Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1914 — Notes of the Pythian Meeting. [ARTICLE]

Notes of the Pythian Meeting.

A noticeable featuer of the Pythian district convention was that is brought back to Rensselaer a number of former residents, some of whom had not been here for inany years. Among them were the following:

Ralph Spencer, who with Billy Legg, conducted a bakery and restaurant here thirty years or more ago. The business was conducted under the firm name of Spencer & L egg and occupied a building on the site of the G. E. Murray building. IMr. Spencer married Miss Lillie Burorughs, sister of Hale Warner’s wife. She died some years ago and Mr. Spencer is now employed in Hammond by the Simplex company.. Prank Prest, who also married a Burroughs girl, was here to the convention. Only .two of the Burroughs children are now living, Candace and May, and they reside ih California. Johnnie Burroughs died several years ago.

Hallie Plypn, now of Chesterton, was one of the visitors to his old home town. He is taking a deep interest in Pythianism and his Pythagoras delineation was the best ever seen here. Dr. Aaron Wood, of Brook, was also in attendance and is the leader of the Brook band and orchestra, which played an important part in the entertainment. P.M. Kent, of Brookston, now a game warden, was here. He has been a Knight for some thirty years and took his page rank in Rensselaer.

B. & Fendlg, of Chicago, still a member of No. 82, and Simon Fendig, of Whea/tfleld, were here to attend the meeting and divided the time between the K. of P. hall and the home of their mother. Charles Robinson, of Battle Ground, was here, having been a delegate to the republican convention also. He comes from a Pythian family and his youngest brother, John, took the first degree work and a member of the Golden Jubilee Page Class.

Jim Erwin, now of Rbselawn, was In attendance. Jim has been a Pythian for many years and enjoyed the festivities very much. George Ferguson, of Wheatfleld, was also here and he is a former resident, having spent hi! boyhood days in Rensselaer. He is a son of Rev. B. F. Ferguson.

Credt for the attendance and success of the convention is largely due to the untiring work of Chancellor Commander Carl Duvall and his well organized committees. Carl is proving a worthy head for the on der and a prosperous administration is expected during his term. Editor Foresman, of Brook, one of the most active Pythians in this whole district during a time some twenty years ago, was here. His talks of Pythianism have pleased many large gatherings of Knights. Andrew Hahn, of Goodland, who some thirty years ago was just “Andy” at Remington, was here. He favors a convention held at a time of year when the weather is apt to be more pleasant for automobile travel. His idea is shared by many but has drawbacks that can hardly be overcome. In the fall all farmers are very busy harvesting their corn crop and businessmen are unable to get away from Thanksgiving until after New Years. In early February there is generally a quiet time that permits people to get away for a day. The season is not apt to be favorable from a weather standpoint, it is true, but we have to take chances in that respect. Among the 22 lodges outside of the district that were represented on the register were Pittsburg, Pa., where Rev. W. G. Winn holds membership, and Tampa, Florida, where Erastus Peacock now belongs, and G. H. McLain still holds membership in Ohio, and Ralph Sprague in Nebraska. There was also one brother present from New York. The following paragraph from the Valparaiso Messenger shows the impression those who attended from that city carried home with them: “A. H. Reading and the other members of the local K. of P. lodge are home from Rensselaer, where Tuesday they attended the sessions of the district convention. It was the largest convention ever held in the district, the attendance being 5tX). The Page Rank degree was conferred on a class of 38. The place of the next meeting will be announced after the grand lodge meeting in October.”