The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-03-15
VISITORS WELCOMED TO ocAIA BY
Ex-MAYoR w. S BULIocK-RE-
sPoRsE BY GRAND cHaNcEI.
LoR Or. S. L. LOWRY.
The Florida Lodge Has Grown from
Twenty-Three Local Lodges to Six.
ty-Two Within Nine Years-En
ocala Man Elected to the
Office Of Grand Chancellor

Ocala has been highly honOred the
past week. She entertained the grand
lodge of the Knights of Pythiss
numbering more than one hundred
aud fifty, some of whom were accom-
panied by their wives and daughters.
In honor of her distinguished guests,
the city was beeomingly decorated.
The Metropolitan Band furnished
appropriate music and if it had not
been for the rain there would have
been a military and civic parade.
The formal services were held at the
court house, which was fixed up very
nicely for the occasion.
Ex-mayor William : Bullock, in
behalf of Mayor Fishel, extended the
welcome OF the city to the distinguish
al pythians HIS address was witty,
besides having the "brevity Of wit"
Judge Bullock vas at his best, and
his speech WAS very happily received.
The Py thian. were also welcomed
on the part Of the Ocala lodge 10y Hon.
". X. Zewadski, in most entertain
ing and pleasing talk.
The address of welcome was respond
ed t. 10y DIR. Sumter l.. Lowry, Of
Tampa. Grand Chancellor.
His address was appropriate to the
occasion, and WAS full of interesting
data concerning the growth of the
order. He traced ii from its incip
iency 10 the present time. He said
its organization is dated from Feb.
Il, 1865, and now includes one out of
every thirty Of the male population of
the Uuited States.
He said the uniform rank numbers
10000 and they patriotically rendered
their services to the president Of the
United States during the late UNI
pleasantness with SPAN, which was
fittingly recognized 10y the president,
although they were not accepted.
President Mckinley is member of
the order.
We learn from his address the fol-
lowing figures. viz: The endowment
rank. members $4,000 and it has paid
in benefits Sll6,00O,O 600, and the year
" death payments now amount to
Il. 500. 600: the annual sick benefits
amount to 81 ,010, 900 more.
Since the meeting of the lodge in
Ocala nine years ago, it has grown
from twenty-three lodges TO sixty six,
and from one thousand one hundred
and seventy-one To three thousand
six hundred members.
He paid graceful compliment to
the ladies and hoped that they would
organize lodge, and referred to the
fact that Mrs. Glazier was here for
that purpose aud he hoped that she
would Toe successful in her efforts.
That a ladies lodge is something new
in Florida, bu: is not so in many of
the states i'm the union.
The Grand Chancellor also paid
a very high tribute to the pluck, en-
ergy. industry and perseverance OF
ocala which made US ali blush with
pride.
Called on by the presiding officer,
Mr.. w. r.. O'Neal, of Orlando, made
a very beautiful and chaste impromp-
IN address. as did likewise past Grand
Master. c. b. Parkhill, of Pensacola.
The editor Of this paper acted as
master Of ceremonies.
After these ceremonies were ended,
the members adjourned to the castle
hall. aud entered upon the regular
routinue work.
] "Wednesday night the Pythisns, as