Putnam patriot., 1912-05-03
Odd Fellows Observe Anniver-
 Sariex

on saturday, observing the Sou anni- versary of the founding of the order, the 22d of the institution of the lodge, and the initiation of class of %, bringing the membership over the POO mark. The arrangements were made .and most successfully carried out by committee consisting of Past Grands (. D. Sharpe, l.. II. Fuller, A. C. Cutler, E. T. Tucker, and l.. NJ. Keith, who had the hearty co-opera- tion and willing assistance Of all the members of the lodge.
 The degree team of Puritan Lodge, No. 43, of Stamford, was invited to be present and confer the first degree, which invitation was accepted.
 The visitors arrived in Putnam on the 6.27 New York express Saturday evening, and were welcomed at the train by the local Odd Fellows, and es. corted to the Odd Fellows hall on Pomfret street, drum corps and the Puritan lodge goat heading the line of 250 men. The members of Mizpah Re bekah lodge had bountiful supper in readiness, consisting of cold meats, baked beans, hot rolls, brown bread, relishes, cake, coffee, and ice cream, which received due attention from all, in addition to the Odd Fellows from Putnam and Stamford, guests being present from Danielson, Webster, south bridge, Jewett City and Central Vil- lage.
 At the close of the supper the assem- blaze proceeded to Hammond hall, and when Noble Grand William Man. son, of Israel Putnam Lodge, sounded the gavel at o'clock, three hundied members of the order were seated to witness the ritualistic ceremonies. Af- ter the opening exercises the gavel was placed in the hands of William D. Sharpe, Noble Grand of Puritan Lodge, and eldest son of Past Grand C. D. Sharpe of Israel Putnam Lodge. An interesting coincidence was that Vice Grand Charles Roberts of the visiting lodge, was also former Putnamite.
 The degree team from Stamford con- sists of sixty members, and includes an orchestra, choir, and some excellent solo voices. A class of twenty-five, twenty-three being from Israel Put nam lodge, and two from Quinebaug lodge of Danielson, received the first degree. The work of the team was be- yond criticism, and while the neo- phytes were deeply impressed with the solemnity and beauty of the work, many a veteran of the order received new idea of the teachings of the de- gree, and frequent applause showed the interested appreciation. The mem- bers of the Putnam lodge say that the dramatic features of the degree excelled any theatrical entertainment ever seen in this city.
 The degree was followed by remarks by Deputy Grand Master F. C. Bur rows of New London, Grand Secretary William $. Hutchins of New Haven, Past Grand Master l.. II. Fuller, and Past Grand C. D. Sharpe, the latter presenting to the Stamford lodge large and handsomely framed picture of Cargill Falls, as Il souvenir of their visit.
 The following original poe m was read by Past Grand Master Fuller: It was in Putnam City,
 In the fourth month of the year, That the cause of this, my ditty,
 Came to be spoken here.
 From Stamford on the Sound,
 Where ships sail to and fro,
 Where Odd Fellows abound,
 And to the eastward go,
 So the Puritans made us call
 On the twenty-seventh day, And 1t has gratiiied us all
 And enthused us all. Say, Didn't they do the work up dandy?
 Was not their marching fine? How perfect and how handy
 And they never skipped line. In Friendship deep we welcome you;
 We grasp your hand in love, The Love that ringeth true,
 In the Truth from God above. To Puritan, forty-three
 From Stamford by the sea We greet you one and all--
 And thank you for your call. We give you cordial greeting,
 And we'll not forget this meeting, tgx.. lat hFa fT6l
 And we praise all of the others. From the men who held the gavel
 To the beater of the drum, To the fiddler and the piper And we hope you're glad you come.
 The Putnam brothers entertained the visitors at the hotels and at their homes.
 Sunday morning the members of Is- rael Putnam lodge and their guests from Stamford attended service al the Second Congregational church, the l50 Odd Fellows occupying seats in the center of the church. Rev. F. D. Sar- gent, pastor of the church, aud mem Der of Israel Putnam lodge, gave practical discourse, emphasizing the principles of Odd Fellowship. A strik- ing feature of the service was the hear ty congregational singing, the l50 mems voices adding an unusual and ins piring quality. The church was handsomely decorated with pines and potted plants, :by MT. Hermanson of the East Side Greenhouses. At the close of the service the lodges xaturnad to Odd Eallows, hall aud Ia.