The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-10
G. u. O. O. F.
SESSION OF
DISTRICT GRAND LODGE.
Largest and the"Most Enthusiastic
Meeting Since Organization.
TCOntributedl

Contributed .
The Twenty-Fifth Session Of the
District Grand Lodge Grand United
Order of Odd Fellows Of South Caro-
lima met with AbbeviIle Lodge 1908 in
the city of Abbeville, S.. c., August
2-5, 1904. .'''
This was a call meeting of the Dis
trict Lodge, on account of the insur-
ance, which was started last year, and
from the interest that each Lodge in
the State had in that particular Tea
ture, it was the largest meeting of the.
body ever held. Every Lodge in good
standing in the State was represented.
The exact number of delegates is not
known, but the number will reach 275
to 300, including the Household. of
Ruth. ."
Monday morning the delegates be-
gan to pour in at a large rate, and at
one time we thought that Abbeville
would be too small to accommodate
them. The trains brought delegates
over both roads up until Wednesday
morning, yet they were all provided
for and taken to homes.
Tuesday morning at nine O'Clock
the Insurance Board of: Directors was
called by the chairman Rev. j.. e.
Williams, of Sumter, S. G. Just after
the meeting of the board, the Lodge
was called to- assemble in st. James
A. M. E. church, which place afforded
ample room and accommodation for
the large crowd. The church is a we'll
built brick structure with a seating
capacity. of between 1000 to 1900.
The meeting was opened in the
usual form. District Grand Master
F. w. Williams, Of Columbia, pre-
sided.
After the opening services the Mayor
of Abbeville, Mr.. j. L.. Mcmillan,
made the welcome address in a most
pleasing banner His remarks were
very encouraging, and made every one
feel that he was welcome and would
be protected.
Tuesday night the annual sermon
was preached by Rev. &c. Williams,
of Sumter. The building was crowd
ed, not even standing room could be
had. He made a fine impression upon
the congregation, and his sermon will
be remembered by all who heard him.
Wednesday night, a Lodge of Sol
row. Rev. J. S. Morant, of Charles
ton, preached the sermon and conduct
ed the eulogistie services, touching
upon the lives of the sixty Odd Eel
lows who had died during the year.
The address was by Mr.. Beacham, Of
Newberry, S.. G. After the sermon,
the representation of a tomb, or grave,
was placed in front of the altar, and
all of the delegates, with white gloves,
marched around and deposited therein
a piece of evergreen. This service
was very touching.
Thursday morning the business OF
hearing reports from the Insurance
Board, and Secretary and Treasurer
W.. H. Rutherford, was taken up.
These reports were very pleasing and
encouraging to the order, showing
that So, $4,000 had been raised the past
year to assist the widows and orphans
of deceased brothers. The insurance
plan promises to be a great help to the
order in this State. 1t is only one
year old, and it is believed that in the
near future it will do much for our
people.
After closing the business of the
Grand Lodge, next in order was the
. grand parade to take place at four
o'clock Thursday afternoon. Long
before that hour everybody was seen
preparing for the march, in all of their
best clothes and Odd Fellows in full
regalia, which made a fine display.
About half-past four o'clock the
band began to play and the march
formed at'St. James church, with Dis
trict Marshal T. B. Parker of George
town in the lead, assisted by w. F.
Jones, J.L. Weston, Samuel Adams
and Hodges Chiles, all riding fine
horses, with flags and banners floating.
Abbeville Lodge 1908 followed. Next
came the band, then the visiting
Lodges and delegates, and carriages
all decorated in the best of style bear
ing the grand officers and ladies of the
Household of Ruth, which made them
look pleasing to any ones eye.
The march as formed at the church,
proceeded down Secession avenue to
the Southern depot, thence to corner
: of street heal Hon. w. H.. Parker's,
thence to Main street and down Cherry
street to the church, where the grafton
was made by Hon. E. J. Dickerson, of
Aiken, S. G. Fully 5000 to 5000 peo-
pie were along the streets watching the
grandest parade that has ever been
seen in upper South Carolina by the
grand old order of Odd Fellows.
Abbevifle is now recognized to be
the banner city in South Carolina for
caring for such a large delegation
the largest that has ever attended the
District Grand Lodge since its .organi-
zation twenty-five years ago.
The crowd was a very orderly one.
The police did not make al arrest and
we did not see any of our brothers
out of place, which goes to show the
standing of Odd Fellows. The dis
pensary did not profit much by this
meeting. ...
Georgetown is the next place of meet
ing, and now it is up TO the citizens of
that town to do as well as Abbeville.
After a most pleasant stay in our
city, the delegates returned to their
homes on Friday, with the exception
of a few who had become attached to
our city and had to remain longer.
r.. P.