Ellsworth American., 1903-02-18
ODD FELLOWS.
HANCOCK COUNTY LODGES CON-
vENE AT ELLSWORTH.
RED LETTER DISTINGUISHED
OFFICERS PRESENT - BRILLIANT
woRK-HIsToRIC GAvEL.

WoRK-HIsToRIC GAvEL.
Last Friday was red-letter day for the
Odd Fellows OF Hancock county; they
gathered 600 strong, and held one of the
largest, most interesting, most in
structiye and most successful conventions
in the history OF the order In this section.
1 The event was the tnird annual district
| convention OF districts Nos. 81 and 80,
composed OF Lejok, No. 80, OF Ellsworth,
under whose auspices the convention was
held, Bluehili, No 10, Brookin, No. 1873.
Pemetic, No. 1876, Ocean, No. 40, Island,
No. 100, and Fort Knox, No. 129.
All these lodges were, of course, repre-
sented, but Odd Fellows seemed to drop
in from everywhere. When noses were
counted late In the evening, 1t turned out
that no less than seventeen other lodges
were represented, including one in Rhode
Island, one In Massac husetts and one in
| Quebec.
THE ARRIVALS.
The weather OF convention day WAS ex-
ceptionally fine, the travelling good, and
very early in the morning the influx from
neighboring towns began. The conspicu-
Gus outdoor feature, however, was the
crowd that came from Bar Harbor on the
noon train.
Two hundred strong, they marched
down Main street headed by marvellous
band-Rube's All Star band of fifteen
musical Instruments, and as many more
that were not entirely musical. Frank
| Iatp o. h W drnf p1a N
ing the band was hand organ, a tam.
BOURNE "girl', a monkey, and all the
accessories OF a variety show.
THE CONVENTION.
The hour for calling the convention to
order was 130, but it was 2 o'clock when
the presiding officer, D. D. G. NJ. DR.. F. s.
Herrick, OF Brooklin, raped for order.
Prayer was offered by Rev. j. P. Simonton.
Then followed brief addresses by the
grand officers who were present-Leon F
Higgins, q. NJ, of Brewer; w. B. Little
field, d. G. M, OF North Berwick; L. M.
Merrill, G.. w, and r. G. Dyer, G. s., OF
Portland, and Mr.. Estey, of Somerville,
Mass.
Pemetic lodge, of Southwest Harbor,
was scheduled to work the initiatory
degree, and 1t was done in masterful
manner. Rounds OF applause follow ed
the ceremony. The hour was so late that
| the working Of the first degree, scheduled
for the afternoon session, was postponed
until evening.
THE BANQUET.
To provide for crowd of such dimen-
sions was a problem In itself, but it was
satisfactorily solved by Lejok lodge. The
committee, of which Harvard Jordan was
chairman, set before the visitors splen-
did banquet, to which ample justice was
done.
The banquet was served from $50 to
O'Clock, an able-bodied delegation from
Lejok lodge acting as walters.
, IN THE EVENING.
The session was resumed at s O'Clock
The first degree was worked by Island
, lodge, OF Bar Harbor. The team work
OF this lodge is famous beyond the dis
trict limits, and the intensest interes,
centred In it's work,
True to its reputation, Island lodge
worked the degree to perfection, and
received we'll -merited applause.
, The second and third degrees were
worked by Brooklin and Bluehill lodges
respectively, and the exempification OF
both these degrees was highly creditable
Each lodge received round after round OF
applause.
? speeches, mainly from the grand officers
who expressed themselves as highly
gratified with the work.
1t was nearly 1 O'Clock before the
formal work OF the convention was
, finished. Then came the midnight ban
quet, and after that an entertainment by
, Island LODGE that was not down on the
program me, but which was anticipated by
all VINO are familiar with the variety oi
talents possessed by this lodge.
For most of the visitors and for large
majority of the home lodge, it was an all
night session, but 1t was thoroughly en-
: loved, not only the serious work of the
convention, but also the social accompan-
, imeuts, aud though physical exhaustion
may have resulted, the purposes of the
gathering were realized, and lasting ben
! etits to the order are sure to result.
NOTES.
The instrumental music for the occasion
was furnished by joys orchestra, of Bar
Harbor, and the vocal by an Ellsworth
male quartette consisting of Messrs. Tap
ley, Robinson, Rollins and Cunningham
The gavel used at this convention was
of unusual historic interest. The head
was made of piece of the famous frigate
"Constitution", familiarly known as "Old
Ironsides"; the handle from plank from
the floor of the engine room of the
"Kearsarge", the Yankee ship that sunk
the Confederate "Alabama" off the coast
of France during the Civil war. The
gavel was presented for use at this con-
vention by Grand Master Higgins.
CHURCH NOTES.