Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-23
Odd FELLOWS FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD
IN LINE Of MARCH
Forming at the State Capitol
the Vast Pageant Poured Its
Thousands Through Heart
of Atlanta

Atianta's streets were Respondent with
the glory OF Odd Fellowdom. Wednes-
day afternoons glory gathered from
the nation and the southern states, stlii
more numerously from Georgia, and In
large numbers from Atlanta
IL was the day OF days in the Odd
Fellows national 1910 meet in Atlanta
IL was the day OF days in Atlanta
history Never had her citizens witnessed
the passing OF a larger parade on their
home streets. Never had those streets
held more people. Thousands and thou
sands OF spectators packed the Sidewalks
from curb TO building wall. and were en-
sconced In the Gifts TO the topmost win
dows Of the highest ONCE buildings.
other thousands marched in review be-
fore these The marching hosts stepped
10 tbs. beat Of laundering srums whose
echoes will reach to the furthermost
p--ts Of the world. For block behind
block, as far as the eye could see.
stretched the magnihcence OF this pa
seant. II seemed 10 move as a single
animate body. majestic in size and ire
sistible In compelling force
II was by all odds the biggest parade
Atlanta has ever seen. There were seven
divisions Of II. with twice as many bands.
The chief marshal and his staff came
nrst, then the whole 18th United States
after company, battalion after battalion,
al gorgeous in the full dress '-I.--0rm
that makes a rare occasion After these
came the hosts OF Patriarchs NII-'ant,
IN the regalia OF their order. OrgaLIza-
tons from other states that Georgia fol-
lowed then. and were followed In turn
BY the home state organizations that had
gathered from everywhere throughout
Georgia. Then followed the Rebekahs,
II hA
cid order. Then followed 'hA Atlanta
lodges, nine of them. in fu.i force. And
last OF all came the sovereign grand lodge
Of the order. the supreme con~lave whose
session in Atlanta Is the center -. una
which all Of the rest have muster. q
THERE WAS LIT LIE CONFUSION
No bare description can give an idea OF
the vastness OF this pageant. II had as
sembled around the state capitol and
had filled all the streets surrounding
Georxfa's official home. The gray old
building was an island in a sea Of col
or. Despite the size of the occasion
though, very little confusion marked the
organization OF the parade
For hours before the head OF the pa
rade passed. the streets in the line or
march were filling with spectators The
windows OF office buildings were occu-
MED long in advance of the thrilled an
nouncement Here IL comes" Carriages
and automobiles choked the cross streets.
Men. women and children sat on curb
stones or stood on the hard side walks
10 hold their places Of vantage A large
norton of the multitude brought its
lunch with II, and munched the midday
meal wherever the opportunity AFFORD
ed, Another large portion went hungry
mi the middle of the afternoon
Every train that entered the city on
wednesday morning added fresh hum
dreds to the seething human mass with
which the city was filled. Special
coaches rolled In. filled with uniformed,
reRaIia-bedecked. hammered delegations
from here. there and everywhere within
a days journey Of Atlanta They her-
aided their own approach with their
own hands. and were received with ova-
lions befitting distinguished visitors
The railway stations Of the city were
ceuters OF swirIing worthless In the flood
Of humanity that grew and grew hourly
Atlanta was crowded as she has rare
" been. Accommodations at hotels ana
boarding houses ard homes were at
premium Every part OF the city had
been thrown wide open 10 the Visltors
and had been occupied by them since
Saturday the throngs Of odd Fellows
had been materially increasing the city's
regulation Wednesday was the climax
OF all this, the high tide OF H.
PARADE THE GREAT CLIMAX
P,hIie interest in Atlanta and through
out the state was at its height. We'd
nesday. focusing on the big demonstra-
ton which the Odd Fellows made In
their pageant that all could see and un-
derstand. Till then the deliberations OF
the high councils assembled In Atlanta
had been secret and had dealt with mat
ters Of fraternal instead of public inter
est. so that 10 the layman. the IN
member. nothing was ineligible s've
that Atlanta was filed with visiIors
But the parade. almost triumphant in
its shirt. seeming TO express the cele-
bration of new victories for humanity
ana brotherhood during the past year.
was something which everyone could
comprehend
Onices and stores throughout the city
closed during the hours when the pa
rsde was on foot Many Of the retail
establishments closed at noon, giving