Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 32: Lodge and Social Events, 1912

Y. M. C. A. Permanently Organized - CoNGREOATiONAii Church Caii- ENDAR Pair - I. 0. 0. P. Natal Day - ^The Uniform Bank, Enights OP Pythias - ^Knights op Pythias Decoration Day - ^Knights op Pythias Columbian Ball - Oglesby Camp, Sons op Veterans, Memorial Monument - The Orand Army op the Repubuo - Ascension Day, 1891 - Thirtieth Anniversary op Blue Lodge - Department Encampbient, G. A. R.

A Young Men's Christian Association had been organized in Carthage in 1881, although its meetings had not been kept up regularly, and in January, 1890, a meeting was called to reorganize the association and to take steps to provide permanent quarters for meetings, reading rooms, etc. