Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-11-24
Celebration Honors Fortieth Ami.
versary of Omaha Lodge.
ALL WESTERN STATES TAKE PART
lola Drill Team Wins Admiration by
Precise Evolutions.
DAMON AND PYTH1As PRESENTED
Leading Oniccrs OF Fraternity In
Country See Candidates Receive
Degree at Auditorium In
Evening.

In the comforting of the third rank-the
highest in the order-upon an unusually
large class, the ritual being participated
in by the best drilled degree team in tho
entire world and attended by some OF the
highest officials OF the society in the
United States. the knights of Pythias last
night completed the celebration of the
fortieth anniversary OF the founding of
Pythanism in the west.
The anniversary exercises were held in
the spacious Auditorium and comprised
what was probably the most noteworthy
meeting in the annals OF this secret orga-
nization. The anniversary celebration was
held during the afternoon and evening Of
yesterday and on both occasions the Audi
torium was filled to overflowing. the crowd
In the evening being by far the largest.
Forty years ago Monday-on November
%, 1S6s-the first lodge of the knights OF
| Pythias west of the Allegheny mountains
was organized. This lodge was Instituted
in Omaha and was named Nebraska lodge
No. l. 1t is still in existence, the oldest
| lodge in the order in the west. But as the
years have sped by no especial notice has
| been given Omaha and its lodge and the
| west on account OF the founding of the
| society In this part of the great domain
of Uncle Sam The west wanted recog-
| milton. however, and honor too. and at the
| last meeting of the Nebraska state lodge
plans were made for this celebratlon-the
first of the kind ever held by this large
fraternal organization.
Credit Due Frank Kelley.
Frank Kelley Of Lincoln past grand
chancellor of the state, was the man who
figuratvely speaking, took the bull by
| the horns" and at the last session of the
| Nebraska lodge of the knights OF Pythias
introduced resolution providing for the
celebration of this important anniversary,
and in accordance with the resolution
committee of three was appointed to ar
! range for the meeting. This committee was
composed OF Grand Chancellor John c.
Cleland of Fremont Graud Vice Chancelicr's
w. T. Denney of omsha and Grand Prelate
j. c. Chase OF North Bend. Invitations
were then sent to nearby states to join in
the commemoraton and iowa was the first
to accept Then South Dakota joined in
and in a short time Minnesota. Wyoming
Colorado, Kansas and Missouri decided to
take part in the anniversary. for the ami
versary not an Omaha affair or even
Nebraska celebration. but was OF and for
the entire west. Omaha and Nebraska
merely took the initiative and received the
credit for organizing the first western
lodge, but the whole west from a secret
society standpoint. had profited by It aud
therefore the whole west joined in re-
joicing the occasion of the fortieth an
niversary.
Thousands Of loyal members OF the
knights Of Pythias-belevers in brotherv
love shown by Damon and Pythias and
, handed down by mythologics tradition
attended the anniversary exercises The
streets were crowded during the day with
the wrearers Of the tri-colors Of the order
red, yellow and blue-and the lobbies OF
? the Loyal and Rome hotels. Headquarters
for the knights. were thronged. Special
trains were run to the city from all direc-
tions, hdmlets OF but few hundred people
sending delegations of forty or fifty. mem
bors of the reception committee estimating
that there were about 5000 knights in the
J city. An effort was made to register all
those who came, hut this was found TO be
impossible, but 5000 or 1900 only being able
20 inscrhe their names in the big book
: termed the official register"
A Formal Addresses Made.
o Fully $500 people attended the opening
n ceremonies of the anniversary at the Audit
0 torium Monday afternoon. many OF tho
audience being women. The formal exer-
{ cses took place on the big stage to tho
I right of which in raised platform was
e the lola lodge orchestra OF Dayton. o. At
o the front of the stage was a raised plat
0 form for the exhibition drill Of the famous
v lola drill team.
The afternoon exercises we're presided
d ever by Grand Representative Richard
10 o'Neill Of Lincoln, who delivered the in
= troductory address. The proceedings opened
with selection by tho Ioe string orchestra
p and the invocation by Grand Prelate J. c.
Chase Of NORTH Bend. followed In bis
q Introductory address Grand Representative
:. o'Neill paid a touching tribute to the late
II Colonel George H. Crager. the founder OF
e western Pythianism.
The address OF welcome on the part OF
r. the state was made by Edward Magg1
Y chief clerk in the office of Governor Shell
), don, who delegated by Governor Shell
don to represent him on this occasion.
The lola quartet, consisting Of c. w
Kern, first tenor: l.. r. Robbins. second
i, tenor f. NJ. Winder, baritone. and r. j
Fulton, second bass then gave several
' selections which were followed BY the ad
dress OF welcome TO the city OF Omaha
- by Mayor J. c. Dahlman. The mayor ex
II pressed his high appreciation at being priv.
'e ileged TO welcome so distinguished a bod,
y of men TO Omaha. In the course Of hi,
II address he said. in part;
80 "On behalf OF the people OF Omaha
Is extend you this welcome with all th'
Il warmth Of cordially that my lips can ex
press. We know that when you go ava,
le from here you will realize the sincerity Of
r this welcome and will sing our praises
IN abroad. This afternoon and tonight / turn
AZ this city over into your hands. for with
:e you / know it viii be safe. hope It vii
or not be forty years before you come again
but sincerely hope you will come often"
The response 10 the address was made b,
lie Grand Chancellor Cleiand OF Fremont. lie
at too. paid a glowing tribute to the late Col
no onel Crlger and spoke OF the purposes o
,e Pythiansm being 10 WELD and perpet
uate a higher citizenship not alone in tn
west. but wherever its influence extended
Drill Team Gives TabIeaux.
This concluded the speech making 10