fellowship.
THE Order i'm Detroit, as well as the
citizens of that city. were exceedingly
courteous and hospitable and the session
was a very pleasant and agreeable one.
The public demonstration by the parade
OH "Wednesday Of the session was a very
memorable event. the Number i'm the
parade exceeding ten thousand, the
patriarchs Militant with their brilliant
uniforms constituting its most noticeable
feature"
Hon Alfred s. Pinkerton, who is
pleasantly remembered in this city, since
his visit here last year, presided over the
* .ssion.
The order is in very fiourishin-
condition, growing everywhere and mum
Dering at the present time over 100000
active members, including the female
Rebekah Degree members, who number
nearly two hundred Thousand, addition
al.
"1Nhe city OF Detroit is a very beautiful
city with broad streets and avenues, III
many parts shaded by large trees. The
population is about 100000 and the vol
ulne OF business done is steadily on the
increase, and it is destined to be one OF
the largest cities in the land.
'sIyhe North Caroliniafls who attended
the session were, Charles 4. LaImsden.
OF this city, who was the Grand Mes
senger, James +. Sawyer, of Asheyille,
and Gen. b. s. Register, who We're the
representatives of the Grand Lodge of
this State, and Wesley Williams Of En-
zabeth City, who represented tine Grand
Encampment of this State. Mr.. j. Il.
Edwards, of Oxford, and ]. NJ. Nor
wood of Raleigh. attended as visitors.
The representatives from North Caro-
lima occupied places i'm important com
mittees during the session of the body.
Mr.. Busbee was too modest to mention
his own name as a visitor from this
State. But this omission will not Je
permitted, for North Carolina is proud
of him. He is Past Grand Sire of the
independent Order Of Odd Fellows of the
world and NO gathering of Odd Fellows
is complete without him. Others who
attended from this State tell me he was
the recipient of many honors during his
stay in Detroit.