The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-19
PRESENT TO FORMER OFFICIAL.
Magnificent Silver Service Presented
to III Consul Northcott.

to III Consul Northcott.
The happiest event Of the week among
the Woodmen visitors to Indianapolis took
place yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock in
Parlor B Of the Claypool. the headquarters
of Head Consul Northcott. Assembled in
the parlor were all the distinguished Of
fcials Of the society. They were there to
spring a surprise on Governor Northcott,
according to plans that had been secretly
under way for two months or more. and
which involved the leaders of Woodcraft
from Maine to California. A magnificent
chest of silver, numbering lis pieces, and
costing $1,000. was presented to Mr.. North
colt and his wife, on behalf of the Wood
men officials, to whom, through long years
of the closest association, he has become
endeared, and who feel keenly his perma-
nent departure from the official family.
Hon. E. Z. Murphy, chairman of the
board of directors, made the presentation
speech, and Mr.. Northcott was SO over
come at the handsome evidence of friend
ship bestowed upon him that he broke COM
pletely down. He was unable, through
stress of emotion, to give expression to a
single word, and when Mrs. Northcott
threw her arms about his neck he surren-
dered completely to his feelings. 1t was a
scene which those who were participants
will not soon forget.
Director Murphy's presentation speech
was made with a feeling born of years Of
intimate friendship and association with
Governor Northcott, and as the happy sur
prise was unfolded the Governors counte-
nance was a study. In part Director Muir
ply said:
Upon many occasions during the thir-
teen years Of your connection with this
society there has been extended to you
many warm handclasps and words of kind
ness from all over this jurisdiction by it's
members, but there never was a time nor
a place when a group of men greeted you
so proudly and so cordially as those who
to-day are here to do you honor. We come
with that unity which is born of conf
dence in a fellow-man, to join in wishing
from the bottom of our hearts God-spee6
to you and your family. We come from
every station in life to do honor to the mar
who. by his kind and generous acts, his
genial and social nature, has won the clos
est tie of friendship from us all.
1T is more than a pleasure to have the
opportunity of showing to you the high
esteem I'm which you are held by us. We
claim you as our own; we know your worth;
we have watched your career with the
same solicitude and pride with which a
of her favorite son. We have r~ejoiced at
your success; our hearts have been touched
when we saw the favor with which all of
the jurisdiction regarded you, for we knew
1t was worthily bestowed. We recall our
first meeting with you in 1890, when men
left their homes, their hearts filled with
anxiety for the future of this order. With
clouds lowering on every side. we found the
ship of Woodcraft among the shoals of
dishonor and despair, its banner trailing
from her broken mast; its credit gone, all
looked for its fragments to be scattered by
the waves of doubt and dishonor, but there
came from the great State Of Illinois one
frail craft; trust in me, and / will bring
her TO a place of safety and he took COM
mand and under his ~pilotage the vessel of
our hopes was brought to the harbor of
security. For the well-being Of the craft
he has assiduously labored; for her good
he has ever battled. The banner of the
outer walls until to-day there is clustered
beneath its protective folds the greatest
fraternal army the world has ever seen.
And that is the man we come this day to
1--WE are all proud of your magnificent
record as head consul of the Modern Wood
men. Your devotion to this society has
been as loyal and magnificent as ever guild
&c the destiny of any society or nation in
the pathway Of glory and greatness.
We rejoice that, while you are a son of
Illinois, your labOrS were not confined to
that State alone, but recognizing the wider
boundaries of the order you SO dearly love,
and the genius of the greatness. your 10y
atty and devotion to Its principles and it's
members caused you to extend your efforts
to every State in this Jurisdiction. to every
camp that blossoms and blooms under the
banner of Woodcraft. Your love for this
great order and its principles, we believe,
has contributed in no small measure to de-
v~eloping the splendid manhood which is
so characteristic of our order. and which
is so strongly exemplified in your life and
character. The lessons and teachings Of
our order, which found expression in your
everyday life, is the wealth and glory of
your existence, as 1T is the wealth and glory
OF the existence of the order you so ably
represent"
The service is a magnificent one, specially
designed and finished by Peacock. of Chi
cago. The service is satin finished and the
design is rich in the extreme. The fiat
pieces are contained in a satin-lined ma
hogany case, the case bearing a silver plate.
suitably inscribed. and the whole making
one of the c~ostliest and handsomest serv-
ices ever seen in this city.