The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-06

ivered the Address of Welcome.
Refreshments Were Served After
the Entertainment and There Was
a Season Of Dancing-Many Visit
ors from Wilkes Barre.
In Music hall the fifth anniversary
of the organization of the NJ. T. Jones
Household of Ruth was celebrated.
This organization is an auxiliary to the
colored Order of odd Fellows. 1t was
the first celebration of the kind and
was very successful. The entertain
ment with which the celebration opened
was presided over by Mrs. Sadie ].
Morton, president of the local house
hold.
The entertainment opened with music
by the Burkehousc orchestra, which
played 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner"
Miss Florence Scott read a very
thoughtful paper on "The Progress of
Our Order" and Miss Howard gave
selection on the piano Miss Ella Rex
sang stolen Chances" in a very ac-
ceptahle manner, and Edward Nelson
odIi5 ASlttp III lHb Deep III d way
that provoked hearty applause. His
little daughter, Miss Mable Nelson
sang THE Song that Reached My
Heart" The entertainment concluded
with the following address of welcome,
which was delivered by Mrs. Morton:
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
officers and Members of the Wilkes
Barre Household, Grand United order
of odd Fellows.
Ladies and Gentlemen: In behalf of the
Scranton Household / extend to you a
welcome befitting the occasion that wit
nesses the fifth anniversary of our order.
We welcome you one and all to our city,
our homes and our hearts, and hope you
have come for the one purpose, and that
the common good. Five years ago we so
firmly planted our banner on the Rock
of Peace, Happiness and Prosperity, that
tonight we are the NJ II. Jones House
hold, No. 90, of the city of Scranton,
with a state grand master and lodge
Pennsylvania, No. /.
We are a part of the order who, know
ing that the hand that rocked the cradle
ruled the world, and after having gra-
ciously recognized and acknowledged
such to be the fact, admitted us to a
membership which is entwined with the
bonds and blessed with the innumerable
blessing of Friendship. Love and Truth.
So, tonight, dear sisters, we are anchored
along side of this Grand United Order of
Odd Fellows, celebrating our voyage of
| five years
Your presence here tonight again dem
onstrates the fact that the best people in
| all the land honor and respect the order
of which We are a part and regards its
| achievements with unfounded admira-
| tion. Five years ago we organized with
| 49, s.l,. L..
| love; since that time many have crossed
| the mystic river. Yet we are spared by
| a kind Providence to celebrate our fifth
| anniversary. One of our own number
who was with us on that auspicious oC-
| cason has crossed over and we believe
| that tonight she is sitting in the grand
| Household above, where she greets the
noble founder of our order around the
eternal altar of peace happiness and
| prosperity.
| EXTEND ITS INFLUENCE.
Then let us sail on. Let it be
our purpose to exert our influence to
promote the best interest for the House
| hold of Ruth ana the Grand United Or
| der of Odd Fellows. The last time We
! gathered in this hall 1t was to do honor
| to the Sostherese lodge of this city, but
| tonight this is our reception and we are
monarchs of all we survey and our rights
| there are none to dispI te and the Wilkes
| Barre Household together with the citi-
! zens and friends have come to honor us.
| In the many years that have intervened
many organizations have sprung up for
| the benefit of our people, but we know
| of no other that has done greater work
| for our race than the Grand United
Order of Odd Fellows. Thank God their
| banner waves all over the sunny south,
where but few years ago the mother
| wept for her children and refused to
be comforted because they were not. God
bless the odd Fellows May they ever
remain tender loving and true to us.
doing all the good they can, in all the
ways they can and to all the people they
| can. l could entertain you long and well
with a history of our order, but why
should 1?
The history Of this order is embazored
on the heart and woven in the minds of
the Afro-Amercans, it is a part of the
| race. Indeed, so closely connected is
the one to the other, that no one can
positively say where the one begins or
the other leaves off.
And now, IL 1t be admissible that l
| deviate so far, let me say few words
of consolation in behalf of our people.
As a race we are progressive people |
shall not attempt to discuss under what
| political banner you shall enroll as / am
| having cast "a vote
PART OF COMMONWEALTH.
But l simply want to remind
you of the fact that you are a
legitimate part of the commonwealth, and
should be given the chance to participate
in the joys of this country as well as
In the fight up San Juan hill and with
Shafter at Santiago. We do not ask tC
rule the land but we do ask to assist
those who do rule, because of our God
given right to a place i'm this govern.
ment. We do not ask to wear the kings
crown, but we do, and shall continue tC
contend for that part of the kingdom
which we have legally inherited.
There Is something in every Afro,
American that makes him love his coun.
try, and 1t is greatly to be regretted that
the government will not appreciate 1t
But, in spite of all this opposition, God
grant that the Household Of Ruth and
the Grand United order of Odd Fellows
in all the land may flourish like the palm
tree and grow like the Cedar of Lebanon
until the whole universe shall have beer
shaken by it's power and all nations shell,
ter under its branches
Then, i'm the name of our Blessed
Master and the shade of our departed
grand master and members, let us 60
forward in this grand work so that the
generations to come will bless our menl'
ory. And now again ! bid you a well
come, thrice welcome to all.
A large number of the members Of
the Wilkes Barre Household and of the
colored lodge of odd Fellows of that
city We're in attendance. The local
| AI,11 ,IN.aa 1T . Il lat,