Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-09-29
ODD FELLOWS CONVENTION.
The District Meeting Held Here Last
Saturday Success.


The District Convention of the Odd
Fellows was held in Walhalla last
Saturday afternoon and night, Jas.
Grand Master presiding. "
The district is made up of Oconee,
Anderson, Pickens and Greenville
| counties, and embraces about thirty
six lodges. About twenty-five of
these were represented at the meet
ing, some of the lodges sending as
many as five delegates. In all there
were about fifty delegates here
At the afternoon session, which
was called to order at $50 o'clock
by Mr. Craig, addresses of welcome
were made by Mayor Steck on be-
half Of the town; w. G. Hughs, on
behalf Of the Business Mems League,
and G. r. d. Burns, a Past Grand
Master, on behalf Of the local lodge
of Odd Fellows. Mr.. Craig, in an
able manner, delivered the response
to these addresses.
After the public meeting a secret
session was held, and much good was
done in the way of explanation of
the different laws of the order by
the Grand Secretary, Dr.. S. f. Kill
lingsworth, of Columbia.
The subject, Our Orphan Home, I"
had been assigned T. U. Vaughn, the
superintendent, but he was unable
to be present. H. G.. Smith, of
Greenville, responded to the subject.
He spoke in the highest terms of the
management of the home and the
home-like surroundings. 1t would
do any one good to visit the home
He also made mention of the fact
that this home was the only one of
the kind supported by fraternal or
ganization in the State. The new
dormitory at the home has just been
completed, and is a very handsome
and commodiouS structure. At pres
ent there are forty-one children of
deceased Odd Fellows at the home
Thirty-siX Of these are in school,
The Oldest child lii the home, one of
the first to enter, is In the 9th grade.
Five of the inmates are mere babies
and are too small to begin studies.
Reports from the lodges in the dis
trict showed an increase Of about
10 members since the last district
meeting, which was held in April.
This was especially encouraging, and
the Odd Fellows present resolved to
so back home and do greater wor',
than they have heretofore.
Night Session.
The night session was convened in
the Masonic Temple promptly at s
O'Clock. During the evening much
business pertaining to the secrets of
the order was discussed.
"Odd Fellowship" was spoken to
by g. r. ID. Burns in n most eloquent
and touching manner. This subject
had been assigned Grand Master Har-
vey, of Charleston, but he was una
Bile to be preesnt on account OF sick
ness in his family.
An address was made by Senator
j. r. Earle on the subject "The Prin-
ciples of Odd Fellowship" Mr., Earle
made splendid talk, and at its close
was loudly applauded.
DR.. killingsworth, Grand Secre-
tary, eXemplified the unwritten work.
"Objects of the District Conven-
tions" was zen for discussion, and
proved quite a lively subject, and
carried with it much enthusiasm.
collection for the Odd Fellows
Orphan Home was taken up. Quite
nice sum was realized, which will
be forwarded to the superb tendent
Of the home.
An invitation was extended by
Sterling Lodge, No. A, of Anderson,
to hold the next convention with that
lodge, which was accepted. Walhal-
la also asked that the next conven-
ton be held here. This invitation
was supported by third of the del
egates present, which showed that
the meeting here was greatly en-
joyed by the visitors.
At the close Of the convention
Oconee Lodge served luncheon
The Special District Deputy spoke
In the highest terms Of the treatment
received here by our people, as also
d1d the delegates. 1t was the unan-
imous desire of all present that
the district meeting be held here
again at n future date.