The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-02-12
A. 0. U. W. Grand Lodge Opens Session
Here Today; MANY Delegates From
Entire State are Present
VISITORS HANDED
KEYS TO The CITY
Simpson Delivers Welcome Address; Class
Initiation Tonight; Election Officers
Scheduled; Visit Fort Tomorrow

You are guests in our city and
know that each and every one of the
$4,000 people here welcomes each
member of this great organization
to their midst, and if perchance
there be some door that is not open
to you just remember that the latch
stTing is hanging ON the outside and
kindly knock will admit you to
the threshold of every home" Such
vas the way in which Oscar Simp.
son welcomed the members of the
A. 0. U. w. to this city on the part
of Mayor Coffman, who could not be
at the meeting this morning.
Nearly three hundred delegates
and members of the grand lodge ar
rived IN this city yesterday from all
rarts of the state and u is expected
That few more will arrive today.
Those who arrived yesterday spent
the greater part of the day looking
over the city, some visiting the O.
{. W. and others spending few
hours with friends.
The first session of the convention
was held yesterday afternoon. This
was a meeting of the board Of direc
tors and consumed the greater part
of the afternoon. At this meeting
the financial condition of the lodge
was reviewed and is said to be in
better shape now than ever before.
After the books had been gone
ever and the financial status of the
organization was found to be in the
best of shape, the directors voted
that the assessments of members
should not be raised unless it be-
came absolutely necessary. 1t was
decided also to pay the assessments
OF all members who are now engaged
in the military service.
With the orchestra playing "Over |
There" and other patriotic and pop |
ular war pieces, the annual meeting |
of the grand lodge opened this morn
ing with a boom, nearly three hun.
dred members being present to hear
the opening addresses and to attend /
the business meetings that would be |
held later.
S. L. Johnson of Okmulgee, grand |
master, and George Ross, grand re-
cCrder, presided at the session that |
was held this morning Mr.. John |
scr made a short talk, reviewing /
the history of the organization and |
calling attention to the great prob. |
lens that are being presented for
all people to solve at this time. Mr.. |
Johnson ended his talk by giving a |
scripture reading after which Rev. |
Albright of the Baptist church offer.
ed an eloquent prayer asking for di- |
vine guidance in the great struggle |
in which this nation and people are
now engaged.
After the invocation County Attor-
hey Oscar Simpson was introduced |
to deliver the address of welcome |
On the part of Mayor Coffman who |
was unable to be present at the !
meeting. In his remarks Mr.. Simp-
son said that the people of Chicka- |
sha had always prided themselves
ON their generosity and that he had /
been authorized to say that the keys
Of the city had been turned over to
the members of this lodge while |
they were our guests.
He called attention to the sacri- |
fiees that were continually being
asked of the people of the nation
and how the great fraternal orders
were meeting the obligations. ITO |
day we are each one. down deep in
our hearts, speaking the words of
Abraham Lincoln, 'Fondly do l hope