Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-09-21
A Red Letter Day for Alma and the
Maccabees of Central Michigan.
The Picnic and ORGANIZATION OF the Central
Michigan maecabee Association was
aGrand Success.

For the past four months the COM
mander and members of Alma Tent,
No. 3S4, have had in mind the organiza-
ton of Central Michigan Maccabee
association, believing that such an organ
ization would serve TO advance the
interest of Maccabeeism as nothing else
could. AT their regular review of
August 10 il was decided TO hold pic
mic and celebration at Alma on Septem-
Der !, with the object i'll view of form
ing such an organization.
Deputy Great Com. T. H. Wilson of
Detroit, who was present at the review
was invited 70 cooperate with the Tent
in pushing the undertaking to Il success
full termination, and responded with his
best efforts i'll that direction.
A circular letter of invitation was
sent to each Tent and Hiv in the fol-
lowing counties: Gratiot, Isabella,
Glare, Midland, Saginaw, Shiawassee,
Clinton and Montcalm, requesting them
to elect delegates TO meet in Alma on
the above date.
Arrangements were made for excur-
sions on the railroads, and as the first
| train arrived at : :39 from the north, we
would be compelled TO surrender TO them
| for the day. AS the train rolled in at
| the depot the reception committee be-
came fully aware that the h. q. L. NJ
and l.. O. T. NJ. from that neck Of the
woods were very much alive. Each
Tent and Hive along the line responded
to the call. Mt. Pleasant came one hun
dred strong, headed by the band from
| that city III their natty white uniforms.
presenting very pleasing appearance,
and from the moment of their arrival
| there was music in the air.
The trains from the east and west
came loaded TO the platform with hun
dreds of enthusiastic Maccabees, brim
full of good cheer and happiness, ready
TO do all in their power TO make the
NEE ting a grand success. Along with
those from the west came the ii PUNK
ard band TO lend mirth and jollihcation
| TO the occasion.
As the special excursion from the
south came in with colors flying, and
hundreds of yelling Maccabees and their
friends, headed by the Ithaca band III
their bright new uniforms and as hun
dreds of vehicles rolled in from every
direction, the good people of Alma real
ized that they We're surrounded and that
the proper thing Tor them To do. was TO
capitulate; accordingly they threw up
their hands and opened wide their doors
and said, "the city is yours, take it, ''
At 1880 the parade formed and
marched through the principal streets,
and to say it was the finest thing of the
kind ever witnessed in this section of
the state is putting it mild. There
| were in line twenty fine floats-many Of
which would have been a credit to some
of our large cities-four bands and hun
dreds of foot men.
The parade was led by Mershal w.
Latimer, followed by a. Wilbur, an old
veteran, bearing the national colors, af
| ter whom in carriages came, Great Com.
n. =. Boynton and Great Lady Com.
Frances +. Burnes who after having
passed along the main street, dropped
| out at the corner of State and Superior
streets and reviewed the entire parade.
The parade in its entirety was a grand
| success, and was pronounced by all who
saw il as the finest thing of the kind
ever seen in central Michigan. Immedi-
ately after the parade baskets were
opened at the beautiful SanitariUm
park, one of the finest parks III central
Michigan, provided with beautiful foun-
tains, flowing wells Of pure sparkling
mineral water, velvety lawns and beau
tiful naples, beneath whose spreading
branches were seated thousands of
Maccabees and their friends discussing
their lunches and congratulating them
selves upon the complete success OF the
celebration.
The exercises az the park took place
Immediately after dinner, aud were
opened by the entire audience singing
America, led 10y the ithaca band
This was followed by the address of
welcome by Mr.. w. A. Bahlke, after
which came the invocation by Rev. II.
IB. jefferson, at the close of which Great