Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1894 — DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY.

Elaborate Preparations Being Made for the Odd Fellows Celebration May 10. The preparations for the great celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the I. O. O. F. at Indianapolis, May 16, are elaborate and now nearly complete. Twenty-five thousand Odd Fellows aro expected to be in attendance. W. H. Leedy, chairman of the committee of arrangements, expects to have five thousand men in the parade. There will bo fifteen floats in line. On one of these will bo thaH smallest, the tallest, the largest and the' oldest Odd Fellow in tho State, the oldest Odd Follow in the State being also the oldest in America. He resides in Hondricks’county, and has been a member in' good standing for sixty-five years. The smallest Odd Fellow in the State is Frank G. Epply, of Anderson. Ho is tour feet, four inches high, and beside him upon thei

Founder of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. float will stand the tallest in the State, Louis Steeg, of Greencastle, who is six feet, six inches high. The largest Odd: < Fellow in tho State is Mr. Thurman, of Mooresville, whose weight is 360 The programme for tho day is as follows: Forenoon, reception of Cantons, Lodges and Encampments. Tho uarade will form at 1:15 p. m. and move sharp at 2. At 4 p. m.. Canton Elwebd Stokes medal prize winners—will give an exhibition drill in Monument Place. At 4:30 the Patriarchs Militant degree will be exemplified by Canton Wabash at-. Lorraine Hal). From 5 to 6 p. in. Sister Rebekahs will give an informal reception to the Grand Sire and Grand Master. In the evening two or more meetings will be held at English’s Opera House, Grand Lodge Hall, and probably at other halls if necessary. Grand Master Talbott will preside at English’s and Grand Patriarch Shirts at the Gland Lodge Hall, and during the evening will probably change positions. The speakers will ho Grand Sire Campbell, Judge Chipman, D. G. M.; C. F Northern, Grand Warden; John B Cockrum, P. G. P.; Judge Wiley. P. G. M.; C. C. Binkley, P. G. M.; J B. Kenner, P. G. M.; Enoch G. Hogate. P.G. M.: W.B. Myers. P. G. M.; Mrs’ Anna L. Henderson, Past President Rebekah Convention; the President of ths National Convention, and others. Hon. Ben 8. Parker will read an original poem on tho occasion. The programme will be so arranged that tho Grand Sire, Grand Master and Grand Patriarch mav appear during the evening at both meetings.

THOMAS WILDETY,