Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1921-10-27
ODD FELLOWSHIP.

2 The Odd Fellows are holding a Sc
ries of degree demonstrations in
different parts of the state for the
purpose of comforting the degrees
by trained teams who can do the
work more impressively than it can
be done under ordinary conditions,
and of stimulating in other ways in
terest in the order. The first meet
ing of the series was held in Will
mington Tuesday and Wednesday of
last week. L. w. Moore, grand
master, w. r. Coppedge deputy
grand master, John d. Berry grand
secretary, S. NJ. Crouch assistant
grand secretary and Nj. L. shepman
grand treasurer were in attendance.
These grand officers were guests of
the Rotarians Tuesday for dinner.
Tuesday afternoon the military de-
greet was conferred on sixteen can
didates and the first degree on
| twenty-one initials. At the even
ing session the second and third
degrees were given to twenty-one
brethren who had taken the previ-
Gus degrees in the afternoon or be-
fore Tuesday evening a sumptuous
banquet was served in the dining
room of the Orion hotel, presided
over by Hon. James H. Cowan who,
delivered most eloquent address
of welcome which was responded to,
by Mr.. M. L. Shipman in language
equally classical. Interesting adj
dresses, brief but pointed were made
by other distinguished members of
| the order.
Mrs. Sibley added to the enjoy
ment of the hour by rendering some
beautiful instrumental and vocal
music, calling forth enthusiastic
encores.
One hundred and fiifty-three were
seated at the banquet and a num-
Der of other brethren were in attend
ance at the lodge room.
Midnight found the lodge still in
session, but so intensely interested
were the brethren, and so beautiful
ly had the work been done, that no
body seemed weary. This was as
one would expect who knows the
capacity of the Wilmington people
for doing things in the most accent
able way. Clinton Lodge, however,
might be considered contestant
for the first honor, as their team con-
ferred the second degree in a man
near that showed proficiency and
histrionic talent of the HIGHEST order.
Assistant Grand Secretary S. NJ.
Crouch of Asheville, had conspicu-
Gus part in comforting one of the de-
grees, and displayed masterful pro-
ticiency in the work.
Wednesday morning a session of
the Grand Lodge was held, and the
Grand Lodge degree and the Past
Grand degree were conferred on
those present who were entitled to
receive them, fourteen in number.
The experiment of these demon
STATIONS in various parts of the
state is evidently given to prove a
great success. Past Grand BENJAMIN
Bell who has been an Odd Fellow
for forty-nine years pronounced the
Wilmington meeting the best bv TAR
that he had ever attended. Odd
Fellowship in North Carolina has re-
ceived a great forward impetus, and
the credit for this movement is due
principally to the self-sacrificing en-
ergy with which Grand Master L.
NJ. Moore of Wilmington has thrown
himself into the work. His devotion
to the interests of the order is per-
haps unparalleled in the history Of
the state; and he has succeeded in /.
stimulating the zeal and devotion of
others in way that means much
for the future.
Other meetings of a similar kind
are to be held at other places. The
nearest one to Rockingham will be
in Charlotte December IS and is
when it is expected that class OF
score or more of initiates will go
there from this county for the three
next degrees, and dozen for the
Grand Lodge degree. A hundred are
expected from other parts of the
district. We predict that Charlotte
will not fall behind Wilmington.