Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1901-05-02
ODD FELLOWS
CELEBRATE
82nd Anniversary of
Founding of Order.
Olive Branch Lodge, No. 81,
and Laurel Rebecca Lodge,
No. 81, of Whitwell,
Observe the Day.

T., and Laurel Rsbecca Lodge, Nc. 81,
of Whitwell, Loyalty celebrated the
send anniversary Of the founding OF the
order on Friday at Whitwell under
most propitious circumstances. 1t was
an ideal spring day, or as Mr.. T. P.
Duff put it "The weather could not have
been better If it had been made special
" to order"
At Q a. m. procession was formed at
Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall, and
headed by the Whitwell Brass Band,
the organizations and their friends
marched to the grove on Million Dollar
Hill, delightful spot overlooking the
Big SeQuachee River.
Reaching there the customary exer-
cises of tho anniversary day were per-
formed, the Proclamation read and
prayer offered. Then there was music
by the band after'which Rev. j. f. Hash,
who ofticiated as presiding officer, made
an Introductory address emphasizing
welcomed the visiting friends. He
made pointed alluson to the presence
of the local press and gracefully com
piimented the News, for which we ex-
press our high appreciation.
The speaker of the day, Rev. J. o.
Straley, pastor of Trinity Church, Chat
tanooga, Tenn, an Odd Follow
of high standing, was then intro
duced, who spoke for nearly an hour
analyzing the motto of the order
Friendship, Love and Truth" and
what they mean. His advice to the
members was very practical. In clos
ing he highly complimented the La
dies Branch as vital auxiliary to the
benefit of the order Being an excel
lent speaker, fluent and forcible, his
address was listened to with great in
terest, and few as excellent speakers
have been heard in Whitwell. On ac-
count of sickness in his family, Mr.,
Straley was obliged to leave early to
return home, much to the regret of his
brethren.
Announcement vas then made that
after music by the band, dinner would
be ready, and while the band played
the ladies hustled and laid out such a
dinner. The tables literally gTOaned
beneath tho weight Of the appetizing
food, and the onslaught on it was steady
and continuous, but without perceptibly
diminishing the supply. The News
staff was the reciN ent OF 80 many press
ing invitations from ilerent friends
to partake Of their viands, that to ac
oept OF all would have required IA great
ly increased number of stomachs, or al
least one OF seventeen or eighteen cap
acity. 1T was a glorious Toast
A pleasant feature in connection witt
the dinner was the presence OF all th'
business men of the town who suspend
ed business al noon and came with thei
families to enjoy social m1al with
their neighbors.
After short rest speaking was re
sumed and Secretary, I. NJ. Eal1ln, wa
presented and spoke for few minute
in behalf of the Order
He was followed by Hon. J, r. John
son, of Bridgeport, Ala, member o
the Legislature of that State, who mad
an excellent address.
An episode occurred during his speecl
which helped him to score good point
! He was apologizing for having eaten to
much dinner to speak readily, whe
7 one of the tables which had been util
= lied as seat under the combine
$ weight of auditors and dinner, collap'
D ed. Luckily no one was hurt MI
johnson closed the episode with the re
: mark, There, told you SO, Too muc
dinner has broken down the table
D While Mr.. Johnson is not an Cd
: Fellow, his address was pleasing an
y instructive.
I He was followed by Rev. j. A, Oar
Q Of Jasper, an able Faconteur, and hi
+ bright and witty anecdotes contribute
i enjoyment to the occasion,
5 This concluded the exercises at th
Q grove and the return march was rnad
to the Hall where the concluding o.
o servance by the order was made.
/ The Independent Order Of Odd he
n lows numbers s62, 723 members Of EbiC
:. Tennessee has s,5SS The Rebec,
P lodge has 200, $50 sisters Tho tot
r relief paid by the Order for the ye
ending Dec. 81, 1899, was 81, ,O95, ass. 2
brothers relieved ll6,SG5; widowed far
lilies relieved, 6,21e; paid for relief
, brothers, -, SIG, ,e46 10; education Of G