USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 60
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On July 6, 1852, a petition was received in the County Court, from Thomas Davidson, S. W. MeAtec, A. G. Doom, and thirty-seven other in- habitants of the town of Bloomfield, expressing their desire to be organized into a body corporate as a town, and the court being satisfied that the peti- tion was signed by more than one fourth of the legal voters of said town, and that there are more than three hundred inhabitants in said town. It is ordered by the court that notice be given for an election to be held on Saturday, the 17th instant, at the court room in Bloomfield, the polls to be open from two to six o'elock, p. m., to deeide upon the matter in question. It is further ordered that four notices of said election be posted in public. places in Bloomfield, at least ten days previons to said election. Leroy Hagan, J. J. Carson and S. S. Phelps were appointed judges, and Andrew J. Lee and Harvey Dunlavy, clerks. There were forty-two votes east for the incorporation, and seven votes against it. And it was then ordered by the County Court that another election be held on the 7th day of August, to elect three persons to prepare articles of incorporation, and the same judges and elerks were appointed to hold the election. David P. Palmer S. G. MeAchran and Horace A. Spencer were elected, and after preparing a charter, or articles of incorporation, and filing a copy with the court, it was ordered that another election be held on Saturday, October 16, for the purpose of voting on the question " for the charter," or " against the ehar- ter," and further ordered that William S. Fieklin, Henry B. Roland and J. J. Carson be the judges, and William S. Stevens and Harvey Dunlavy, elerks. A majority having voted for the charter, the court declared it adopted.
February 19, 1855, there was a return made to the county of the result of an election held in Bloomfield on the 17th of February, for the purpose of eleeting one mayor, one recorder, one marshal and five eouneilmen; re- snlting in the election of William L. Oliver, mayor; James B. Weaver, re-
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
corder, John Headrick, marshal; and J. P. Ford, Milton J. Erench, Calvin W. Phelps, John W. Vanhook and George Duffield, conneilmen.
The next information obtainable is from an old file of the Clarion, which shows that at an election held on Monday, August 2, 1858, the following officers were elected:
William S. Ficklin, mayor; J. L. Young, recorder; J. W .. Vanhook, mar- shal; councilmen, J. B. Glenn. Calvin Taylor, George Curl, S. G. McAch- ran, C. H. McBride.
The officers who were holding office at the time of this election, were: M. B. Horn, acting mayor and recorder; treasurer, Geo. Duffield; marshal, II. C. Benge; councilmen, H. A. Spencer, C. W. Phelps, W. E. Stevens, Geo. Duffield, and J. W. Vanhook.
At this time, 1858, the mercantile interests of the city were taken care of by the following :
Bank-Ellis and Pollard.
Hotels-"Martins," and the "American."
Newspapers-"Wards Own," W. G. Ward, editor, and "Democratic Clarion," A. P. Bentley, editor.
Attorneys-H. H. Trimble, A. Ellison, HI. Dunlavy, M. II. Jones, Wm. Hamilton, J. B. Weaver, II. B. Horn, Jas. Baker, D. P. Palmer, J. Kister, S. G. McAchran, Win. Ficklin, John N. Newcomb and John L. Young.
Physicians-John T. Druett, D. A. Hurst, J. J. Selman, John Trimble, Jr., J. G. Phillips, D. C. Greenleaf, Wm. McK. Findley, C. W. Phelps. Schools-One high school, and four primary.
Churches-M. E. church, Rev. S. Hestwood; Christian, Rev. W. Hartley; Baptist, Rev. Lyon; Presbyterian, Rev. Asa Martin.
Lodges-Franklin, A. F. A. M., S. A. Moore, W. M. Bloomfield, I. O. O. F., and Davis I. O. O. F.
The earliest city record which can be found, bears date Nov. 1, 1863, and shows that just previously, the following persons were elected city officers and sworn in at this time : Mayor, Win. S. Ficklin; E. T. Cole, recorder; and Wm. J. Law, Wm. C. Johnson, John B. Glenn, John M. Denney, and Amos Steckel, trustees.
There appears to have been another election in March 1864, as the record dated March 11th shows the following officers sworn in: Win. S. Ficklin, mayor: E. T. Cole, recorder; Win. C. Johnson, S. S. Carruthers, Amos Steckel, and John B. Glenn, trustees, and Martin Snoddy was elected mar- shal, by the board.
