Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-17
HONOR new AND OLD
Woodmen Employees Give Recep-
ton and Banquet For
Officers.
FINE GATHERING AT HEAD OFFICE
Series of Happy Speeches IncIud.
ing shop Talk" and
Other Topics.

wisdom. wit and beauty been collect
en- under one roof in the city of Rock
Island, or, indeed, of any other city.
as was assent led in the head offices
of the Modern Woodmen last evening
on the occasion of the reception and
banquet given by the head Office en-
ployes and Royal Neighbors to the
old and new head officers of the order
The reception was held in the lower
corridor of the building, place de-
Ilightfully cool and admirably adapted
to the occasion. Here for two hours
the company, which consisted only of
the guests of honor. the hosts and q
few friends, mingled in Informal
sociability, entertained, meantime
by music from the Independent Man
| dolin club. The banquet was held
till 1880. awaiting the arrival of
Lieut.. Gov. EorthcUIt. but when that
gentleman reached the city he was
TOO i'll TO attend, retiring at once TO
his room at the Harper house
The certificate room, which had
| been transformed into the oiniOg hall,
| was thrown open at the time stated
and the baDqueters took their places.
The tables were arranged entirely
| around the room in 8 hollow square
with other rows If tables in the GEN.
ter The table of honor was at the
west end, so arranged that the guests
faced the remainder of the company
The walls were nicely decorated and
the windows were filled with ported
-. 81 49, L.
around the room were electric fans to
keep the atmosphere in circulation.
After full justice had been done to
the tempting viands that were served,
James Mcnamara. as toastmaster.
read the regrets of +. f Georgia,
Emory Townsend and C. G. Saup-
ders, the retiring mem beers of the
auditing committee, who were unable
to be present. Then he introduced
Head Bookkeeper NJ. L. Stevens as
the first speaker. who gave a retro
spect of the order.
Head ONCE Welcome.
Mr.. Stevens began by saying that
the object of the gathering was to
| welcome the coming and to speed the
parting guest. Then, after few ad-
monitions to the former in regard to
what they will meet within and about
the head office, he turned TO u brief
review of some of the vicissitudes
Through which the order has passed.
He referred to the time of the removal
of the offices here as the siege of
Lucknow and treated the dew sta
tions wrought by Cupid in the work
ers' ranks in humorous vein. He
commented upon the marvellous
growth of the Woodmen and COM
mended the system by which the
business of the order has been reduced
10 such a Mica system. In closing he
paid tribute to Head Clerk Halves
ard expressed hope that that most
competent official might continue
many years in his present position
and that the order may continue to
grow and prosper.
THE Present and n Welcome to
tie New Head Officers" was the sui
Jet of the eloquent Jerry S. Green,
of Iowa, the next speaker. Mr.. Green
| first, in happiest terms, addressed
| himself to the incoming officers, bid
ding them welcome to the places that
| had been given them, and then in
reference to the greatness OF the
Woodmen society gave some novel
statistics to impress the facts upon
his hearers. For instance, he said
the 750, 900 benefciaries of the order
would form a procession 600 miles
long If arranged in carriages in fours.
the vehicles touching; they would
till a train 100 miles long with 80 per-
sons in each coach, and other equally
strik NC statements Mr.. Green ended
his talk with a general compliment to
the officers and head Office employees.
and when he had finished led the
company in the grand salute of the
order in honor of the outgoing off
Gals.
Tribute to Clerks.
In the absence of Head Consul
NoTthcott, who mad been assigned q
reply to the address of welcome, Di-
rector +. f. Murphy, of Kansas. was
substituted and spoke with most hap
ply effect. He assured the head Office
employees that the board of directors
as well as the other guests of honor
appre ciated the demonstration that
had been so successfully carried out
in their behalf. For his own part he
was the friend of the clerks of the
Office and he believed no force en-
ployed in any Office was more devoted
to their work, more competent and
better organized than those whom he
saw before him. The character of
the order for which the Woodmen
head office employees labor he consid-
cred one which should be and is
source to inspire the best that is in
men and women and to make them
feel that they are one family, that
there is no independence and that
fraternity must and will rule.
other Speeches.
Following the address of Director
Murphy. re rly two hours were taken
up by impromptu speeches from the
distinguished gentlemen present.