Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-06
loot. MEETING
GREAT SUCCESS
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF ODD
FELLOWS OF COUNTY is NOW
ASSURED.
STEVENSON SPOKE
Grand Master Highly Compliments
Mrs. Lewis Of Ottumwa, Matron
Of Mason City Home-corneII
and Lynch Given Credit.

With 200 Odd Fellows bubbling ovel
with enthusiasm at the success Of
their first attempt at assembly the
annua. convention of the |. 0. o. F.
members of Wapello county or, Of dis
trict No. 90 in Ottumwa yesterday was
assured as permanent factor in Odd
Fellowship. In fact, such interest was
displayed in the proceedings Of the
sessions yesterday afternoon that a
large number of the delegates present
failed to take time for supper, remain.
ing in the hall and participating in the
program. Others, who intended to
leave on night trains, failed to do so
because of their unwillingness to leave
the convention and therefore were
compelled to remain over until today.
The meeting was a, success in every
way and there is no question but that
the convention Of district No. 80 will
take place every year. The meetings
gave the Odd Fellows view Of the
order than cannot be attained with
such detail and so advantageously in
sessions of the local only. The ex-
emplificatjon OF the degrees, the ad.
dress Of Grand Master Stymest Steven
son, the school of instruction and all
other parts of the program were
highly appreciated. .-..
To Seneca Cornell. district deputy
grand master and Frank T. Lynch,
secretary of the temporary convention
organization. the credit for the sue
cess of yesterdays convention Is due
in great measure. Mr.. Cornell was
instrumental in the formation Of the
committee which arranged for the first
convention and gave much OF his time
to the work.
No Officers Elected.
In order to proceed with the work OF
the convention and give the delegates
time to confer with their respective
lodges on the matter, the election of
officers and the selection Of the next
meeting place, was permitted to go
over until some future time. The
present official staff was named to con-
duct the convention organization un-
t.. such time as vote on the perma-
nent officers is taken by mail. The
next meeting place will also be decided
by mail vote.
Grand Master Stymest Stevenson Of
Council Bluffs, delivered an address
on Odd Fellowship that met with
great favor with delegates. He dwelt
to some extent on the advantages of
the Odd Fellows home for the aged
mem, ers widows and children, at
Mason City. Master Stevenson made
the assertion that there Is no fraternal
home in the United States with such
a homelike atmosphere as that at
Mason City.
He paid high compliments to Mrs.
Lewis, matron Of the home, former
resident Of Ottumwa. Master Steven |
son asserted it was through her man. |
agement and faithful work that the |
home retained it's homelike qualities
and failed to assume that prevalent
characteristic Of an institution.
Through her supervision. he declared
the home will be one of the most pro-
ficient and successful In the fraternal
world.
Reports showed that there are 1915 |
Odd Fellows in Wapello county and
over 10000 in the state OF Iowa
w. J. Bayliss was in charge Of school
of instruction as the closing feature |
OF the convention. All delegates par
ticipated in this and engaged in the
attainment Of it's benefits with such
zeal that many forgot supper until 1T
was time for the evening session at
1870 O'clock.
disqualification Of Degrees.
The greater. part Of the evening
session was taken up by the exempli- |
fication of the first and third degrees
Of the orders, This proved rare treat
to the Odd Fellows as Pickwick lodge |
and Ottumwa lodge No. 9 were efhci' !
ent in the work. The social hour then |
followed in which the bounds of Odd |
Fellowship were in evidence. Every
body became acquainted il they did |
not have the privilege of doing 50 be-
fore. The social time clinched the
matter of a yearly convention OF the
over 1000 Wapello county Odd Eel
lows. Next year the endeavor will be
tc gather at least 500 of these lodge.
men in one of the smaller cities OF
the county.