Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1901 — Gifford Lodge, 779, I. 0. 0. F. [ARTICLE]

Gifford Lodge, 779, I. 0. 0. F.

The new Odd Fellows’ lodge at Gifford was successfully instituted Friday night, as per previous announcement. The name and style of the new lodge is Gifford Lodge, No. 779, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The instituting work was all done by Iroquois Lodge, of Rensselaer, with County Superintendent Hamilton as district deputy grand master. Some 23 members were taken in Friday night, and there are about 30 more names on the list. It is the fourth Odd Fellows lodge in Jasper county, the others being at Rensselaer, Remington and Wheatfield. There were about 35 members of Iroquois Lodge present, the, most of those directly from Rensselaer having gone by railroad. They went to McCoysburg on the milk train in the evening, and were there met by a special train on the C?& W. V. R. R. (Gifford’s Road) and taken to Gifford. The same train carried them back to McCoysburg this morning in time to

connect with the milk train home. Mr. Gifford generously donated the use of his train, and all that portion of the trip cost was flO for the Gifford train crew. Medaryville lodge attended in a body, and many Odd Fellows were present from Wheatfield and other places. The new lodge has a good sized and comfortable lodge room on the second floor of the room occupied by Laßue Brothers’ branch store. The elective officers are John O’Conner, Noble Grand; Guy Beebe, Vice Grand; F. B Hewitt, secretary; John Kimble, treasurer. The party from Rensselaer comprised the following: R. P. Benjamin, S. C. Irwin, G. H. Babcock, J. W. Mann, J. E. Hopkins, I. J. Porter, C. B. Steward, Fred Fatka, Sylvester Gray, Harley Lamson, Lucius Strong, Sidney Holmes, Sam Scott, H. P. Overton, P. C. Wasson, D. M. Worland, George Markham, John Rush, R. B. Harris, A. B. Cowgill, Frank Randle, C. F. Tyner, T. J. Sayler, L. H. Hamilton, A. E. Schmadel, Bert Josserand, Scott Robinson, The visitors were very hospitably treated by the Gifford brethren, including a fine supper at 11 o’olock.

Shelby Grant’s big and handsome Angora Billy goat was with the Rensselaer party, and did his allotted share of the work especially in the Royal Bumper degree, to perfection. In return he was himself treated with great respect and consideration, second only to that accorded to the district deputy himself.