The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-30
THE ORDERO OF LIONS GIVES b|G BANQUET Many Prominent Men Talk. Table Groaned With
 Choice Edibles

| Seldom in the history of the city of Birmingham has there been such a happy occasion as that of last night when the Order of Lions gave their first annual Thanksgiving banquet to the members of
 the order and their friends Fully 600 | guests assembled around the festive board which fairly groaned with choice edibles, | eXcellently served The tables were laid in the "den," which was fairly bewilder- ing to the uninitiated for combined with Oriental decorations, the jungles and lair of the animal for which the order is named were portrayed with startling reality and effect.
 The programme was varied and splen- didly carried out, and included musical selections, feasts gastronomical and in tellectual, humorous talks and anecdotes, vaudeville 'stunts,'' and other features, all of which contributed to the pleasure of the happy crowd.
 George B. Ratterman, grand master, or rather, grand keeper of the tribe. was master of ceremonies and showed 10 marked degree his ability as a tanner of wild animals, for Trainer Ratterman showed to the people of the city and state that every member of the order who had formerly run wild, had, through it's influence been domesticated, and were now energetic citizens working in the interest of a greater and better Birming ham.
 pr. H. l.. Elkourie, who is called the great physician of the order, whose as- cribed duties are to bind up the wounds caused by strife, was the next speaker and stated that his duties were light be- cause he found no strife among the mem bers of the order and therefore no wounds to be dressed. He spoke along fraternal Tires, stressing the point that no man should seek to become a member of a fraternal organization unless he was will | ing to live up to the ethics of brother hood and fraternity.
 Chief Bennett. F. I. Monks. Chief of Police George H. Bodeker Dr. W. E. Evans, G. M. Ritter Ben Davis, White Gibson, Luke P. Hunt, w. T. Stewart c. Miller and many others made short talks. many fairly sparkling with wit and humor, while some were in. the se- rious vein. All were well received, how ever. and the many allusions to the hos pitality and good will shown by the new order brought frequent prolonged ap- piause from the appreciative audience.
 While the Order of Lions is a new or ganization, 1t has taken a hold that is marvellous. Starting less than a year ago with d very small membership, it has grown by leaps and bounds until it now numbers nearly thousand members The founders take much pride in the fact that it is Birmingham institution, and while the birth of the order came from the death struggle of another organiza- ton. yet the Order of Lions has seem- ingly caught the progressive spirit, and is destined to be a power in the uplift of not only this city but of every city where branch is founded
 The first celebration was a great sue cess, from every standpoint, for In ad- dition to the splendid repast provided by the caterer and the intellectual feast pro- vided by the speakers. the large audience entered into the spirit of the occasion, and many of the .'untamed'' expressed a desire to become permanent members of the organization that had done them hcnor