The Ocala evening star., 1915-04-22
GRAND LODGE OF FLORIDA
Independent Order of Odd Fellows had
a Great Meeting in Gainesville

Independent Order of Odd Fellows had
a Great Meeting in Gainesville
The Ocala delegation attending the
meeting of the grand lodge of Odd
Fellows returned home last night
from the University City, where they
report having the time of their lives.
The good people of Gainesville had
prepared all kinds of entertainments
for the Odd Fellows and the women's
auxiliary, the Rebekahs, during their
stay in the city.
On arrival of the delegates they
were met at the trains by committee
men from the loc=3 lodges and direct
ed to the hotels and boarding houses
where arrangements had been made
for their accommodation. Many of
the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were
entertained at private homes of mem
bers of the order throughout the city.
The program of events prepared
by the local lodges included formal
reception at the Lyric theater, where
speeches of welcome were delivered
by the mayor and heads of the Odd
Fellows and Rebekah lodges. These
were responded to by the grand lodge
and assembly officers. Several special
| ly meritorious vocal numbers were
interspersed between the speeches by
local talent. Colonel J. B. Sloan,
grand master of the Georgia juris-
diction, who was a visitor at the
grand lodge, also delivered splen-
did address on this occasion.
When the program had been COM
pleted, the delegation of both lodges
repaired to the beautiful Masonic
Temple to take up the work for which
they had gathered. The Odd Fellows
occupied the second story lodge build
ing for their deliberations, while the
Rebekahs occupied the first floor.
After formal organization and the
appointment of committees for the
session, adjournment was taken for
dinner
The Tuesday afternoon and Wednes-
morning sessions were devoted entire
ly to routine business of the organiza-
tion. The election of officers was a
feature of Wednesday mornings ses-
sion. The result of this election was
printed in yesterdays paper.
In warm contest for the next
meeting of the grand lodge by four
cities, Sanford captured the largest
vote and the session of 1916 will be
held in that city.
i On Tuesday evening a reception was
held at the Odd Fellows Home in the
eastern part of the city, where the
visitors met many of the city's prom
inent people. The ladies of the local
Rebekah lodge served cake and fruit
punch during the evening. Every
thing was most informal, the guests
being met at the door by Mrs. Saun-
ders, president of the Rebekah grand
assembly, Mrs. Carl Harris Former
ly of Ocala) matron Of the home, and
Mr.. John w. Blanding, chairman OF
the board of home trustees.
The home is large brick building
with splendid interior fittings, and well
adapted to the purpose for which il
is being used. There are accommoda.
tions for over fifty people. and now
that the home has been officially &C.
cepted by the grand lodge, and put
into condition for the reception and
proper care of the widows, orphans
and helpless Odd Fellows, it will nc
doubt have quite few inmates at nc
distant day. At present living at the
home are three orphans and one wild
ow of a member of the order, all Of
whom are receiving the motherly care
of Mrs. Harris, who appears to b'
just the right person for the posi-
tion she occupies.
At a late hour the guests retired
{ to their various stopping places, prouC
of their home for the needy ones o.
the order.
The royal welcome accorded tn
/ Odd Fellows and Rebekahs in the Uni
4 versity city will long be remembers
! by those who were so fortunate a
to be present at the 1915 session.
!. On Wednesday afternoon the visi
tors were taken over the city an
surrounding country in automobile
placed at their disposal by the GOO
people of Gainesville. This as wei
> as the other forms of entertainment
was most highly appreciated by tn
f visitors and all expressed regret a
S having so soon to leave the peopl
: who had shown them so much consid
4 Grafton during their entire stay in tn
'. city.