The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-28
TEN THOUSAND
ODD FELLOWS
The Grand Lodge Coming to Rich
mond to Hold Its Session.
WHAT Mr.. HILL MONTAGUE SAYS
The Selection OF the Capital Ctfy ofthc
old Dominion Was Made IMAM
imous-Odd Fellows Want
20 Sec Richmond.
WHAT Mr.. HILL MONTAGUE SAYS

AR. nm Montague has just return
"a from Detroit. Mich. where he has been
In attendance upon the meeting OF me
sovereign Grand Lodge OF Odd-FeloWs'
10 a reporter who visited him yesterday
he talked most Interestingly. lie said:
.yvhen the Sovereign Grand Lodge OF
the Independent order OF odd Fellows
which met az Detroit last week, found mat
Richmond wanted to entertain them next
year. al opposition was withdrawn and
the selection Of this city was made unan-
imous. Both Cincinnati and Columbus
wanted the sessions, and the business
Mems Club Of the former city had pledg-
Cd $4,000 for the entertainment of repre-
sentatiyes. but both Of the ONO towns
surrendered their claims, and liichmond
was chosen. The Odd Fellows wanted 10
meet IN "a typical southern city. The
nearest they had ever come TO the reali-
yatlon OF tina desire was a number OF
ve.rs ago. when the SOvcrc IN Lodge met
i'm ChattanO0ga Tenn. Then. too, his
torlc interests that centre about Rich
mond only augmented the desire to meet
here.
THEY WILL COME.
And thcy VIII come. They viii. IN
thousands. Boston, In 1895. saw between
ag 900 and $500 odd Fellows within her
walls. This year 5000 members made
Detroit their Mecca. BY actual count
over 400 odd Fellows were In line on the
dav Of the parade. yet the storms had
kept many from appearing. That day
In Boston was declared a holiday, and on
Wednesday Of last week. in compliance
with a proclamation issued by the Mayor
Of Detroit. business in that city was sus-
pended. Next year. beginning with the
third Monday IN September. Richmond
viii entertain this representative body.
TEN THOUSAND.
Representatives from an The States and
Territories ia the Union and from the
provinces Of Canada will be here. The
Sovereign Lodge representatives number
about co... Besides these. other Odd Eel
lows from the various sections will at
tend. and it is expected that the number
who viii gather here at that time viii
approximate 10000. and. perhaps. more.
on learning that Richmond had been
decided upon. lodges from various Michl-
gan N Ohio cities decided 10 attend I'm
a body. and their example VIII. i'm all
probability. be followed by many others.
This Is the way the matter stands now.
and Richmond Will see one of the great
est eyorts in her history next September.
According 10 the custom. long cstab-
iished. visitors will begin TO arrive the
Friday preceding. and one Of the social
features already decided upon is a trip
10 jamestown that Saturday. Other points
OF interest VIII lie visited and the guests
shown "a royal time generally. The ses-
sion OF the Sovereign Lodge viii be held
in TIE convention hall SO the Jefferson.
and that hotel viii be the Headquarters
Like at Detroit. however, every hotel will
be filled for the eight days, which the
sessions viii occupy.
THE OFFICERS.
Another feature that will draw an extra
number 10 these sessions Will be the in-
stallation Of Grand Sire-Elect O.. G..
Gable. and the biennial election Of Off
GERS. The chief contest Will be for the
office Of Deputy Grand Sire. and five
candidates are already in the field. Thesa
are T.. :. Conway. of Illinois. the present
chairman of the Finance Committee; John
j.. Nolan. of Tennessee. John b. Good
win. of Georgia; Wallace G.. Nye, Of
Minnesota. and Robert r.. Wright. of
Pennsylvania. Amendments 20 the con-
s%titutlOn will also be proposed. and The re-
vision OF the Rehekah ritual has been de-
cided upon. These important proceedings
viii only add 90 the natural interest taken
I'm the meeting Of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge.
4 GREAT ORDER.
There are about 200 odd Fellows in
this state. Richmond alone having nine
lodges. besides twO encampments. Man
chester two lodges. and Highland Springs
one lodge. Tho order Is strong through
out tie state generally. A number Of
weIl.knoWn Nlrginians are also prominent
I'm Grand Lodge affairs. I. v. Turney.
Of Fortres Monroe. is a member of the
committee on the patriarohial branch and
also a member of the special committed
now considering the feasibility OF es-
tabiishing p branch OF The order in the
philippine Islands. W. T.. Larrabee. of
Phoebus. Is a member of the Committee
on Mileage and Per Diem Appropriations
NJ. r.. Reams. of Richmond. is on the
F1ance Committee. and Hil Montague.
besides being % member Of the judiciary
Committee. Is also on the special commit
tees appointed TO compile a history Of the
order and 90 revise the ritual for use in
the nchekah branch of Odd Fellowship.