The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-10
ODD FELLOWS IN
 ANNUAL CONCLAVE
Warm Welcome Extended
 By Mobile
REBEKAHS ASSEMBLE
Mrs. Westover Is Elected President. The Business Sessions Fail to Develop Matters of
 Interest

Mobile, April 9.-(Special.) 1.-The seventy first annual session of the grand lodge of Alabama, Independent Order of Odd Eel lows, was called to order in the Lyric theatre this morning with fully 1000 dele gates and other members of the order from various portions of the state of Ala bama in attendance. Following the open ing session, the first secret session of tine grand lodge was held at the Battle House, which is the official headquarters Simultaneously the Rebekah state assem- ply began it's sessions in Temperance hall with a large attendance, the headquarters of the Rebekahs being at the Cawthon hotel. Previous to the opening session, headed by Dragos band the Odd Fellows, nearly 1000 strong, paraded theps rincipal business streets of the city, the parade disbanding at the Lyric theatre.
 The Lyric was filled to it's capacity when the public meeting was called to order, and following a musical selection by the Haidee Senter Rowley orchestra, the in vocation by Rev. Edmonds Bennett, rec tor of Trinity church, and a soprano solo by Mrs. Charles B. Hervey, greetings
 
 delegates by Albert D. Bloch, on behalf of the grand lodge committee on arrange ments. MT. Bloch was followed by Pat J. Lyons, mayor of Mobile, who extended welcome on behalf of the city, and fol- lowing the mayor an address of welcome on behalf of the Mobile Odd Fellows was delivered by Past Sovereign Rep. resentative o. J. Semmes. Miss Melville Tucker, with ochestral accompaniment. sang Loving" and following the song the response to the addresses of welcome was ~delivered- by l. E.. Blackwood. grand ! master Of the order, of Gadsden. The benediction was pronounced by Rabbi A. G. Moses.
 The business session of the order of Odd Fellows today were taken, up prin- cipally with routine business and there was little of general interest. The ex- pected fight over the question of perm anent meeting place for the grand lodge did not materialize, but it Is expected to come up tomorrow after the return of the delegates from an excursion which has been arranged. Probably two sessions will be held tomorrow, the first shortly after ? o'clock and the second in the evening.
 The Rebekah state assembly devoted the morning session, after the close of the
 
 fecting organization and receiving the re- ports of standing committees. Owing to the absence of the grand warden, Mrs. Abbie Cramton of Birmingham was elect ed to fill the position at this session. About 45 candidates were given the as- sembly degree. During the afternoon ses- sion the question of national assembly came up and was defeated after a spirited debate. Just before adjournment the rrs- r<.. l. ,s.&<r took place. which resulted as follows: President, Mrs. Alice Westover of Fruit dale: vice president, Mrs. Abbe Cramton of Birmingham; secretary Mrs. Leona B. Kirke of Northport, re-elected treasurer, Mrs. May Brunson of Mobile, reelected; warden. Mrs. Edna Mills of Fruitdale. Mrs Emma Shropshire of Birmingham and Mrs Jane McNabb of Cullman were appointed to membership of the home committee.
 The appointment of committees was made at the conclusion of the night ses- sion, which did not adjourn until a late hour
 Every hotel in the city is crowded to its capacity by visiting Odd Fellows, many of whom are accompanied by mem bers of their families, and all are conf- dent that the present session of the grand lodge of the state will be one of the most satisfactory meetings in the history of the order. Two sessions of the grand lodge will be held tomorrow, the first short session in the morning previous to the departure of the excursion steamers, which have been chartered for trip on the river and bay that will last from 10 a. m. to p. m. and the second after the return from the excursion. It is also expected that session will be held in the evening but this has not been definitely 6ecded llpon