During the year 1865, the officers appear to have been the same, except that the recorder, E. T. Cole was acting mayor.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
In 1866 the following officers were elected: H. C. Benge, mayor; A. H. Ilill, recorder; Geo. Duffield, A. D. Gibbon, and H. B. Kittleman, trustees.
In 1867-J. W. Seott, mayor; A. H. Hill, recorder; Geo. Duffield, A. D. Gibbons, Jas. Reagans, and H. B. Kittleman, trustees.
In 1868-F. C. Overton, mayor; A. H. Hill, recorder; Geo. Duffield, S. S. Carruthers, Amos Steckel, C. M. Burgess, and A. D. Gibbons, trustees.
In 1869-S. T. Ballard, mayor; A. H. Hill, recorder; J. B. Glenn, C. W. Shaw, J. W. Kittieman, R. Barton, and Amos Sleckel, trustees.
In 1870-F. W. Eichelberger, mayor; H. II. Jones, recorder; W. S. Stevens, assessor; J. B. Glenn, Geo. Duffield, John Duffield, John Headrick, and S. S. Carruthers, trustees.
In 1871-William J. Law, mayor; William S. Stevens, reeorder and assessor; J. W. Ellis, J. B. Glen, J. S. MeNair, S. S. Carruthers, and W. C. Johnson, trustees.
In 1872-M. B. Horn, mayor; F. W. Moore, recorder; Asa Willson, J. J. Winey, F. W. Eichelberger, J. S. MeNair, and J. B. Glenn, trustecs.
In 1873-M. B. Horn, mayor; F. W. Moore, recorder; Willson, Eich- elberger, W. J. Law, Ileadriek, and J. W. Campbell, trustees.
In 1874-William Van Benthusen, mayor; O. Doekum, reeorder, who resigned one month after, and W. S. Stevens was elected to fill the vacancy; John Baird, J. J. Weiney, W. C. Johnson, J. M. Brown, and James St. John, trustees.
In 1875-M. B. Horn, mayor; W. S. Stevens, reeorder; J. B. Kelso, as- sessor; J. W. Baird, James St. John, T. A. Dunlap, W. C. Johnson, and Asa Willson, trustees.
In 1876-I. Kister, mayor; W. S. Stevens, recorder; H. C. Traverse, N. Bennett, A. H. Hill, W. J. Law, and J. R. Newton, trustees.
In. 1877-1. Kister, mayor; F. W. Moore, recorder; H. Mendenhall, John Law, J. D. Trebilcock, J. E. Cooper, and William MeK. Findley, trustees.
In 1878-F. W. Moore, mayor; W. D. Leach, recorder; M. Snoddy, as- sessor; M. B. Horn, F. W. Eichelberger, T. D. Dokc, H. T. Mendenhall, and J. H. Stevens, trustees.
In 1879-William Votaw, Mayor; J. Beyer, recorder; H. C. Traverse, J. M. Logan, A II. IIill, W. H. Taylor, J. B. Kelso, and T. A. Dunlap, trustees; William S. Stevens, assessor.
In. 1880-William Votaw, Mayor; J. Boyer, recorder; J. R. Newton, as- sessor; H. C. Traverse and J. M. Logan, trustees.
In 1887-William Votaw, Mayor; J. Boyer, recorder; J. R. Newton, as-
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
sessor; M. B. Horn, and W. H. Taylor, trustees; and J. P. Toombs, trustee, to fill vacancy.
At a meeting of the City Council in February, 1879, the following reso- lution was passed, introduced by F. W. Eichelberger:
Resolred, By the Town Councilof Bloomfield, Iowa, that from and after this date, farm- ers are requested to bring sheaf oats occasionally, instead of hay as heretofore, for the benefit of the town cows; also, that they bring a better quality of hay than heretofore; likewise, that no corn be brought in double box wagons as cows are apt to injure themselves in reaching it: and that people should keep off the sidewalks as they crowd the pigs into the gutter.
Bloomfield was laid off on the claim of Dr. Noble C. Barron, and the first settlers were Col. S. S. Carpenter, John Bonebreak, Dr. J. J. Selman, J. W. Ellis, J. Kister, John Fitzgerald, Dr. J. H. Boon, B. Colopy, F. Street, G. W. Kidder, Mr. Cocklerease, Capt. E. G. Reeves, and John B. Reeves.
