The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-05-05
GREENWOOD IN GALA ATTIRE
Royal Reception to a Royal Order.
Music and Flags and Bunting
Charlottesville Gathering.

L tllONSHlp, oul illble tltS was loI iHiCe
days the captive of the best lot of jolly,
good hearted men it has we had the
pleasure Of entertaining the tifty-first
session of the grand encampment OF
Odd Fellows. 1t was composed OF rep.
resentatives from all over the state, and
the only regret Il people express is
that they did not come to reside instead
CT to visit our city.
Last Monday the grand encampment
held its first session. Fourteen subor-
dinate encampments were represented.
The following grand officers were
elected
Henry c. Qrman Of Grenada, grand
priest w, c. Felton, of Holly Springs,
high priest J. r. Horton of Columbus,
grand senior warden W, II. Bleything
of Vicksburg, grand junior warden
Sam Blumenthal of Holly Springs.
grand scribe J. L. Power of Jackson,
grand treasurer O. L, Mckay of Aber-
deem, grand recorder William Baker
of Water Valley, grand marshal Sam
uel French of V%icksburg, grand senti-
mel.
Committee on Finance-~W. NJ. Strick-
land, Samuel Fried, William Waterman.
Tuesday morning the grand lodge
took up the regular order o. business.
At2;3Op p. IN, the grand lodge, encamp-
lnent and local lodge, headed by the
Silver Cornet band, marched
to the Presbyterian church. where the
keys of the city were received. The
ceremony was very impressive.
Judge s. R. Coleman acted as conductor,
and, after an appropriate song by the
choir, Rev. s. L. Reeves was called upon
prayer and responded in as fervent a
plea for their care, safety and work as
'ver fell from the lips of man. Hon.
W. S. Vardaman, mayor of the city,
was then introduced and in a short ad-
lress delivered to them the mystic keys
If the city which unlocked all the gates
md hearts Of its people.
Brother G. L. Lomax, who had been
selected to deliver the welcome address,
hen came forward and in a clear, ring.
ng voice, which struck deep into the
leart of every Odd Fellow present.
aid
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
irand Master, Members of the Grand Lodp.
of the Independent Order of odd Fellows,
Ladies' and Gentlemen:
1t is my privilege, on behalf of Green.
wood lodge No. 1lS, to bid you welcome
% II little city, the queen of the delta
to that section of the state
where alluvial soil responds SO yener.
to the efforts of labor that it is
Utmost impossible to garner the harvests
which nature annually blesses lis with.
think 1t il true that mans charac.
are influenced by the environ.
nents OF nature, and when you find ~
which the creator has blest with
l soil so fertile that it yields lavishly TO
hose who toll, you will find its peonle
brave, h%ospitable, kind and true. For
his reason, brothers, you will receive
'uch Il cordial welcome from our cit.
zens, and find in them so many of the
elements of true manhood and noble
vomanhood, that you will come to the
that instead of being stran.
gers among strangers You are IN a lodge
whose limits are the corpOrate
boundaries OF Greenwood and whose
members are all the citizens of this
'lace, and every n MI Odd Fellow.
Our lodge welcomes You because we
eel that 1t is an honor to us and orr
title city to have with us this assembly
u men who represent every ~avocation
IT life, the names of many of whom
re inscribed deeply on the annals of
'ur state, and, last and greatest. men
Who represent the type OF Gods noblest
true American citizen.
rejoice in your visit because a little
lodge like ours may 20 plod.
ling along alone and become obliyions
Il the fact that it is a unit OF a great
ystem which has its organization in
very cline and under every flag that
e%presents an important nation
Our lodge is now in fine working or.
Ter, having about forty active members
nd new ones coming in and old ones
reiiistated. Following the in.
JUNCTION of Odd Fellowship to bury
he dead II lodge, recognizing the
iced Of our little city for !. suitable
lace in which orr citizens may law
hose who are near ard dear to them
' hen The fell DESTROYER has claimed them
or his own, has purchased a beautiful
Of ten acre, wlicl, We have about