The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-20
Governor, Mayor and the Grand Sire
Review the Brilliant Column.
SOVEREIGN LODGE BEGINS WORK
Ball at the Auditorium Tonight to
Be the Social Feature of the Ses-
sion Music 10 Be Fur
nished by the Soldiers
Home Marine
Band.

Yesterday was one great day in connec-
ton with the seventy-sixth annual session
of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd
Fellows: to-day will be another. The pa
rade which took place yesterday after
noon, was one of the most magnificent
spectacles ever Witnessed in Richmond.
The competitive drills to-day will be a
most imposing feature, and will be fol-
lowed by the grand ball al the Auditorium
tonight.
There were 5000 Odd-Fellows who par
tcipated in the parade, and these, with
their bright regalia, marched through the
principal streets of the Capital OF the
Old Dominion 10 the martial strains Oh
music furnished by bands from all parts
of the United States
There was but little of general imDor-
tance done by the Sovereign Grand Lodse
yesterday. The Sovereign body was cailed
to order by Grand Sire Pinkerton at
O'Clock, and the lodge went at once INTO
executive session There was a prolonged
discussion over the ritual for the lodges
in Germany, and the body unanimously
agreed to a more liberal dispensation, so
far as the lodges in Germany are con-
cerned The Sovereign Grand Lodge COM
pleted its consideration OF the report OF
the Committee on Ways and Means, and
the per diem was left at - per cay VITA
an allowance for mileage of ten and twelve
cents according to the proximity of the
place of meeting.
THE GRAND CAKE-WALk.
Fully 15.eO0 persons attended the grand
cake walk at the Auditorium last night
and the entertainment was one or the
most brilliant affairs of its kind ever given
in the South. Chairman Samuel X
Crowtler and his colaborers on the COM
nittee in charge of the cake walk niantea
better than they knew when trey put
in an ..even:ng with old Virginia negroes.
Besides the vast audience that filled the
Auditorium. thousands unable To gain
admittsl:ce to the building were forced to
return to their homes, disappointed be-
yond measure.
THE ODD'FELLOWS' BALL
Such Will not be the case tonight.
While it is expected that there will be
an enormous crowd at the ball. the floor
tickets are limited and these are being
disposed OF to cnly ladies and gentlemen
entitled to attend such function The
officers and representatives OF tp Sow
ereign Grand Lodge, the patronesses- the
ball committee and the members of the
Executive Board of the General Committee
on Entertainment will be on hand with
their lady friends and they will have
seats specially reserved for them on the
stage One hundred of the prettiest girls
in Virginia VIII form a column, which,
headed by Grand Master w T. Baldwin,
of Radford, will lead them to the center
of the ball floor, Immediately after the
Grand Sire has made the presentation Of
the prizes awarded in connection with
tie competitive drills. These young ladies
will be formally received by Grand Sire
Pinllerton and Governor j. Hoge Tyler.
The ball tickets sare on sale at all the
leading drug stores, music houses. hotels
and soda-watar establishments. The ad-
mission to the floor viii be s., but each
{ cket VIII admit a lady and gentleman.
Tickets viii be on sale for the gallery.
which viii be open to spectators. at %
cents each. The musical programme Will
be one of the most beautiful and popular
ever rendered here. The music will be
furnished by the famous Marine Band
from the National Soldiers Home at
Hampton, under the superb leadership OF
Director Hgll. who ranks in American
music circles with Fanciulu and Sousa.
ENEAIPLIFYING DEGREES.
Nothing has been more attractive to the
visiting Odd-Fellows than the exempIffl-
cation of the degrees under the auspices of
the Richmond lodges. On Tuesday night
the splendid drill team of Federal City
Lodge. of Washington. Of which Brother
Mcneil is the Noble Grand. conducted 2
candidate through the third degree in the
presence OF the Grand Master of Virginia.
Colonel W. T. Baldwin. and other Grand
| officers. Fully six hundred Odd-Feilows
witnessed the beautiful spectacle, which
| was presented under the auspices of Abots
! Ben AIhem Lodge. The Federal City
| team was finally awarded the prize of 500
| for the best exemplificarion OF the work
! in this degree.