The first addition to Bloomfield, was Peak's Addition, laid off May 30, 1856, by R. T. Peak, as guardian of the estate of Julia and James B. Ed- monson, minor heirs of J. B. Edinonson, deceased, to whom the land belonged.
There was ten acres of it, off the north end of the nw z, sw }, see- tion 25, 69, 14.
The 2nd addition to Bloomfield, was Ellis's platted and recorded in Sep- tember, 1869. It is located on the se { of the nw }, and part of the east half of the sw 4 of nw 4, of seetion twenty-five. It was laid off by John W. and E. Jane Ellis.
The next addition was Kister's, laid off by Israel and Catharine T. Kis- ter, in Sept., 1869, and is located in the ne } of nw 2 of 25, 69, 14, and part of the nw of ne.
Peak's second addition to Bloomfield was laid off by R. T. Peak, April 2, 1869, being part of the ne } of the se } of section 25.
. In October 1869, Jones' addition was laid out by M. H. and Emeline Jones. It is located on the east part of the north half of the nw } of the nw } of section 25.
In August 1870, Clayton's addition was laid off by J. W. Clayton and wife, being located on the east side of the south half of the nw } of the nw ¿ of section 25.
Bennett's addition was also laid off' in August 1870, by N. Bennett and wife, being located on a part of the south halt of section 25.
Peak's third addition, was laid off in August 1872, and is located on the nw 4, sw } of section 25. It contains fifty lots. The Burlington and South- western runs through the north part of it.
Benge's addition was laid out by William Van Benthusen, I Kister and
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
J. R. Shaffer, referees, appointed by the Circuit Court. In December, 1875 on an order to plat and sell the interest of Henry C. Benge's heirs, to-wit: Olive J. Lambert, Rosa Skidmore, Cynthia A. Benge, Cora E. Benge, Mattie E. Benge, Frank H. Benge, Ralph T. Benge, Ruth O. Benge, Fred- die Benge, Rosa Benge and Solomon Benge, in and to the sw } of the ne } of the sw } of seetion 25. It is composed of thirty two lots.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Chinreh in Bloomfield, was organized by Milton Jamison, in 1844, in the store room of Samuel Steel. The original mem- bers were, Miles Tatloek, leader, Harvey Sloan, Polly Sloan, Catharine Tatloek, Mrs. New and daughter, Richard Rawlings, Elizabeth Nelson, and Mrs. Cole. The services were first held in the log court house, or in pri- vate houses, as occasion required. The church building was erected in 1852, a frame, at a cost of $3,500, and was dedieated by Henry Clay Dean. The first parsonage was a log house of one room, afterwards sold to pay the debt on the church. The present parsonage is a new two story framne, valued at $2,500. The present membership is 187. The names of the different pas- tors in charge of this church, are as follows; J. L. Bennett, J. F. New, H. Gibson, -- Happy, M. S. Roberts, J. Say, A. W. Johnson, R. H. Harri- son, Joel Arrington, F. II. Cary, G. C. Clark, Charles Woolsey, D. Diekin- son, H. C. Dean, Frank Evans, J. Woodward, L. T. Rowley, A. Bussey, S. HIestwood, J. Burgess, J. B. Hardy, T. Andis, G. W. Byrkitt, R. B. Allen- der, M. Miller, J. H. Hopkins, J. W. MeDonald, E. H. Coddington, W. Reiniek, C. W. Shaw, Ira Kemble, E. L. Schreiner, J. W. Cheney and T. E. Corkhill.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.
