The Appeal., 1907-11-16

Last Thursday will be long remem-
bered as a great day among Afro
Americans of St. Paul. On that day
the new and elegant hall of Gopher
Lodge. No. 105 /. B. p. O. E. W., at
126 E. Third street, was thrown open
for the inspection Of the public from
! 10 a. M. to Up. m. and numerous call
ers were present during the day.
Special invitations had been issued
for the dedication of the hall in the
evening, and when the hour for the
ceremonies arrived standing room
was at premium. And seldom has
a finer looking or more handsomely
dressed audience appeared on any oc-
casions III st. Paul.
The ceremonies began by the en-
trance Of the members Of the Lodge
in double column, the officers TAX
ing their several stations and the
members opening column and the
Exalted Ruler and other dignitaries
passed through to the platform. The
chaplain offered prayer and the dedi-
catory services, which were quite in
interesting, followed, in which all the
officers and members took a part ac-
cording to the hitual of the order.
In connection with the dedicatorv
ceremonies most delightful program
was carried out as follows: So
prano solo, china Waltz Mrs. R. C..
Minor, who was compelled to re-
spond to two encores, Mrs. S. E.
Hall accompanist; Exalted Ruler.
/ II. Lyles, presiding, then intro
duced as principal speaker our silver
tongued lawyer, S. C. Thompson, who
measured fully up to the enviable rep
utation he has fairly gained bv his
eloquence.
Then followed piano solo BY Mrs.
R. c. Minor.
Mrs. Waldo Turner, president of the
Women's State Federation, was in
troduced and madeta most excellent
address.
Rev. Horace S. Graves was next,
and as usual made a speech full of
food for thought.
Mrs. J. H: Hickman was the next
speaker, and it goes without saving
1T was, as her speeches. always are,
good.
Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Lyles rendered
her original composition, Lost After
ALI" in their usual artistic and de-
lightful manner. ;
Mr. George Hobert, Of Ames
Lodge, Minneapolis, made very en-
tertalning and enthusiastic address,
Mrs. I, H. Lyles was the next
speaker and made one Of her usually
good addresses, in which she extolled
John Brown, Abraham Lincoln. Fred
erlck Douglass and Booker T. Wash
lngton.s== =.
Mr.. F. Z. McGhee next delivered a
fine address, replete with words Of
wisdom, good advice and enthusiasm.
The ability of Councellor McGhee as
a speaker is too well known to need
any special mention other than to saw
1t was up to his usual high standard.
Or. +. C. Nelson, of Minneapolis.
favored the audience with a fine tenor
solo, The Shepherd King" and was
warmly applauded Mrs Mae Mason
accOmpanlst.
District Deputy w. W. Goodwin
was the next speaker. He dwelt spe-
c1ally upon matters pertaining to the
order and made a very interesting ad
dress.
Then came the treat of the evening,
Mr.. 1. Welborne, in magnificent in
PRODUCTION, presented Joe Cans, the
champion lightweight of the world.
Mr.. Cans made short but most
delightful speech in his usual modest
and gentlemanly manner, which has
won for him the respect of all people
with whom he has come in contact.
ms closed the exercises, and, after
an invitation for all to shake the hand
OF Champion Cans, refreshments were
served to all in the ante room, after
which the guests departed for their
homes, every one loud in commenda-
ton OF the great OCCASION
Ihe rise Of Gopher Lodge has been
Organized a little over
year ago, it now has $50 members.
and unquestionab1y, the most costly.
beautiful and elaborately furnished
Lodge room and reception parlors
and ante rooms of any Afro-Am erican
organization, in the United States.
They have buried one member. naid
several hundreds of dollars in sick
and charity benefits, spent $1,000 in
the decorations and furnishings Of
the hall and have $1,000 in the treas /
ury.
They also have secured the meet
ing Of the National Grand Lodge in
st: Paul in August, 19O8.4sA wonder
iul / array Of achievements that chal-
lenge parallel.
There were nearly 400 present dur
ing the day and evening.
The magnificent affair was under
the management of Z. H. Lyles, Ex-
alted Ruler, S. G.. Thompson. chair
man, and the Boar. Of Trustees, Dr..