The San Francisco call., 1899-09-19

DETROIT, Mich, Sept. 1S.-Hard,
persistent rain has been the predoml-
nant outward feature of the opening
day of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows diamond jubilee. Adverse
weather conditions, however failed to
dampen the spirits of the odd Fellows
enough to keep them away from the
public welcomes extended at the De-
troit Opera house by Mayor Maybury
and Michigan odd Fellows officials.
Every representative entitled TO place
on the floor of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge was in his place when the ses-
sion opened, 1S9 men, from every State
and Territory and the Canadian Prov
inces.
1t was necessary to postpone a trolley
ride about the city planned for TINS al :
ternoon until Saturday, which mad
been left open for individual sight-
seeing. Tonight the visiting ladies'
We're entertained in the Light Infantry
Armory by the Union Rebekah Degeree
staff of this city Fifty-six ladies, the
largest degree team in the history OF
Odu Fellowship, eXemplified the Re
bekah degree.
Sovereign grand officers, Grand Lodge
anG Grand Encampment oInclals anu FdIl-
Gus other tuncuOudTleS or the 1lloepeliueHl
Order OF Odd tellOWS walked 10 the open,
ing session of the seVenty-fltth annual
meeting or the order To-Day through q
urenchng rain. 1Gey were escorted from
headquarters the totel Cadillac, to the
Detroit Opera house, where puDnc recep-
ton exercises were he'd by the military
cantonmentS OF the order present IN the
CITY. Arriving in front OF the theater me
fatriarchS Militant stood IN line with
swords present, Wnlle 800 umbrella bearing
sovereign and State offlcerS, delegates 10
the Sovereign Grand Lodge ana to the
and entered. The proceedings opened
with orchestral music. On the stage We're
the sovereign grand sire and grand officers
and those VINO were to voice the well
comes. Greetings were extended by Col
onei~ o. A. James, chairman of the general
local. committee; Mayor Maybury for the
grand master, representing the Michigan
grand lodges Robert Donovan, grand
patriarch Of the Michigan Grand Encamp-
ment: Brigadier c. S. Martin, department
Militant, and by Mrs. Emma Haskin
president of Rebekah Assembly.
Governor Pingree was unable to appear
owing TO illness, and Mayor Maybury well
coined the visitors on behalf of the city
and State. OF odd Fellowship the Mayor
said:
societies to make men brothers and to
make my neighbor the man who needs me
and is deserving of my help"
Hon. Alfred S. Pinkerton, grand sire
responded to the welcomes, after which
the Sovereign Grand Lodge representa-
tfves proceeded TO Harmonic Hall, where
the first business session was held
Grand Sire Pinkerton made his annual
report to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. Mr.
Pinkerton said:
1.-The evidence of the work of aggres-
sive, progressive force of Odd Fellowship
Is a refutation of the false assertion that
the present citizens of the world are not
so good as We're their fathers. Welcome
every agency that lends helping hand to
those who need it. December 81 last our
subordinate lodge membership was $780,
961 and the number of sisters enrolled in
the Rebekah lodges numbered 1870, ,O07
These figures enable us for the first time
to honestly claim fraternal affiliation with
over a million persons"
Referring to the finances of the order
Mr. Pinkerton said:
THE great source Of our financial life
is the income derived from the sale of
supplies. 1t has never been our policy to