The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-03-17
Upwards of Fifty Delegates Are
to Be Present.
Plans Prepared for Their Prop
er Reception.
Deliberations to Take Place at
|. 0. 0. F. Hall.
From Saturdays Daily.

Equitable Fraternal Union will assem-
BILE in Mankato from all over the state
of Minnesota on Thursday, March 30,
to attend the first annual Minnesota
state convention, at which state as
sembly will be organized. Besides the
delegates from the forty-two councils
of the state, and the other members
who will accompany the delegates to
the city, the officers of the supreme
assembly will be likewise present.
That the first state convention is to
be held at Mankato is due to the infu-
ence of State Organizer Henry Peterson
of Minneapolis, who believed that in
asmuch as Mankato had the first as
sembly within tine state, that city
Should have the honor of the first state
convention.
Mr.. Peterson was the prime mover in
the organization of Mankato Assembly
No. ISL, which came into existence on
April l, 1901. Mr.. Peterson was then
as now state organizer of Minnesota,
appointed by the supreme assembly,
whose headquarters have always been
at Neenah, Wis. The Mankato assem-
bly, started with thirty one members but
has grown in the past four years with
great rapidity and now has total
membership of l3l. 1t is the largest
as well as the oldest of the forty-two
assemblies of the order within this
state.
The Equitable Fraternal Union origin
ated in Wisconsin and spread over to
Minnesota. Minnesota has never before
had state organization of the order.
But the convention that assemblies on
March 80 in the Odd Fellows hall at
Mankato will not only provide for such
an assembly, but will perfect the or
ganization of one, and will elect the
president, vice president, secretary and
treasurer, and will also choose delegates
to attend the next esssion of the SUI
preme assembly, which will be held soon
afterwards at Neenah, Wis.
There is no telling as yet how
large crowd will assemble in Man
kato on the day of the convention, but
assurances have been received of little
parties from many nearby towns. A
dozen or so are coming down from lie
Sueur Center and similar delegations
are expected from Judson, Amboy, Lake
Crystal, LIE Sueur, New Ulm, st. Pet
Ell, Waseca, Blue Earth City, Sleepy
Eye, Garden City and other neighboring
towns. In many of these places the
assemblies have been organized by Is
aac Roberts of Mankato, the hustling
district deputy, appointed by the state
deputy
William Barnard, president of the
Mankato assembly, is chairman of the
guide the visitors. All the members of
the Mankato assembly are on the COM
mittee.
The above is one of the subcommit-
tees in charge of the affair. The general
arrangements of the whole affair are in
the hands of a committee consisting of
J. R. Snow, Albert Schippel and Mrs.
William Barnard. The hotel subcom-
mittee consists of Mic SPENCER, August
Blissenbach and Oscar Carlson, and the
entertainment subcommittee of Julius
Fredericks, H. G.. Jorgenson, Mrs. Net
tie Bartholomew, Mrs. Albert Schippel.
Mrs. Snyder, and Mrs. George Weide
man.
The convention will be called to order
i'll the /. o o. f. hall at eleven o'clock
in the forenoon. An adjournment will
give the brothers and sisters chance
to eat dinner, and then the convention
will reassemble and finish up business.
In the evening there will be meet
ing of the Mankato assembly, at which
large class will be initiated and this
initiation will be conducted by the SUI
preme officers. 1t will be quite an ex
perience, not only for the Mankato
members, but for the visiting brothers
and sisters as WE'LL
An important question that will come
up before the convention will be the
place of holding the next annual meet
| ing of the state assembly. 1t is likely
that Minneapolis will be chosen.
The committee in charge of prepare
tions for the convention at Mankato
will make an effort to secure reduced
railroad rates, but it is uncertain what
can be accomplished in this respect.
The Equitable Fraternal Union hao
on Jan. l., 1905, total membership of