The Christian Church in Bloomfield was organized January 1, 1873, the original members being J. M. Mayfield, M. S. Mayfield, David Mendenhall, Eliza Mendenhall, M. J. Maskel, Mary A. Maskel, D. C. Van Duyn, M. P. Van Duyn, James C. Tarrenee, Lizzie Tarrenee, Greenville Hazlewood, Mary Hazlewood and others, in all forty-three. They ereeted a frame church building in 1875, at a cost of $2,198, which was dedicated October 8, 1875, by Elder G. T. Carpenter. The different pastors have been, W. D. Swain, evangelist; A. H. Mulkey, G. T. Black, and the present pastor, H. A. Northeutt. They have a present membership of 225. The present offi- cers of the church are, elders M. Downing, L. T. Hatton and E. M. Nelson, deaeons Jacob Awart, Abram Wishard, S. B. Oneal and William S. Stev- ens.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield was organized Angust 21, 1864, by Rev. James C. Sharon with the following members: Mrs. Mary McGowan, Samnel Carpenter, Sarah E. Carpenter, Lydia McBride, Susan- nah Crawford, Mary J. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. William J. Hamilton, Maria Hamilton, Grace M. Willey, Jennie Willey, Harriett N. Tisdale, Mrs. Gil- pin, Catharine Kister, Dorcas Lacon. This society erected a church edifice, a frame costing $2175 which was dedicated in the fall of the same year by Rev. J. C. Shavon. They have a present membership of sixty and have had the following pastors in charge: Revs. J. C. Shavon, R. C. Dodd, J. W. Stark, C. K. Leighman, A. Axline, J. P. Rice and Henry Cullen.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Was organized in 1870, with the following members: Jacob Harris, Sam- uel Steel and wife, George Elliott and wife, Frank Elliott, Amos Stekel, Ellen W. Steckel, A. C. Brewster, and Nancy Brewster. They erected a frame church edifice in 1871, costing 83,500. They have a present member- ship of thirty-one and have had the following pastors: A. Axline, Thomas Merrill, J. W. Horner, David Jenkin, Thomas Baskerville. Since their or- ganization they have had altogether sixty members. This church requires no other qualification for admission than an earnest desire to follow Christ. Each'member is allowed his individual opinion upon doctrine or creed, and a majority of all members decide all matters which require church action.
EIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
Was organized in this city January 23, 1872, with the following members: Asa Willson and wife, Israel Kister and wife, Jacob R. Shaffer, William McAchran, J. D. Hamilton, George W. Fletcher, II G. W. Spencer, Jolin Wilkinson and wife, Molly Findley, Henry Nutton, and Belle Nut- ton. They erected a brick church edifice in 1872 at a cost of $2,100. It was dedicated April 6, 1873, by Rev. John Hughes. The following are the dif- ferent pastors: Revs. John Hughes, T. II. Tabor, E. L. Briggs and the present pastor, one of the noblest of God's ministers on earth, Rev. Dr. Barry. They have a present membership of sixty.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1849, with the following meinbers: R. T. Peak and wife, Mr. Pearson and wife, Mr. Kelly and wife, Mr. Carlow and wife, Mr. Frady and wife. They have a frame church edifice, erected in
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
1853, at a cost of $3,000, and which was dedieated that year by Rev. Wil- liam Woodward. They have a present membership of 74. The following have been their pastors: William Woodward, A. G. Doom, E. Kinman, - Panl, R. T. Peak, J. Jones, - Dunlap, S. Cox, J. B. Edmonson, D. S. Star, A. C. Edwards, T. M. Coffey. Dr. Fenton is the superintendent of the. sabbath school, which has an attendance of fifty.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, COLORED.
This church was organized in February, 1878, with the following original' members: Mrs. Caroline Diggs, Miss Mary Irwin, Nelson Brown, Rev. Brooker Fox, Samuel Prentiss, and Henry Woods. They have a frame church building, ereeted in 1877, at a cost of $400. It was dedicated in 1879, by Rev. William Washington, and they have had the following pas- tors :J. H. Bandy and Mr. Osker Mcclellan. They have a membership of eight.
LODGES.
Bloomfield Lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F., located at Bloomfield, Iowa, and' instituted by D. G. M. Thomas Evans, November 19, 1849.
Names of charter members -- S. S. Carpenter, P. P. Herod, H. W. Briggs, I. A. Clark, J. P. Findley, L. A. Nelson, O. D. Tisdale, D. Ferguson, and W. S. Culver.
Officers elected-S. S. Carpenter, N. G .; J. P. Findley, V. G .; L. A. Nelson, Secretary; D. Ferguson, Treasurer.
Officers appointed-H. W. Briggs, Warden; W. S. Culver, Cond., Harry Ober, R. S. to N. G .; D. Mendinhall, L. S. to N. G .; J. J. Selman, R. S. V. G .; James Gleason, L. S. V. G .; J. R. Craig, I. S. G .; J. J. Shelton, O. S. G .; Riley Macy, R. S. S .; Arnold Childers, L. S. S .; Joel Arrington,. Chaplain.
