Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1912 — MONON ODD FELLOWS DEDICATE NEW HALL. [ARTICLE]

MONON ODD FELLOWS DEDICATE NEW HALL.

Large Number of Rensselaer Members of the Order Attended the Services Thursday Afternoon. Monon Lodge, No. 524, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, wsb dedicated Thursday, Feb. Bth, thirty-six years after the foundation of tho Monon lodge, although not the actual anniversary, as a lodge was instituted on Feb. 3, 1876. Quite a number of Rensselaer Odd Fellows attended the ceremony. The Monon News thus reports the dedication: “The members have been busily engaged in making preparations for the dedication and nothing was omitted that would contribute to its success. Every lodge of the county was well represented, making a . record-break-ing attendance for any similar gathering in the county’s history. The new hall was filled to its utmost capacity when the exercises began at 2 o’clock. The address was delivered by Grand Master J. L. Harmon, of Elkhart, and was a fine tribute on Odd Fellowship of public Interest. The dedicatory work was assigned to the following deputy grands: C. E. Tyner, grand master; H. V. Jones, chaplain; H. C. Thompson, marshal; Frank Richardson, warden; Glen Rice, Harper Lowe, C. W. "Pratt and Jesse York, heralds; James Wilson, inside guard. Monon Lodge No. 524, I. O. O. F. was Instituted at this place on Feb. 3, 1876, with the following charter members: W. H. Shackelford, N. G.; Alfred Ball, V. G.; P. L Jennings, Sec.; J. M. Jost, treas., and J. A. Pearson. On the same night the following were initiated: Robt. Brawn, S. M. Ward, J. C. Ward and Samuel Bull. The meeting place was In the Cottage Hotel, until the building just vacated by the lodge was erected In 1881. Marshal James Wilson, who is one of the oldest members of the order here, hauled the first load of stone for the foundation for the old hall. All of the charter members of the lodge afe still living, but of those who were initiated on the same night, Samuel Ball Is the sole survivor. The lodge, which had such a humble beginning 36 years ago, now has a membership of 170, with ten candidates for initiation, and ranks second in the count .in point of membership. The contract for the new building was let early last fall to Moses Wilson, the contract price being $6,656. The total cost, when all Is completed will be between $7,000 and SB,OOO. The outer dimensions of the building are 35x90 feet with the first floor to be used as a storeroom. The lodge room above is 33x65 feet, well Ugjjtfd with windows on the east and south ahd raised platform for members as well as officers. Back of this Is the anteroom, a place for paraphernalia and a reception room. The main room has been newly carpeted at a cost of over s2»o'and a fine rug, given by the Rebekahs adorns the center of the room. Access to the new hall is obtained by the stairway in the old building and through an iron door opening. The building will be provided with Are escapes and electric lights. The building committee Is composed of H. V. Jones, Gus Middlestadt and Jesße Sprinkle, trustees, and C. E. Tyner, James, Wilsop and A C. Harrington. * A district county meeting was held at night, at which only members of the order were admitted; The program consisted of music, an address by J. M. Mcßeth, recitations, voluntary talk and social. Supper was served at 9 o’clock In tee lower room by the ladies of the Presbyterian church, to whleh all did ample justice.