River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-05-03
8tst ANNIVERSARY
Of American Odd Fellowship.
River Falls Lodge Entertains the
Brethren Right Royalty.

invited all OF Jne nelBh-
boring lodges to participate with 1t in
the celebration of the 6lst anniyer-
sayr Of American Odd Fellowship.
The response to the invitation was
a hearty one, members of the order
from Prescott, Ellsworth and New
Richmond being present in goodly
numbers, Hudson accepting the invi-
tatlon, but owing TO the epidemic
there deciding at a late hour it was
best not to come.
1t was a pretty nearly all day affair,
as the lodge rooms were thrown open
at two O'Clock in the afternoon and
were 0 filled with an eager throng
of happy faces, giving and receiving
cordial greetings.
The more formal exercises COM
menced at about three o'clock with
an invocation by Rev. It. j. Snod-
grass, followed by an address of well
come by Judge Allen P. Weld on be-
half of the city. After an interlude
by the River Falls Cornet Band Bro.
f. NJ. White gave an address of well
come on behalf OF the local lodge
which was responded to in a happy
manner by Bro. s. N. Hawkins of
New Richmond.
Bro. G. G. Knowles then read an es-
say upon the Growth and Early His
tory of Odd Fellowship, after which
the members Of the order formed on
Walnut street for the parade, under
Bro. Knowles, MARSHALL OF the Day, the
line of march being west on Walnut,
down Main to Spring street, passing
on the last named street the residence
of Bro. w. S. Ensign. who was con
PEELED to remain at home on account
of sickness. The procession then con-
tinued up Third street to Maple and
thence to Main and on Main TO the
Opera Hall, where was in waiting an
I'm pie repast spread by the sisters OF
the Rebekah degree. Two hundred
plates had been laid, but they proved
insufficient for the numbers present
ard a SECOND table was spread Tor
those who failed to obtain seats at
the first.
The more serious duty of eating &C
com plished the toasts were announc-
ed by the toast master, DR.. Il. w.
Ashley.
Bro. Weld was called out to answer
the query, "What is a Good Odd Eel
low?''
Rev. Snodgrass gave an effective an
swer to the question, rs the world
better for Odd Fellowship having ex-
listed In it?"
Rev. Mcintosh responded to the
theme, Fraternity, what does it
mean?"
Mrs. Hutchinson, an officer OF the
Grand Lodge of the Rebekah degree,
gave a fine essay upon the duties OF
sisters of the Rebekah degree.
Perhaps no speaker commanded a
closer attention than did Bro, Porter
of New Richmond, who was the eldest
Odd Fellow present and who partici-
pated in the installation of Prescott,
River Falls and Ellsworth lodges.
He recalled much of interest in the
scenes of the earlier days in which he
had taken part and urged the mem
bers to continued faithfulness in
we'll doing.
Bro. E. A. Severance of the Els
worth lodge gave an excellent and
well-considered address, responding In
behalf of the Ellsworth lodge to the
welcome of the local lodge.
Interspersed with the essays and
speeches the Quartette Club sang
some fine selections which were
warmly encored by the audience. The
River Falls Cornet Band also gave
some selections which added greatly
to the enjoyment of the occasion.
The closing address was given by
Bro. Hawkins, who recalled in a feel
ing manner the earlier scenes which
came to his memory when a former
resident of the city as we'll as the
more recent and terrible hour when
New Richmond became the victim of
the awful tornado which swept over it
last year.
In the evening the visiting mem
bers and the young people of the city
came together at the Invitation of
the lodge for a social dance. The lib
erality of the lodge in this giving of
an entertainment to it's friends was
cordially responded to and the hall
was we'll filled with happy people who
enjoyed the music and the dance qn=
til an early hour the following morn
ing.
Taken all in all the celebration
ranks among the most successful In
the many which have won forthis citya
reputation for generous hospitality.
Every part Of it gave evidence of care
full organization on the part OF the
com mittee of arrangements as we'll as
of generous hospitality which Is so
arked a feature of American frater-
nal societies.
Not so many shade trees have been
set out this spring around town as
usual, but there was not so much oc-