Smyrna times., 1906-05-16
SMYRNA ODD FELLOWS HOLD
BOND BURNING CEREMONIES
OCCASION CELEBRATED WITH ENJOYABLE
PROGRAM AT MORNING STAR LODGE.
Odd Fellows Cemetery, Free of Debt, the Sub
iect of Much Rejoicing Friday Night; Older
- Odd Fellows Become Reminiscent

Odd Fellows Cemetery, Free of Debt, the SUBJ
iect of Much Rejoicing Friday Night; Older
- Odd Fellows Become Reminiscent
The regular meeting of the Morning
Star Lodge, No, 6, 1. o. o. F. last
Friday night was attended with un
usual interest, it being the occasion of
the burning of the mortgage bonds
and other evidences of Indebtedness
of the Odd Fellows Cemetery. After
the regular business had been trans
acted the Lodge went into an open
session and P. G. George NJ. Steven
son took the chair. The Lodge joined
in singing No. 248 in the old Metho-
dist Hymnal and were led in prayer by
P. G. Walter Ford. Mr.. Stevenson
then gave a short history of the first
days of the cemetery, in which he said
that the cemetery was planned in the
Fall of 1883 and in the Spring of 1884,
26 acres of land were purchased from
the Peterson estate and the front part
graded aud laid out in burial lots. OF
the original Board of Trustees who
had charge of the cemetery, three, Jo-
seph Wright, E. M. Fowler and George
M. Stevenson, are still living and have
served continuously in this office since
the organization of this movement.
The Lodge then sang No. 263 and lis
tened to an address by P. G.. William
FAIRIES on the beauty of the cemetery
and it's improvement to the town. He
was followed by p. G. J. p. Burdette.
who spoke on reverence for the dead
and funeral customs of the ancients.
After singing, p. G. NJ, E. NJ. Fowler
took the floor and after a short fnan-
cial history of the cemetery in which
he stated that Morning Star Lodge
and Mcdonald Encampment had pur-
chased the property and developed a
part of it and that it was now all paid
for and nice balance in the Treasury
and many OF the lots marked out still
unsold. Then advancing to the altar
he put a match to the mortgage, bonds,
etc. and while they were passing into
ashes the Lodge sang praise God
From Whom All Blessings Flow" ant
closed the exercises by singing "Bles
Be the Tie That Binds"
The following points were brough
out in the remarks of P. G. George M
Stevenson:
Sept. 28, 18S3-The first action of the Lodg
in reference to the Odd Fellows Cemeter
was taken on this date, wnen Brother vii
liam b. Gordon was appointed commit
tee of one to go to Philadelphia and Sc
Mr.. John Peterson in reference TO, pul
chasing the ground.
Nov. 8, lss3-Brother Gordon made a re
port of progress in reference to purcha'
ing the land.
Nov. %, 1SS3-BrOther Gordon repOrte
that he had had an interview with MI
John Peterson in reference to the pul
chase of the tract of land and that I'll
same could be purchased for their use
a Cemetery When ON motion the matte
was referred to the Trustees of the Lods
to act with the Trustees of McDonne
Encampment in reference to the purcha
ing of the same The trustees for Il
Lodge were: p. G., E. j. Colt; p. g.,
V. Weldon and p. g., Joseph Evans. F.
Wright: 2. @. p, E. NJ. Fowle', and
G. p, George NJ. Stevenson:
Nov. q, 1SS3-The 26 acres of land was pu
chased of the Peterson estate for the su
of three thousand (S3,G00) dollars cash
the trustees of Mcdonnell EncampmeI
No. 2. and Morning Star Lodge, No. 6.
January %, 1884-The deed was given al
the money paid over to the Peterson
April 81, 1884-The grounds were survey
by John III. Hoffecker, under supervise
of q Committee of the Trustees
April o. 1S84-Work was commenced in ID
ing out the walks and grading the grou
by Is men and six carts.
May 26, 188l-The old brick mansion W
torn down and the old sycamore tree v
removed, which were both old land mar
May 27, 1884 The first grave was dug a
the body of John Parsons was remoy
from Glenwood Cemetery.
June 10, 18S4-The first funeral was held
the cemetery, which was Samuel E. Sp'
Ger.
June %, 18S4-The second funeral was h
in the cemetery, which was Jessie S. II
fngton.
July 3. 1S84-The lots were first put on
market by the trustees, by an adverti
ment in the Smyrna Times. as the gror
had been fully laid out and graded.
nine funeralf in ALL the first year
quite number of removals from OF
cemeteries There have been up TO
present time seven hundred (700) funel
and removals in the main grounds, 3C
the single grave grounds and 10 in
Peterson lot, making total of 745 gra
in all.
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