Finance committee-D. Mendinhall, Andrew Morgan and C. W. Phelps .. Trustees-S. S. Carpenter, L. A. Nelson and W. S. Culver.
Names of present officers-G. Hazlewood, N. G .; E. K. Shelton, V. G .;. C. A. Presson, R. S .; F. D. Moore, Per. See .; N. S. Johnson, Treasurer.
Officers appointed --- A. E. McNeill, Warden; J. M. Bronhard, Cond .;. J. W. Campbell, R. S. to N. G .; H. P. Skinner, L. S. to N. G .; W. H. Dilli- ner, R. S. to V. G .; S. H. Cnrl, L. S. V. G .; George Henry, I. S. G .; J. W. Kennedy, O. S. G .; M. C. Moore, R. S. S .; S. B. O'Neal, L. S. S .; F. M. Fenton, Chaplain; J. B. Kelso, S. P. G.
Finance committee-J. B. Kelso, F. M. Fenton and W. S, Stevens.
Trustees-W. L. Kinnick, G. W. Curl and Jacob August.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
The present membership is 127.
Bro. J. Il. Plank, the only Grand Lodge officer, is G. H. P. of Grand En- campment, Iowa. There have been innitiated and admitted by card, about 460 members, of whom a great many have withdrawn and formed the other lodges in the county, viz .: Troy, No. 27; Drakeville, No. SS; Stilesville No. 202; Floris, No. 272; West Grove, No. 237; and Mayo, No. 319.
In 1870, Bloomfield Lodge erected a three story brick building at a cost, of abont 88,000, of which they now own the two upper stories, being com- pelled by financial trouble a few years ago to sell the lower story and ground.
The lodge has, since its organization, paid about $2,000 in sick and funeral benefits. The lodge meets in its hall every Monday night.
The following is an account of the First Rebecca Degree lodge in the world:
THE FIRST IN THE WORLD-REBEKAH DEGREE LODGE NO. 1, OF BLOOMFIELD, 10WA.
Bloomfield Legal-Tender Greenback, December 12, 1878.
By request we publish the following, by Colonel S. A. Moore, on the his- tory, rise and progress ot Bloomfield Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 1. It is taken from the Odd Fellows' Banner, of February 3, 1876, and shows that the Rebekah Lodge in this place was the first one ever organized in this or any other country :
BLOOMFIELD, IOWA. February 3.
To the Officers and Members of Bloomfield R. D. Lodge, No. 1-
BRETHREN AND SISTERS: In obedience to a resolution of this lodge, re- questing me to collect and present the history of the organization and pro- gress of this lodge, I present herewith such facts as I have been able to. gather from the records and proceedings of the Grand Lodge of the United States, the Grand Lodge of the State of Iowa, and of our own lodge.
The resolution instructing me to collect and report the history, rise and progress of Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 1, at Bloomfield, Iowa, was no doubt prompted by a statement made by me in a short address to the lodge, "that we occupied the singular position of being the very first lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah organized on this continent. In point of date, we were the first in the entire world." I made the statement in good faith, believing the records would verify the assertion.
Prior to 1868, the Degree of Rebekah was conferred in subordinate lodges. on the wives of Scarlet Degrec members, and the widows of such Odd Fel- lows as were in good standing at the time of their death; but there were no separate independent lodges anthorized to confer the degree.
I have not before me the proceedings of the R. W. G. L. of the United States, for 1857, but from a resolution offered by Rep. White, of New York, at the annual communication of the R. W. G. L., in 1867, asking for some legislation on the subject, and that the petitlon was referred to a special committee, of which Rep. White was chairman, on Monday. September 21st, 186S.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
On Wednesday, September 23, 1868, Rep. White, from the special eom- mittee, reported the following resolution, which was laid on the table, under the rule:
RESOLVED, That the grand lodges, subordinate to this R. W. G. L., be, and they hereby are, authorized and empowered to institute Degree Lodges of the Daughters of Rebekah, at such places as they may deem proper, within their territorial limits, to possess the powers and enjoy the privileges following:
Here follows an enumeration of the rights honors and privileges conferred upon the lodges by the R. W. G. L., which are too familiar to the members to require repetition.
