Milford chronicle., 1912-03-29
STATE ODD FELLOWS
HOLD Big Meeting

One Of the biggest nights in the his
tory of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows of this state was witnessed
Tuesday night, when eighty-seven candi-
dates from various lodges throughout
the state were initiated into the order
at Odd Fellows Temple, Third and
King streets.
Delegations at Wilmington from lodges
in Pittstown, Media and Chester, Pa,
Camden, N. j., Maryland and also indi-
vidual members from lodges of sew
eral other jurisdictions were present.
The hall, from the bottom to the top
floors was crowded, and it is esti-
mated that over a thousand members
were in attendance.
The meeting, which was called by
Grand Master Jacob F. Snyder, in a
circular issued by him, was for the pur-
pose of having large class initiation.
How well the lodges throughout the
state responded to the call was shown
at the meeting. All three degrees were
bestowed upon the candidates. Della
ware Lodge No. l, degree team that
won the state competition in initatOry
degree work about a year ago, conferred
the first degree. Jefferson Lodges
degree team that won second degree
prize in competitive degree work con-
ferred the second degree, and last of
all Eden Lodge, No34 degree team, that
mas won prizes in both state and national
competitions, conferred the third degree.
All of the degree teams carried the full
orchestra of twelve pieces with them,
and the scene in the lodge room as the
candidates were being put through the
various degrees was very impressive
During the conferring of the degrees the
various teams were given OvatiOns by the
tremendous gathering, which, as Grand
Master Synder expressed it after the
meeting, was notable and unexpected,
although he thought from the reports
that were coming in that there would
be a big meeting. Grand Master Synder
presided at the meeting.
The various delegations that were in
attendance were met at the French St,
station of the P. B. and w. railroad by
W. w. DOuty, grand secretary J. F.
Synder, grand master P. J. Issacs.
grand secretary, and DIR. J. Willard
Crossan, past grand master.
The conferring of the first degree
was stared at 7.30 o'clock sharp and at
10 o'clock the work of comforting the
second degree was started. The third
and last degree by the well known Eden
lodge degree team did not start until
near midnight and did not finish until
early in the morning. Eden lodge had
meeting in the early part of the even
ing and came to the hall in a body.
The lodges and the number of candi-
dates initiated into them at the meet
ing were as follows Morning Star,
No. 6, of Smyrna four candidates /; .
Crystal Fount, No. 10, of Milford, ten
candidates Good Samaritan, No. 9, of
Middletown, five candidates Amity, |
No. 20, of Camden, Del, three candi- /
dates Patrick Henry, No. II, of Della
ware City, five candidates FELTON,, /
No. 80, of FELTON,, ten candidates Natl
onal, No. 80, of St. Georges, three candi-
dates Centreville, No. 81, of Centre
vile, three candidates Oriental, No. II,
of Newark, one candidate Philodemic,
No. Z, of Dover, eighteen candidates,
which was the largest of any one in
1ividual lodge. The other candidates
were from lodges of this city, they be-
ing from Jefferson, No. 2, six candidates
Hope, No. q, five candidates Eden,
No. "a, seven candidates Asylum,
No. %, one candidate ; Mechanics, No. 4,
1ne candidate, and Delaware, No. l,
eight candidates.
After the meeting all those who at
.ended said that the gathering was the
greatest ever held in this state.
The ninety-third anniversary of the
)rder will be celebrated with due
ceremonies at the hall on Thursday
evening April, 26.