The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-09-22
Iberia Lodge
K. Of H,
Entertains It's Friends and
Then
The Public on Tuesday
Last,
Several of the State Officers
Being Present.

Iberia Lodge No 31Jj of the or
der of Knights of Honor has long
been noted for its hospitality
There are many of our citizens
who remember with pleasure the
delightful public reception given
their Grand Officers and the dance
which followed, both in the old
opera house building. Then few
have forgotten the excursions and
plcnlcs given up and down the
Bayou at which almost every one
was invited and which were
throughly enjoyed
On Tuesday last this Lodge
again entertained publicly. They
held reception in their lodge
room from ) TO : p. IN. at which
about 60 members and 200 mem.
bers of their families were present
and enjoyed listening to addresses
from Grand Dictator j. E. LIE
Blanc, Supreme Representative
l.. f. Bentley and Past Dictator
John Marks, as well as enjoying
refreshments consisting of thirty
gallons of vanilla. strawberry,
lemon, chocolate ice cream and an
abundance of cakes.
At 8 o'clock the lodge. its guests
and the public met in the opera
house where addresses were de
livered by these same gentlemen.
Dictator c. L. Widney called
the meeting to order, welcomed
their guests and said he felt it an
honor to preside over one of the
largest lodges in New Iberia, and
introduced the speakers, the first
being Gaand Dictator Leblanc.
This gentleman said he would
endeavOr to show the good features
of the Order which is now 81 years
old, and which is an especial
protection for the families of
persons in poor circumstances.
Since its organization it has paid
out $4,000 900. to widows and Or
phans, which has been collected by
monthly assessments from mem
bers. One drawback in Louisiana
where there are so many Catholics
is that the ladies of this church
bitterly oppose all secret orders.
He is practical Catholic and pre-
forms his duties every Easter. His
wife is also Catholic and didn't
believe him when he said he had
confessed being Knight Of Homer
aud had received absolution. Fin
ally, priest whom he and his
wife had long known spent several
days at his home and to satisfy
(ber. the Grand Dictator asked
him in her presence what he
thought of the Knights of Honor,
and his answer did satisfy her, so
that if Mr.. Bentley gets from the
Sovereign Grand Lodge the side
saddle for the goat that ladies may
join, she will become member.
The rituals of the Knights Of
Honor and of the Ancient Order
of United WOrkmer have been
submitted to the Pope for his in
spection and have received his
sanction. There is no more harm
in the Knights Of Honor than in
the Catholic church,. and they can
show where families would have
been left penniless and destitute
but for this order. He believed
that ladies should be admitted as
he would just as live get $4,000 If
his wife died first as to have her
get it at his death.
The X. of III. teach what the
Catholic church teaches and every
man should belong to It. Their
secrets consist of pass word and
certain signs of recognition in
which there is no harm. lie hoped
the next time he visits New Iberia
the weather will be less warm.
Mr. Marks made a practical and
A humorous talk. which space will
not allow us to reproduce. He
showed his audience that he is a
strict Catholic and did not join the
X. Of H. until after consulting two
priests of long experience in the
ministry. He had taken out in
surance in the Catholic Knights
of America, the Catholic Benevo-
lent Legion, the New York Life
and then took $4,000 in the X. of
H. and regretted that he could
not take more as it was 30 per
cent cheaper than in the G. K. of
A. and IS per cent cheaper than
the G. B. Legion. It's secrets do
not begin to compare with those
of the Catholic Benevolent Legion,
and the G. X. Of A. copied their
constitution from that of the
Kniuhfo nf Honor.