The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-30
Amboy Odd Fellows
Burn Up Mortgage
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
After carrying mortgage on their
building for the past eighteen years.
the Odd Fellows celebrated the pay
ment of the same at their hall Mon,
day night, burning the mortgage
preceded by a short program, says
The Amboy Herald The speakers
of the occasion were two grand lodge
officers, H. w. Phillips, grand mas
ter, and A. L. Bolton, grand secre,
tary The program opened by the
audience singing the opening ode OF
the order, Mrs. o. w. Johnson, or
ganist; invocation by Rev. 0. T.
, Langfitt, pastor of the Presbyterian
church; song by male quartet COM
posed of H. E. Woods, w. H. Smith,
| C. d. OFT and A. r. Corbett, all mem
bers of the order.
| Grand Master Phillips was the first
speaker. His Naddress was interest
! ing and we'll received as he Is fiu-
ent and forcible talker. Following
his address reading was given by
i Miss Beatrice Allen Who( was heart
! lily applauded as she is talented
dramatic reader Miss Allen was fol-
lowed by the address of Grand Sec
rotary Bolton who has held that posi-
ton for the past twenty-five years.
I, Mr.. Bolton is complete encyclope-
dia as regards Odd Fellowship and
his talk held the attention of the
large audience closely.
Mortgage Was Burned.
Then came the most interesting
event of the occasion, the burning
of the mortgage. This was done by
]. H. Kinney, who acted as master
of ceremonies. AS the flames died
out there was heartfelt applause. The
program closed with the singing OF
closing ode.
The banquet was served in the
opera house, plates being laid for
lseventy. Three times the tables were
set and the fourth time only partly
The number served was close to $50.
The opera house was nicely decerat-
ed with the national colors, emblems
and flowers. The Odd Fellows hall
was also beautifully decorated under
the artistic taste of H. T. Moore, who
also arranged the tables and seating
of the company AT each table was
, carnation and an emblem napkin.
The menu was elaborate.
The history of the lodge is briefly
, as follows: Organized November 1S,
|, 1888, with eleven charter members,
, all withdrawing from the Winnebago
| lodge. On December 80 the member
: ship had increased to thirty-three
The first noble grand was N. H
: Dorsey, the first secretary f. Mailer
; and the first treasurer A. VanAerpam
who was followed in 1893 by Z. H
Holden who has held the office uI
5 to date.
E First Meeting Place.
S Their first meeting place was in {
: very small hall over Tyler's dus
/ store They soon outgrew that ant
built one of their own, the building
, now owned and occupied by Ed Ru'
as washing machine factory. Out
growing that they sold the property
purchased a thirty-three foot lot o
= ID. E. Cross and erected a large ant
!. substantial two story brick buildin,
. 33x90 feet in size The order con
tinued to grow and now has Ia
. MEMBERS X. H. Werges has beel
!; financial secretary since 1900 ant
: w. H. Smith recording secretar!
: since 1905. Two Of the charter mem
: bers were present at the meetin,
: Monday night, ID. E. Cross and S
:, S. Doty.
: OF the charter members there ar
u living, D. E. Cross, s. S. Doty, A. S
u Cole, eco. Buckmister and ]. I
2 Shanks.