The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-24
GREAT DAY OF
ODD FELLOWS
They Celebrated Anniversary
of Founding of Order
IN THIS COU N TR 7
Hund9e dS of Members and
RebekahS Joined in Parade.
SPEECHES AT AUDITORIUM
In Afternoon and Degree Work
ExempIified alright.
SPEECHES AT AUDITORIUM

ternal order, their wives, members of
the Rebekahs and their friends.
The occasion was the annual celebration
Of the founding of the Independent Order
Of odd Fellows. For a number of years
an order of similar nature had existed
In England and on the continent, but a
Mr.. Wildey came to America and founded
an order which was later named the In
dependent Order. This eIghty-four
years ago April 18th. For a number of
years the odd Fellows OF the country
have observed this day with a celebra-
ton This year april 10Th comes on sun
day. 1t was planned to have the cele-
bration either on Monday or Saturday,
but owing to the distance some OF the
members would necessarily have TO come
and The poor train connections. It was
decided To have the celebration on
Thursday.
The odd Fellows have become one of
the strongest fraternal orders in the coun-
try and IN no order is there as much en-
thusiasIn shown iii this order The
Odd Fellows are WhOle-Souied, earnest,
thoughtful men, keen in their desire to
do good and to help mankind socially
and mentally and the effect of this effort
can be seen on every hand. The kindred
organization, the Rebekahs, is conducted
along the same general lines and this
order, composed Of women only, is rated
In the highest ranks Of fraternalism.
The members Of the order are enthusi-
astic. They realize il is good, and each
Is trying 10 build it higher. Every odd
Fellow and Rebekah takes pride in their
lodge, in the grand lodge. in the supreme
lodge and Wildey celebration. That they
spend time and money TO help in its up
building may be seen when some of the
people who came here yesterday left their
home Tuesday evening in order to reach
this city in time for the celebration.
The Wildey District association, under
whose jurisdiction the celebration yester-
day was conducted. is composed Of the
entire Seventh congressional district, and
by a vote yesterday Cowley county was
INCLUDED 1t is now in its fourth year
OF its existence and this was the greatest
celebration it has ever had. Yesterday
was windy, dusty day. not at all con-
oucive to bringing out large crowd, but
the most conservative estimate made yes
terday of the number OF visitors was five
thousand. 1t is hard to estimate a crowd
In this city. They scatter all over the
town and unless all are in one place at
once there is no way of knowing how
many people were here except by the
railroad returns. The special trains car
Iied 400 to 700 people each and
all regular trains during the day carried
extra coaches. During the session yester-
day afternoon the Toler Auditorium was
well filled and this holds two thousand
people. and the streets We're crowded at
the same time. Many of those who came
were net Odd Fellows or Rebkahs. They
came to Wichita to shop and see the
sights.
Wichita did herself proud yesterday.
The local members Of the order formed
themselves into a big reception commit
tee and met the trains as they came in.
The committee was large enough that
any information as to places Of meeting
and accommodation could be learned in
stantly. j +. Kirker was the president
of the association, and his Office in the
Reed building was crowded all
morning with visitors This was the
headquarters for the association and the
lodge room adjoining was used as re-
ception hall for the Rebekahs.
The trains began coming in about 10
o'clock and continued until nearly noon.
No business was transacted during the
morning. and the visitors spent their time
getting acquainted, sightseeing and shop
ping The Winfield delegation came in
early and brought with them the Canaan
band from that city. At half past one
O'Clock the members OF the local lodge
and the visitors met at the Auditorium
Il
Fellows and Rebekahs was formed. The
parade was headed by platoon of police.
followed by marshals Of the day, WI
liam Mathewson. J. +. kirker and c. y.
HcMiilen. The grand officers Of the order
In Kansas came next in an open carriage.
ard JUST behind them came Sanford )
band. The members Of the Wichita
lodges followed. each Of the lodges IN
the city being represented. many wearing
Of hefr Fau n
band led the Winfield delegation and
then came a long line Of members of diff
ferent orders. with banners flying, each
lodge in a body with their banner at its
head.
The Rebekahs formed At the corner Of
Douglas avenue and Market street. The
ladies made q special request that the
lines band lead them in the parade The
ladies fell into line and marched west or
Douglas to Main. north on Main to Sec
ond and countermarched Ia the Audjto-
rum. where the open meeting was held
After singing by the entire audience,
Rev A T. Dubber Of the Central CHRIS
tan church pronounced the invocation.
The Cheney Quartet, an organization Wei
known throughout odd Fellow circles foT
their excellent music. sang. This aual-
tet is one OF the best in the southwest
end il is a real pleasure to hear them
Mir. l.. l.. Davidson. on behalf OF Mayer
Mclean welcomed the visitors to the
city and Past Grand Master Rocoi9n
Hatfield welcomed them on behalf OF the
Wichita odd Fellows. and Mrs. Sheppard
welcomed the Rebckahs J ]. Saunders
OF Cheney responded TO the address of
Mrs Sheppard and Mrs. Elma Daulton
responded on behalf Of the Rebekahs
Grand Master J. NJ Johnson Of Garuett
delivered the principal address of the day
TO the Odd Fellows. in part. he said as
follows:
1--WE are assembled AT this time for the
purpose OF celebrating the elghE-fourth
anniversary Of American odd Fellowship
Our order is now everywhere known as
O benefactor of the human race. Our
nag proudly floats in the breeze OF every
cline as beacon to the pilgrim Of life's
fitfuI journey. and welcome guide 70 the
tempest driven mariner across the trou-
bled waves Of human woe 20 its calm
haven Of rest. I have no idea that my
name and presence adds anything 10 the
worth and influence Of odd Fellowship
Its purity and glory is the same whether
one Jsnites or not. But the moment
enter its sacred walls IL aGorns me II
decorates my brow with a coronet more
pure and glorious than ever Elittered on
the head Of any king or Totcntate. Il
has been the fear OF the uniuitiated that
this silent potency was dangerous To
community. But instead lis power of
conservation and protection has been
deeper and purer than that Of any other
organized body Its illuminatloas have
gloTifed the ages Of It's existence. While
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