Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
THE ODD FELLOWS
Will Capture BrattlebOrO Next
Week, 2OOO Strong.


the state VIII he a Feature of Their
stay---OmciaI Program of the COnven-
ton.
eve are going to have the largest gath
ering of Odd Fellows ever seen in YER
mont" was what L. j. Retting, chairman |
of the committee on arrangements, said |
this week when questioned in regard to |
the Odd Fellows convention when Is 10 |
be held in Bratteboro next week Mr.. |
Retting has been a member of the grand |
encampment for rs years and he has |
missed only one convention during that |
time. He is, therefore, in position to |
know what the attendance at past conven-
tions has been, and he is convinced that |
they all will be eclipsed in this respect by |
the coming meeting, weather permitting. |
All the available room in all the hotels
in town has been engaged to accommodate |
the visitors during Odd Fellows week, and |
a large number of rooms outside the hotels |
have been spoken for, but more room is
wanted as it is expected that 2000 people |
will have to be cared for. The Odd Eel |
lows of the state have wanted to come to |
Brattleboro for several years. Now that |
they are coming the local brethren are de-
termned that nothing will be left undone |
that will minister to the comfort and en- |
tertainment of the visitors. The local |
committee of arrangements consists OF Il. |
j. Retting, G. Z. Sturges and August
Rohde.
Buchholz of Springfield, Mass, the dec
orator, is in town with a large quantity of
material for decorating the business houses,
and Main street will take on gala attire
early next week. A large number of pri-
vate houses will also be decorated, and
conspicuous among the decorations will be
the Odd Fellows flags, designed for this
occasion by W. II. Geddis of Brattleboro
A prominent feature of the decorations
on the business buildings will be four
large oil paintings, emblematic of Odd
Fellowship. One of these is II by 20 feet
in size and the others II by 10 feet each
One represents Rebekah at the well,
with border of the All-Seeing Eye, bow
and arrow, three links, and the crown
with crossed sword and crook. Another
represents the good samaritan; third
the 10 denoting hospitality; and the fourth
three pillars, representing faith, hope and
charity. Incandescent lights, forming the
word welcome, have been placed over Odd
Fellows hall. There are 24S lights, and
the "Welcome' shines brilliantly over a
space 30 feet long and three feet wide.
Delegations of Odd Fellows from this
and other states will begin to arrive Mon
day, and they will bring with them brass
bands who will participate in the street pa
rade on the following day. No business
will be transacted during the day Monday,
but the day will be devoted to welcoming
the visitors and getting them comfortably
located. The convention will close Thurs
day night, but as the railroad tickets are
good for a full week many of the holders
al. oh
Saturday. The official program for the
convention is as follows:
Monday, May Irregular meeting of
Wantastiquet lodge at 1880 o'clock p. NJ;
opening of lodge; address of welcome by
the noble grand, S. NJ. Yeaw; regular
business of the lodge; comforting of the in
itiatory by the regular lodge officers; re-
marks of the visiting brothers for the
good of the order.
Tuesday, May 16-Grand encampment
session at Q o'clock A. NJ. At p. NJ
street parade. 1t is expected to make this
the largest civic parade ever seen in Yer
mont, and it is hoped that every brother
will march; if not able to walk, carriages
will be provided.
The headquarters of the Cantons will be
at the Elliot street armory; the headquar-
ters of the encampment branch at Grange
hall on Elliot street; and the headquarters
of the subordinate bodies at festival hall.
The line of march will be up Main street,
through Walnut, Terrace, Common, Chap
in, Oak, Whipple, Green, Church, Elliot,
Birge, Washington, South Main, Prospect,
Canal, back on Main street. The parad-
ers will be dismissed in front of the Brooks
House, with dress parade by the Can
tons.
Tuesday, 5;45 p. M.-The annual meet
ing and banquet of the Past Grands asso-
citation of Vermont will be held at Grange
hall. Banquet will be furnished by Den
mis- Rebekah lodge No. /.
Tuesday, p. NJ, sharp-Complimen
entertainment to the Grand lodge, Grand
encampment, First Regiment Patriarchs
Militant, and Rebekah Assembly of Yer
mont. The entertainment will be con-
cert by the Chamberlain concert company
of Boston, assisted by one of the finest
orchestras in New England. Short adj
dresses will also be given by Alfred S.
Pinkerton, grand sire, and several of the
grand masters and grand patriarchs of the
New England jurisdiction. Odd Fellows
wishing special reserved seat tickets for
self and ladies can secure same by writing
to the committee.
Wednesday, May 17-Annual session of
Grand lodge open at 8 A, NJ. At SP. M
Dennis Rebekah lodge, No. l, will give
reception at the Brooks House parlors to
the Rebekah assembly and guests.
Thus lay, May 1S-Annual session of
Rebekah Assembly opens at 9 A. NJ. At
1:30 p. NJ. Dennis Rebekah lodge, No. l,
will tender a complimentary trolley ride to
the visiting sisters. At 1880 p. NJ. Den
mis- R4bekah lodge, No. l, will eXemplify
the degree. 1t is also expected that the
degree will be exemplifed by Adah lodge
of Orange, Mass,
Prizes have been offered to the lodge,
encampment and canton having the larg,
est number of members in the parade, the
tallest, heaviest and leanest Odd Fellow in
line, and many other prizes will be award
ed. Brattleboro will not compete for any
of the prizes.