The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-08-22
Convention Opens by
Reception at Hall Of
Montgomery Lodge.
MAYOR ROBERTSON
WELCOMES VISITORS
Addresses Made by Pro mi n n {
Members OF the Order--
Luncheon and Sccisi
Evening Precedo Work.

The 14th annual convention of the
Sons Of St. George was formally OPEN
ed Tuesday morning The principal
business of the morning meeting was
the election of officers for the coming
year and the proper installation of the
newly elected officers. The new off,
GERS are: Grand president. 8. w.
Smith, of Canton: grand vice presl-
dent. G.. l.. Perkins. Anderson. Indi-
ana: secretary, Fred Stork. Clevelan1;
grand messenger, Robert Kirkley. New
Straitsville; grand treasurer. L. E.
Ashby, of Cleveland; chairman of conf
mittee of finance. j. T. Leach. OF For,
Wayne, Indiana; chairman of commit
tee on law. J. Shaw. Youngstown;
chairman of committee on appeals, J.
Austin, Massillon; grand trustee, I.
Kendall. Of Canton.
At the conclusion of the election and
installation of officers Worthy Grand
President s. w. Smith announced the
following appointments: Worthy
grand assistant secretary, George
Hooker, of Cleveland: assistant mes
senger, Thomas Filmer. OF Youngs-
town; worthy grand chaplain, T. c.
Neal. of East Liverpool; inside senti
ned, ]. Brown. of Nelsonville; outside
sentinel, w. R. Carricls, of Canton.
Besides the election of officers and
their installation other matters of i'm
portance incident to the lodge were
taken up. In the absence of Grand
President J. T. Leach. of Fort Wayne.
Grand Vice President S. w.. Smith
opened the meeting.
THE EVENING SESSION.
The convention Of the order OF the
Sons of st. George. of the district en-
bracing the states Of Ohio, Indiana
and West Virginia, was opened Mon
day evening by grand reception
rendered to the visiting delegates at
the lodge rooms of Montgomery lodge
in the Wernet hall ut the corner of
Walnut and Tuscarawas streets. All
Of the delegates did not arrive In
time for the reception, many of them
reaching the city Tuesday morning.
Among the most prominent members
Of the lodge who are present are
Andrew Lawton, past grand president
of the state lodge, Thomas Filmer
chief mogul Of the Jab-i-Wa degree.
Fred Stork, secretary Of the state
lodge and Past President John Nor
let.
The program which had been
prepared was not begun until late in
the evening. It was opened by few
remarks from Samuel Smith, grand
vice president of the state lodge, who
introduced Thomas Filner of Elyria
rs the chairman of the evening. Mr..
Filmer In, turn introduced Mayor
James H. Robertson as the first speak
or Of tho evening. The mayor in his
usual manner welcomed tho visiting
delegates to Canton. which he assert
cd is the center Of the universe. The
mayor said 1t Is customary for the
mayor Of the city to throw open the
gates to visiting delegates, but he ex-
planned that the city OF Canton never
locked It's doors to such conventions
and to such people,.
In closing the mayor extended
hearty welcome to the visitors. AT
this point Of the program Mr.. FIJI
mer sang several comic selections
which brought down the house.
Following this Mrs. G. Ellison of
Canton played a piano solo.
Secretary Fred Stork, of Cleveland,
was called upon for an address by
Chairman Filmer. Mr.. Stork explain
ed to some extent the nature of the
order of the Sons of st. George He
called attention to the fact that only !
Englishmen were eligible to the order.
In closing he stated that he hoped the
local lodge of Sons of St. George
would be successful in its work \
Alexander Nicholson. guest of the
lodge from this city, was called upon
for an address. He spoke of the re-
cent Boer war. and expressed his be-
lief that II was but matter Of few
years until the colony In South AZ
rica would be, enjoying as much lib
erty at the citizens of Canada. He
said that In the late war the people
of England had q harder task in fight /
Ing the pro-Boer spirit In that coun-
Try than to hight the Beers them
selves. He paid tribute to Canada