Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1911-12-27
Jr. Orders Big Day
Excelsior Council Has Great Meeting and
Adds IL to Its Membership.

Frlday laSL proved banner DAY IN
the history of Excelsior Council, No.
23l, Junior Order United American Me-
chanics. For although the weather man
worked against the occasion and rain
fell in torrents, the enthusiasm of the
members was not dampened by this fact
and fully two hundred, including repre-
sentatives from Atlantic City, Ocean
City and other lodges, attended the
meeting in Red Mems Hail. The par
ade, which mad been planned as a big
feature, the elements made it neces-
sary to dispense with.
A pretty tribute was paid Webster
Price, charter member, when he en-
tered the room. Because of his affiic-
tion this is the first time for more than
year that he had been able to attend
meeting. The boys provided car
riage to convey him to and from the
meeting
Routine business was transacted with
Councillor Clinton Price, occupying the
chair, and it is safe to say that no one
in recent years has filled this position
who is more generally beliked by the
rank and file of the order than is he
Harry L. Lake, manager, presented
the lodge with an excellent photograph
of Excelsior Council Band, the work of
Macmillan, which the Council accepted
and ordered to be framed and hung in
the lodge room.
The initiation exercises were next in
order and II Of the % candidates pre-
TOD for 1fror i,fn ho
order. The degree team were at their
best and everything moved with utmost
smoothness aid impressiveness.
The committee in charge of the enter
tainment, consisting of Fred Fenton,
Harry L. Lake, William Hauenstein, Ber-
tram E. Whitman and Levi Hewitt, ask
ed to be continued for another month at
least in order that a similar meeting
may be held in January, believing that
much good would result, and it was so
decided.
Rev. j. Morgan Reed, Of Glassboro,
Past State Councillor and State Treas
urer, addressed the boys, expressing his
pleasure at the great interest displayed
in the order, complimenting the Council
for its progress. and giving statistics
in regard to the order in the State, and
explaining its objects, all of which was
very interesting. He stated that it was
the first time in his twenty-five years
initiated who had not donned pants the
length usually worn by men, two of the
candidates wearing knee pants.
"Bilf' Hauenstein, in charge of the
"eats", was next in evidence, and all
voteu that his part had been exceptional
ly well done. Sandwiches and coffee,
ice cream ana cake, were abundantly
served and if anyone went hungry it
was his own fault and not that of BILL"
or his assistants. In fact a picture long
to be remembered was jolly little Harry
Parsels, filled to overflowing, sitting be-
hind a large plate of sandwiches and
several cups Of coffee, ice cream and cake
a plenty, worrying because he could not
get outside of it all. '.Too bad, boys,
too bad, to see these good things going
to waste" he was able to sigh family.
The band rendered numerous selec
tions to the satisfaction of all and a
general good time was had until the wee
sma' hours of the morning.
Excelsior Council was instituted in
April, 1896, nearly sixteen years ago,
and like other fraternal organizations
has had its ups and downs. Today it
is in flourishing condition, numbering
among its members 300 of the flower
Of our manhood, and everything within
its ranks is peace and harmony. 1t is
one of the very strongest fraternal or
ganizat tions in the borough Of Pleasant
vile. and has done much good in elm
mating suffering among it's members and
others. The dues are very light and the
benefits great, and member has the
assurance that should that uncertain ell
ement death take him unexpectedly his
dear ones will not be left in the world
penniless no matter what his own finan-
cial condition may be.
And in closing this article, The Pleas
antville Press feels that it would be re-
miss. in its principle of giving honor
where honor is due if we failed to men,
tion the constant loyalty and unbroken
efforts of one of the charter members,
Levi Hewitt, to whom more than to any
other one man the lodge owes the high
position it holds today. Mr.. Hewitt IS
Junior Order man through and
through seven days of the week and he
never let's pass an opportunity to pre-
sent its merits to prospective candi-
date, and to him is due the distinction
of having proposed for membership at
least fifty persons Too much praise
cannot be accorded him for his unfailing
efforts and the results attained.