The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-05-26
SMYRNA BEES
ENTERTAINED BIG
CROWD THURSDAY
KEPT OLD TIME RECORD AS
HOSTS WHEN COUNTY CON-
VENTION WAS HELD

-" 49," ''<.o @@@<~~D
The Knights and Ladies of the
Maccabees of the county responded to
the invitation of the Smyrna Macca-
bees last Thursday evening with a
very good attendance, there being at
least 800 present at the hall. The
largest delegations were from Bel
ding and Ionia, about so going up
from Ionia and nearly that number
from this place.
The program for the evening in
cluded speeches and songs and other
special numbers. l.. V. Silver, Of
Ionia, the county commander of the
knights of the Maccabees, presided
at the meeting and acted at toast
master and also gave the address of
welcome fo rthe Knights, F. r. Ravis
of Smyrna responding. Mrs. Bessie
Reeves, of Smyrna gave the address
of welcome to the ladies, which was
responded to by Mrs. Anna Curtis OF
Ionia. A piano and violin duet by
Mrs. Insley and Miss Gayla Penton
was well received, very nice encore
being given.
Deputy Commander Thropp
Grand Rapids was present and gave a
short talk on the specially appro-
pirate themes of the efficiency of
the Michigan organization of the
Maccabees and dwelling with pride on
their past accomplishments and their
exceptionally good record.
Mrs. Nellie Cowles recited very
clever original poem dedicated to the
commander of the Smyrna hive, Mrs.
Reeves and responded to an encore
recitation.
Major Loomis vas to have been the
principal speaker of the evening, but
was unable to be present and so the
ever-ready Fred Cutler was the sub
of >partee directed against orthe
speakes of the program, especially
against the two Ionia representatives,
Mrs. F. D. Curtis and Mr.. l.. V. Silver
Feeling finally that some sence Of
seriousness should be injected into
the meeting, Mr.. Cutler dwelt at some
length on the inspiration of the coun-
ty meetings on all who attend them,
and the feeling of confidence evoked
by the growth and prosperity of the
lodge.
not the lodge of today, and despite a
recent period of lethargy and almost
indifference a real revival of interest
in the meetings is evidnced by
steady acquisition of new members
and renewal of the old time enthus-
iasm and spirit. The special and par
ticular thanks of the lodge through
out the state is due to the spirit in
such lodges as the Smyrna lodge,
which has always been one of the
pattern lodges of the county, and has
set standard for hearty hospitality
interesting entertainment and a gen.
eral enthusiasm of it's members, which
may well be pattern for many lar
ger tent and more flourishing men,
bership.
The program finished with quin-
tet which sang two numbers. The
singers were Mesdames ,Tebbel
Compton and Barry and Messrs. Con-
don and Compton, and their rendition
of the "Old Gray Mare" brought
down the house in a burst of applause
After the program the company
was invited down stairs to partake
Of the very hearty and bounteous
lunch served by the Smyrna hosts.
TIL people of Smyrna have a well de-
served reputation for serving good
dinners and they ably sustained it
Thursday night with their delicious
luDCn VI BOOu HOlIlt-fHdUt SuDSJdlJldlS
Then after this most necessary and
pleasurable duty was over, everyone
was ready for dancing, which began
about IL o'clock and continued until
late enough to suit even the most en-
thusiastic of the younger dhncers.
Round dances and square dances al
ternated and the floor was never un-
occupied for an instant The music
by piano and violin was good old
fashioned reels and jigs and some
good modern dance music for the up
to-date dances. George Kellogg, well
known Smyrna man, who for forty
years has called off for the dances
in that community, called the square
dances and later took up the violin
and played jigs that would put the
modern players of jazz to shame for
life and vigor.
The evening was in short a most
enjoyable one, enjoyable in every
sense, and most Of all in the spirit Of
kindly hospitality of the people of
Smyrna and the general good feeling
and comradeship of the lodge itself,
who met as old friends, enjoying .
renewal of associations and a good
old fashioned party without frills or
formality.
A plan is under way to inaugurate
picnics this year for lodge members
and it Is planned to have the first ono
at Ionia at Riverside Park at some
not very far distant date, to be de-
cided upon soon.