The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-10-06
GATHERING OF
 ODD FELLOWS
 GREAT MEETING

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 Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut I. O. O. F., William T. Meyer, who, as represen- tative from this state, attended the annual convention of the Sovereign Grand Lodge in Boston, has just re- turned and reports the convention as being the biggest and most success full both in actual numbers present, in the enthusiasm shown and results accomplished, ever held by the order.
 Joseph Oliver, of Toronto, Canada, was elected Grand Sire for a term of two years. MT. Oliver is a very prominent citizen of Canada having been Mayor of Toronto twice, a mem Der of the Canadian Parliament, and served during the war as chairman on one of the British Commissions. He is in the lumber business, his con cern being one of the largest in the Dominion.
 MT. Meyer was named as one of the members of the Committee on Legislation. Leon S.. Merrill, of f~Orono, Maine, was the chairman of this committee which has twelve members. Positions this commit tee are coveted for it is one of the most responsible committees coming before it as there does for considera- ton every matter and resolution WDlCn IS 1nLenOeQ pc SuDmlll6u 70 the convention for action.
 It was an especial distinction this year for the retiring Grand Sire, Henry V. Borst of Amsterdam N. Y. | had just returned from an extended l trip in Australia and New Zealand in l the interests of the order and recom- mended considerable broad and com-' prehensive legislation connected with international relations which was en- acted.
 In speaking of the convention as a xwhole MT. Meyer said: '"rhe parade on Wednesday the 29th was the big feature from spectacular point of view. Boston made a half holiday tsfor it. There were actually over 40,- 1000 men in position in it. The Bos- l. ton papers estimated 1t all the way , very unusual thing about it was the fact that after 1t started 1t did not stop once. Very few parades that I ! ever saw, and I have seen a good I many large ones, but what had to stop for some reason or other, but this one made no stop whatever from the time the first man passed the ! grand stand until the last one had followed him and this took five hours; Neither did I ever, even in political campaigns, hear so much applause and cheering.
 "The parade was headed with from twelve to fifteen thousand Knights Militant in full regalia led by Maj. Gen. w. c. Gurney and staff. The ! Grand Sire under special canopy ! surrounded by his officers and the | representatives, reviewed the parade on Commonwealth avenue. The gov ernor of Massachusetts and state of- ficials reviewed it from a stand opposite the State House. Quantities of flowers were showered on the Grand Sire and other officers. "Following the marchers were floats and hundreds of decorations of a magnificent character, silk banners ! xfTa HV1@ Of fHo e-f,-f H. rfy,rr ar,t te- was from Vermont and was complete | ly covered with expensive hot house roses. It was very beautiful and must have cost hundreds of dollars.
 Tn the evening following the parade there were two hours of fire- works on the Charles River. These were very beautiful and interesting. There were many set pieces, one of the orders motto friendship, love truth and for a grand finale five hundred bombs were fired at once.
 'There were special entertainments every afternoon and evening for all branches of the order and many con ferences for the exchanging of tcourtesies and ideas.
 '"The committee on arrangements hired the exclusive use of the Copley theatre for Thursday evening, the ! thirtieth, and the representatives and visitors saw one of Bernard Shaw's worked special degrees for the enter | tainment of the guests. This was done principally at the National theatre.
 "On Sunday afternoon there was an impressive special service in the ! chapel of Trinity church on Copley Square. There was a vested choir of over a hundred. Admission was by card and the men attended in full uniform and the Bishop addressed them on the topic of Friendship
 "On Saturday, the 18th, the whole company was taken to Plymouth by boat, and was entertained by the city. On arrival we were welcomed in speech by the Mayor of Plymouth which was responded to by the Grand Sire. These formalities over the gates were unlocked and we were all lowed to walk across historic Ply mouth Rock. This is privilege sell dom granted. After this the com pany was divided up into groups of about a hundred each and under the groups were taken about the town and shown the points of interest.
 Dinner was served in four differ ent places at once and about hun dred and fifty were cared for in each place at a time. After an interesting day in Plymouth we had sail back to Boston by moonlight.
 Reports showed that the I. O. O. r. as an organization was never in such good shape as now both in point of membership and resources. Including the Rebekah Sisters the membership is above two million three hundred thousand and makes the Odd Fellows the largest fraternal organization in the world.'
 nAYIIGHT IAW