The Elbert County tribune., 1908-09-24
ODD FELLOWS
MEET IN DENVER
IMMENSE GATHERING At SESSION
or THE SOVEREIGN GRAND
LODGE.
D0INCS ARE LIVELY
ORDER BEGINS BUSINESS AND
THE RE6EkAHs HOLD A
RECEPTION.

RECEPTION.
Denver.-With nearly every. civilized
country represented, the sovereign
grand lodge Of the Order OF Odd Eel
lows Of the World opened its annual
sessions In Denver Monday.
The manner In which the delegates
plunged into business and the earnest
ness and enthusiasm which marked the
different meetings would seem to prove
the assertion that in thorough organiza-
tion, in beneficences and financial re-
sources this is one OF the greatest or
ders on earth.
From o'clock In the morning, when
the parade left the headquarters at the
Brown Palace hotel for the auditorium,
where the Odd Fellows were we,-
coined to the state and city. there was
not an idle minute till after midnight
Outside of the sessions of the sover-
eign grand lodge and the military coun-
ciI held in two halls simultaneously, at
El Jebel temple, there were .numerous
sessions of subordinate branches.
Nor was the entertainment feature
neglected in any way. The Rebekahs
provided the leading functions. A bril-
liant reception at I'll Jebel temple at
$3.50 p. m. at Colfax lodge the banner
Rebekah organization OF the state, and
during the day their new flag was un-
furled in the presence Of a big crowd at
the Champa street hall.
Many pretty demonstrations in de-
gree work were given at different halls
during the day and evening.
Praise of Odd Fellowship was the
burden Of the welcoming speeches and
responses at the auditorium, where the
first public gathering of the conven-
Cloudy, chairman of the local arrange
ment committee. Governor Buchtel's
welcome was of his best boosting type,
well calculated to keep the visitors in
the state beyond their scheduled date.
Mayor Speer told of Denver's appre-
citation for the visit of the worlds Odd
Fellows.
Grand Master Joseph hewitt spoke
welcome for the Colorado grand
lodge and Grand Patriarch Richard
Nicholson also gave greetings. Mrs.
Joan Ackerman, who spoke for the Col
orado Rebekahs, was greeted by the
audience rising amid much enthusias
tic applause. The welcome of the Pa
trfarchs Militant was spoken by De
partment Commander George W. Bon.
ney of Cripple Creek, who included an
invitation to the greatest gold camp on
earth.
When Grand Sire E. S. Conway OF
Chicago arose to reply for the several
branches of Odd Fellowship he was Civ.
en- prolonged ovation. He maintained
that the ideals In the liturgy Of the or
der was the secret of Its career Of sue
cess. His utterance that the man who
ia true to himself can never be false to
others and that Odd Fellows under all
circumstances must be men, was re-
ceived with great applause.
After the auditorium meeting the
members OF the sovereign grand lodge
marched behind band to Ell Jebel tenn
pie. where the work of the convention
was taken up at 1880 a. m. In the
main audience hail. simultaneously
In the lower lodge room, the military
council, composed of department com.
manders and past department com
manders, took up in secret session a
number of important resolutions bear
ing upon the work Of the Patriarch
Militant. The officers reports show
the military branch to be In most
prosperous condition and its mem
bership growing rapidly. Gen. M. A
Raney OF Iowa presided with Adjutant
C. C. Bradford of Baltimore, secretary
The sovereign grand lodge voted tc
extend the right Of full membership in
that body to Australasia, and to all
the countries of Europe which up to
this time had been under separate jur
fsdictions. As result OF this action
Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland the
German empire. New Zealand and Aus
tralasia will In future be permitted t.
send representatives to the sovereign
grand lodge conventions. and the same
power as all other delegates. The ex
penses of the delegates will be paid ou
of the general fund OF the order. In thu
past these countries have been entitled
to similar representation accorded ter
ritorial delegates In the United Statei
Congress, whereas in future they will
have power similar to that Of represen
tatives in Congress from the severa
states.
All the other amendments submitted
Monday were voted down. These in
'cluded an amendment to allow admis
sion into the order at the age of eight
cen years instead OF twenty-one. to per
NIT wholesale liquor dealers to be
come members and to drop the wore
grand" from the title of the sovereign
grand lodge.
1t is estimated that about 1000 mer
will be in the parade Wednesday.
Chicago and Seattle are in livel,
contest for the next sovereign grant
lodge meeting.
The fourth class postmaster Of Col