The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-05
LODGE NEWS.
IL. G. Stevens and Miss Emma
Stevens Quests of Honor.
Odd Fellows and Rebekahs
Honor New Grand officers.
items of Interest to Secret So
ciety Workers.

Miss Emma Stevens. president of the
Rebekah assembly of Kansas and
Grand Treasurer H. c. Stevens of the
Odd Fellows of Kansas were the guests
! of honor at a reception given by Ma
Omi Rebekah lodge No 95 and Shaw
nee lodge No. L last Wednesday even
ing. The gathering was attended by
members of all the lodges of both or
ders IN the city. and was a substantial
attestation of the high regard in which
the two newly chosen lodge officials
are held by their home acquaintance.
Music was furnished during the even
ing and light refreshments were served
to the guests. with whom the hall was
filled throughout the evening.
An unusual feature of the reception
was the presence of all the grand Off
GERS of the Odd Fellows, two past pres
idents of the Rebekah assembly and
past grand master of the Odd Fellows.
Such gathering has never before
taken place in Topeka at a purely So
grand officers present were, besides the
guests of honor, Grand Master Conner
T. Davies of Concordia, Deputy Grand
Master W. T. ALBANIAN of Atchison,
Cheney, Grand Secretary w. H. Kemp
er of Horton, Past Grand Master W. T.
Taylor of Topeka, Mrs. J. M. Wehe of
Topeka and Mrs. Hattie V. FEST of
Atchison. the last two being past pres
idents of the Rebekahs. All the grand
officers of the Odd Fellows remained
over in Topeka on Thursday and went
to Kansas City, Kas., to attend the in
stallation OF the new Quindaro lodge on
Friday night. The grand officers looked
over the affairs of the Topeka head
quarters Office and pronounced them to
be IN the most satisfactory condition.
The initiation meeting of knights of
Pythias at Kansas City on the night of
November % was unparalleled in the
history of-fraternal orders in this part
OF the country, and, so far as is known.
IN any part of the United States. a
class of 1,106 candidates was Initiated
into the order in Convention hall in the
presence of an assembly estimated to
have numbered between II, 900 and 49,
900 mem bers of the order 1t WIS the
biggest secret society meeting ever
known in Kansas City, only members
equipped with the pass word being al
lowed within the doors.
The drill work on the floor of Con-
vention hall is said to have been re-
1narkable for its excellence. Teams
from various parts of Missouri were
present and gave exhibitions of the
drill work for the benefit of the new
members although the regular degree
work was exemplified by a drill team
of 56 members from Cameron which
was accompanied by a band of thirty
pieces. Some of the best drilling was
done by teams numbering not more
than ten persons. Many of these teams
order functions at the Worlds fair in
st. Louis next year.
Unless Grand Chancellor f. L. Brit
ton of the Knights of Pythias decides to
take the matter into his own hands it
is improbable that the contemplated
district convention of the order will be
held in Topeka this winter. The pro-
ject was discussed a few weeks ago but
there now appears to be a disposition
to drop it. L. M. Penwen volunteered
the opinion that the convention idea
would be abandoned. Other conventions
are being held over the state, however,
with great success. A convention was
held at Great Bend on Thursday, De-
cember 8, and one at Lyons, Rice coun-
ty, on December 4. Another is sched-
uled for Yates Center, Woodson copnty,
on December IA.
The national meeting of the Knights
of the Protected Ark will be held in
Topeka on January rs. The state meet
of the order win take place early in the
month of January. It had been intend
ed to c fer the meeting of the national
organization until June, 1904. Recently
an application was brought before the