The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28
THE ODD Tvs

Celebr alton of the Eightieth
Anniversary of the Introductfon o ,
the order INTO the United States-AD.
Enjoyable Programme
Last night at the Y. NJ. c.. A audito-
rum Cape Fear, Wilmington, Orion
and Hanover lodges, of the Independ-
ent Order Of Odd Fellows, appropriate
ay celebrated the eightieth anniversary
of the celebration of Odd Fellowship
int America Fully 600 of the members
and their families and friends attend
ed, and enjoyed the most delightful
programme arranged for the occasion.
The exercises were opened by Mr.. N.
w. jacob, chairman Of the committee
On arrangements, who acted as master
of ceremonies. After calling the various
officers to their chairs, the ceremonies
opened with prayer by the Rev. DR.. S.
Mendelsohn, chaplain for the occasion.
Then followed the singing Of the open
ing ode Of The Order. The accompanist
for the odes was Mr.. James Craft.
The anniversary ceremony was then
carried out, Noble Grand jacob read
ing the questions and Vice Grand J.
II. King reading or recitiug responsive
ly, as to the occasion and concerning
the principles of Odd Fellowship. Sec
rotary S. G.. Hall followed with the
reading of the proclamations of the
Grand Sire and the Grand Master, en-
Joining the lodges to celebrate the oc-
casion of the introduction Of Odd Fell
lowship into America.
The entertainment programme was
then entered into, the first number be-
ing a vocal selection, Pretty Prim-
rose" by the Cecilia Quartette, COM
posed of Mrs. w. l.. Latta, Mrs. Jas.
d. Smith, Mrs. F. a. Muse, and
Miss Ada Cooper. Mr.. ALT. H. Yopp &C
singing of the quartette was of a very
high order. They received an encore
and o~bligingly responded.
Chairman jacob, with a few re-
marks bearing upon d Fellowship
n its principles, introduced Iredell
Meares, Esq, as the orator Of the &C.
casion. Mr.. Meares vas received with
hearty applause, and spoke for thirty
five minutes, delivering a fine address,
giving interesting statistics of the or
der and embracing a variety of edi-
flying illustrations of the objects of
Odd Fellowship. The first lodge of Odd
Fellows was organized in Baltimore
April &c, 1919, and now the order has
nearly a million members in this coun-
NAys ~ 4oOtB i az OOSl1
initiated throughout the world in Odd
Fellow lodges, 2,197,1 1876 members. The
number of members relieved was $780,
104, of widowed families relieved 234,-
103; the total amount of relief extended
ST, 480, CSC. III; total receipts $201 ,067,-
1851 The buildings owned by the or
der are valued at s8,123,7 27. The orders
orphan homes in the United States are
valued at 1926, 81. Concerning the Or
derS' work in North Carolina he stated
that it has an orphan home at Colds
boro costing about $50, 900 and caring
for 80 to 40 children. He gave other in
teresting and valuable information
concerning the order, and, when he
closed the audience gave him the most
appreciative applause.
The Cecilia quartette next sang an
other delightful selection, and so high
ly was it appreciated that the quar-
tette was compelled to respond with
another.
Miss Mariana Chilean then delight
ed the audience with a series of del
Sarte posings. Her posing was artisti-
cally and beautifully done, and she
received the heartiest applause.
The closing ode was sung after which
DR.. Mendelsohn closed the exercises
with prayer n the benediction.
n audience was requested to re-
main seated, and while it did so, wait
ers of delicious ice cream and cake
were handed around. After the refresh
ments had been b~ounteously served,
the audience dispersed, after having
greatly enjoyed the occasion.