On Friday, September 25th, 1868, the special order, the report of the special committee on the Degree of Rebekah, came up for consideration, and on a division of the question, the motion to accept the report and first resolution was decided in the affirmative by a vote of 69 yeas to 28 nays. The names of our representatives to the R. W. G. L .- P. G. M. Erie J. Leeel, P. G. M. Thomas D. Evans, and our R. W. G. T., J. B. Glenn, are re- corded as voting in the affirmative.
The question being on the adoption of the second, third and fourth reso- lutions, they were severally adopted.
The authority was fully and completely conferred upon the several State Grand lodges to grant, if they saw proper, dispensations for the organization of degree Lodges of the Daughters of Rebekah within their jurisdictions.
The Grand Lodge of the State of Iowa convened on Wednesday, the 21st day of October, 1868, and on Thursday, the 22d, Representative Hartman, from the committee on the state of the order, made the following report :
* "That whenever any lodge desires to organize a degree lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah, ten members of said degree in good standing (five males and five females) may petition the M. W. G. M. for a dispensation to organize said lodge."
"Upon the presentation of sneh petition, it shall be the duty of the M. W. G. Master and G. Secretary to grant sneh dispensation. The petition- ers, upon receipt of sneh dispensation, may at onee proceed to organize a lodge of the Degree of Rebekah," which shall be so organized in accordance with the following constitution for lodges of the degrees of the Daughters of Rebekah.
Here follows the several articles of the constitution, adopted for the gov- ernment of all lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the State of Iowa.
Within a few days after the elose of the Grand Lodge, a petition signed by the following brethren and sisters was forwarded to Will P. Sharp, the Grand Master, asking him for a dispensation to organize Bloomfield Re- bekah Degree Lodge of the State of Iowa.
J. B. Glenn, J. A. Hathaway, Sarah E. Priee, N. L. Priee, M. M. Hatha- way, S. H. Gleen, Belle Glenn, W. W. Kittleman, M. A. Kittleman, Joseph Von Achen, Margaret Von Achen, E. P. Cole, Henrietta Cole, J. R. Sheaffer, Leroy Hagan and Jane A. Hagan.
The dispensation was granted and the lodge duly organized December 2d, 1868.
The Grand Lodge of Illinois met a short time before the Grand Lodge of Iowa, in the year 1868; hence some have inferred that the authority to in- stitute separate lodges in that State would place Florence Lodge No. 1, of
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
Ottawa, Ill., in point of time prior to our own. Not having the records to refer to, I cannot state the date of the organization at Ottawa. Illinois, but from the report of the Grand Secretary of that State for 1875, I find that the first lodge of the Degree of Rebekah was organized only six years ago. He says : "After six years' trial of the experiment to sustain lodges of this degree under distinct charters. it has thus far proved a lamentable failure."
This lodge having been in successful operation over seven years, we can say, in view of the date before ns, is the first in the State, the first in the United States, the first in the world.
And now, brethren and sisters, in view of our historical position, as the pioneer lodge of the world-the first to recognize the claim of the sister- hood to sit beside us and participate in our deliberations for the ameliora- tion of our race, in our temples and halls dedicated to Friendship, Love and Truth, and to listen to her words of counsel and encouragement, and to rec- ognize and appreciate her efforts to aid us in cultivating the fraternal rela- tions designed by the Great Author of our being to make the earth, as the dwelling place of man, as grand and glorious as the Eden home where the flowers are fadeless and eternal. I say, in view of all this, and with a mem- bership of one hundred and thirty-six devoted men and women laboring to- gether in harmony and love to build up the cause of humanity at home and abroad, to cultivate the virtues that give grace and beauty to the character, let us labor earnestly and faithfully to perpetuate this branch of our insti- . tntion and hand down to our children the records and seal of Rebekah De- gree Lodge No. 1 without a wound or sear upon its name. And to this end let us so live with each other and the world at large, that when the summons shall come to ns "to set our house in order." and journey onward to that land which the Master shall show ns-we may be able to sing the rejoicing song which Miriam, the sister of Moses, chanted while the tones of her timbrel echoed o'er the wild waste of waters :
Sound the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea, Jehovah has triumphed, his people are free.
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