The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-20
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
 HOLD CELEBRATION
MT. BARTON LODGE OF MERIDIAN ENTERTAINED BY QUEEN CITY LoDGE-BlG SPELLING MATCH A SOURCE OF INTEREST.

Meridian, April 19.-(Special.) .)-Tonight the thirty-first anniversary of the organ ization in Meridian of Mt. Barton lodge, No. 1S, Knights of Pythias. was cele- brated in a most elaborate manner by the large membership and their guests from Queen City lodge. The interesting event of the occasion was the eonferring of special honors among the charter mem bers, who are as follows Gen. B. White, Gen. w. D. Cameron, Dr. D. E. Spinks, Abe Klein, II. M. Threefoot, Lillias Smith, Gully Smalshaft, J. E. Reed and John M Melon. The latter re- sides in Mobile and is the only one who has not continuously resided in this city since the lodge was organized. He was present. All the other charter mem bers are dead or have moved to parts unknown, long ago severing their con nection with the organization, which is now the banner lodge of the state Each of the charter members was presented with veterans jewels and exempted from the payment of dues for the remainder of their lives. The presentation speech was eloquently delivered by Hon. Hardy R. Stone. Other speakers were Hon. V. w. Gilbert and Hon. w. R. Denton, rep resentative in the state legislature of Lauderdale county for the last b years. A smoker followed the rendition of the fixed programme.
 Interest In Spelling Bee.
 The spelling match between the old time blue backers' and the public school pupils who are being taught under new and alleged improved methods, to be held at the courthouse auditorium April 23, has taken on great interest not only in Meridian, but throughout this section of the state. The class to be pitted againse the public school students will be com posed of some of the most prominent citizens of the city. Judge John L. Buck ley, of the circuit court bench, has agreed to act as enuncator and Col. H. M Street, speaker of the house of representatives, Is to stand at the head of the class until turned down, while pr. H. S. Gully, member of the board of public school trustees, County Super intendent J. R. Ellis, Mayor John w. Parker and many other prominent pro- fessional and business men will face the youngsters in the battle of words and the way to spell them. Superintendent J. c. Fant of the public schools be- lieves that his studen~ can easily beat 
 great reverance for the old book, which he himself studied. The proceeds to be derived from the contest are to be given to the class of spoilers who will enter the contest at the state convention of teachers at Natchez. Printers and proofz readers are to be barred from the con test
 Loses Money While Telepnoning.
 News reached Meridian from Lauder dale last night that Mrs. E. s. Masby, residing four miles east of Lauderdale, entered a local store, laid a purse down while she used a telephone Turning to pick up the purse, it had disappeared. The purse contained S175 In money and $25 in indorsed checks. strange negro in the store at the time is suspected. He disappeared at the same time as did the purse The Meridian police have been notified to be on the lookout for the negro, who is described as being vel low, wears a moustache, patent leather shoes and when last seen wore blue overalls.