The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-27
ANNIVERSARY OF
ODD FELLOWSHIP
18TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED.
SAVANNAH LODGES, ENCAMPMENTs
AND CANTON PARTICIPATED.


Presided over Mectins-Speakers
Urged Odd Fellows 10 Live True to
FraternaI Obligations.
The eighty-fifth anniversary of the
founding of the Independent Order Of
Odd Fellows in America was fittingly
celebrated by the, Savannah lodges last
night at odd Fellows Hall. The meet
ing was presided over by Past Grand
Master Henry McAlpin. who acted as
noble grand.
The meeting was called TO order at
3 o'clock by the noble grand. Grand
Representative C. II. Dorset, who act
ed as vice noble grand, announced that
the Cantons were in waiting and the
noble grand requested that they be ad-
mitted.
The Cantons. dressed in full uniform,
marched up the center aisle and took
their positions. They presented swords
and Capt. w. B. Orear saluted the
noble grand and thanked him for the
honor of extending an invitation to the
Cantons TO take part in the celebra-
ton. The nobla grand welcomed the
Cantons in behalf of the various lodges.
Exercises in Ritual Form.
The exercises OF the evening were
carried out in ritualistic form as
prescribed by the sovereign grand
lodge for the anniversary celebrations
throughout the country. The ceremony
consisted chiefly in the recital of the
history of the order in dialogue be-
tween the noble grand and the vice
noble grand. When this exercise had
been concluded the chaplain, Mr.. J.
S. Silva pronounced a prayer.
The meeting was then turned into
a smoker and speeches were made by
representatives of the various lodges
and encampments and by the officers
of the Canton. Noble Grand McAlptn
announced that the first speaker of the
evening would be Mr.. w. H. Wade.
Tribute to the south.
The celebration of the .eighty-fifth
anniversary throughout the country
was referred to by Mr.. Wade and he
declared that there We're over 10000
celebrations being held throughout the
United States on this anniversary rep
resenting $4,000 lodges. He referred
touchingly to the lost cause and to
the honor that was being paid to the
Confederate dead Throughout the South.
He paid the Confederate soldiers a
high tribute.
He spoke of Oglethorpe as the ia
Their of Odd Fellowship in Savannah
and declared that while Oglethorpe
was not an Odd Fellow he carried out
the principles of the great order when
he landed in Savannah with his little
colony. He spoke of the great work
that is being accomplished by the Odd
Fellows of Savannah and said the or
der in this city numbered over 1900.
Duty of odd Fellows.
The next speaker of the evening was
Grand Representative Dorset, who
spoke on the duty Of the members of
the order in carrying out their obllga-
ton of Odd Fellowship. He declared
that for thirty-three years he has at
tended the annual celebrations of the
anniversary of the founding of Odd
Fellowship in America. He said any
man who lived up to the principles of
the order are better Christians and
better citizens.
Mr. George n. Nichols, who acted as
past grand, whom the noble grand an
nounced had been a member of the or
der for over a half century, was the
next speaker. Mr.. Nichols said he
made no preparations for speech. He
spoke of Odd Fellowship in an inter-
esting way.
DR.. w b. Orear captain of the Can
tons, made a short address in which
he spoke of the good work that is be-
ing accomplished by the Cantons and
urged members of the two encamp-
ments to become identified with this
branch of the order. He referred to
sacrifices made by many of the mem
bers of the organization who were out
of the city in giving up their work and
,f,,er 70 n 70 aff he
niversary celebration of the founding
of the order.
Worth of Odd Fellowship.
MIR. w. ]. Smith of Magnolia En-
campment delivered one of the most
entertaining addresses of the evening.
He urged the members of the various
lodges not to neglect the obligations
which they had taken when they be-
came members of the order, and called
attention to the wonderful field for
work In Savannah. He urged that all
members take anew their vows and go
out with the determination to live
more in accordance with the princi-
| pies of the order in the future.
Mr.. E. M. Mason, lieutenant of the
Cantons; Mr.. H. G. Greene of Ogle-
thorpe Lodge, Mr.. s. NJ. jackson of
| Concord Lodge, Mr.. Gordon Grower
and Mr. T. NJ. Haynes were the other
|
| ferred to the principles of the order
and to the duties of the members of
| the various lodges and urged the
members to be more regular in their
attendance at the meetings of their
| lodges.
The following lodges took part in
| the anniversary exercises; DeKalb
Lodge No. 9. Oglethorpe Lodge No. 1.
\ Live Oak Lodge No. 3. Golden Rule
Lodge No. IL, Concord Lodge No. u,
| Haupt Lodge No. 5S. Acorn Lodge No.
| 1O3 and Magnolia and Savannah En-
campments, and the Canton branch of
! the order.
During the exercises Mr.. H. G. Ward
acted as right supporter to the noble
| grand, MIR. J. Frank Cavanaugh, left
supporter to the noble grand; Mr.. Hey
ward, right supporter to the vice
| grand; Mr.. S. M. jackson, left sup
/ porter to the vice grand; Mr.. Jonas
Mendel. warden; Mr.. ]. w. Smith,
conductor; Mr.. ]. r. Bashler, right
scene supporter; DR.. w. B. Orear, left
scene supporter.
Birthplace of odd Fellowship.
| Noble Grand McAlpin called attention
! to the fact that in the Baltimore fire
| the old Seven Stars Inn, on West
Pratt street. where Old Fellowship
| in America was first organized by
n)0T0C0IllDIl