The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-11-24
Great Gathering Was Held In
This City Last hight
LARGE CLASS Initiated
Hon. F. F. Ellsworth and John
L. Sunbeam Take Part In
The Ceremonies
from Tuesdays DaIlv.

are arising out OF the QeaQ aSneS VI
by-gone disagreements, stronger
and better than ever. and the mon
ster Woodman rally which took
place in Mankato last evening is
striking evidence of the new life and
new enterprise with which this ord
er is imbued. Hundreds of Wood
men were out in full force, large
delegations coming from surround
ing camps, and with earnest pur-
pose and good humor they proceed
ed to take possession of the city.
During the afternoon State Deputy
Sunbeam conducted school of in
struction at the Mankato theatre,
and about GAS the Woodmen began
to congregate at the armory. The
big parade was the feature of the
evening, and began forming at the
armory about seven o'clock. By
1880 Front street was crowded with
citizens waiting to witness the
sight, and the blare of the brass
bands of the visiting camps soon
announced that the parade was on
it's way up Front street. Like an
invading army of jovial spirits
they came, marching hundreds
strong in seemingly endless pro-
cession Officers ]. R. Albrecht, o.
Lundberg and N. Thilgen, mounted
on riding horses, led the procession.
The Mankato fire department, with
all the firemen out in uniform, and
the equipment making a most i'm
posing spectacle was next in line,
Captain w. A. Funk of the depart
ment leading. Hose companies Nos.
l and were out, and the fire de-
partment occasioned pride and ad-
miration in the hearts of the citi-
zens as it passed in review. Mayor
Robert Lamm and Councilmen A.
G. Lack, G. w. Eichstaedt, and
Mic Peterson marched in the par
ade, and were followed by the bulk
of the procession. The New Ulm
band discoursed sweet music as it
passed, and the Woodman goat be-
haved himself with seemly propriety
as he strolled sedately down the
line. The Mankato camp was largely
represented, and several of the drill
teams appeared in their handsome
uniforms, carrying the proverbial
axes, of the Woodmen. The Cotton
wood camp from Window made a
splendid appearance, and Rice's
Military band enlivened the march
with spirited music as Columbia
camp passed. Mapleton was out
with a large delegation, and made
known their arrival with sweet
music by the band The line OF
march proceeded up Front street to
where it doubled on the opposite
side of the street, and marched to
the Mankato theatre where the
evening program was held. The
lower house was reserved for Wood
men, and the balcony and gallery
were the only points available for
visitors, the playhouse being well
filled by the large assembly. The
New Ulm band and the Mapleton
band furnished splendid program
of music preceding the speeches.
Ellsworth Was Chairman.
Consul G. R. Woodward intro
duced Hon. F. F. Ellsworth as chair
man of the evening, with a short
and appropriate speech. He ex-
planned that the object of the rally
was to re-generate the lodge in
Minnesota and the movement was
prevalent all over the United States.
1--WE have with us tonight he
said, ga representative of Blue Earth
county, man of nation fame, who
has made his way from school teacher
to representation. F. F. Ellsworth
congressman from the second district
of Minnesota"
Enthusiastic applause greeted Mr..
Ellsworth, who after acknowledging
the introduction, said: 81 don't think
/ have ever seen such an outpouring
of Woodmen as this since the days
of the old South and Southwestern
Picnic association. A few years ago
/ would have said that we would ne
er see such again. The thing I like
particularly about the Modern Wood
man lodge is that it is like the gov
ernment-founded upon representa-
ton. When we find such an organi-
cation we know that as long as rep
resentation remains the corner stone
it will come out all right, the same
as the Modern Woodmen have, no
matter WndC SHAKE ups COIue. zap
plause.) After few general remarks,
and explaining that he was not the
speaker of the evening, but the chair
man, Mr.. Ellsworth introduced State
Deputy John l.. Sunbeam as the gen
eralissimo" who during the recent
trouble in the Woodman lodge, had
kept in touch with the rank and file,
and carried the olive branch of peace
between the divided faction. The ap-
plause which greeted Mr.. Sunbeam
had hardly subsidized when this YER
satile man suddenly appeared at the
front Of the stage in changed char
acter, and gave a humorous take off
on a street fakir selling his wares to
a street corner crowd. Mr.. Sunbeam
almost convinced his audience of the
reality of the cure all" remedy
which he pretended to be selling, and
a few were beginning to seriously
consider going forward to purchase
some of the wonderful medicine,
when he changed back to his own
character, and made few timely re-
marks concerning the work of the
lodge. He stated that he certainly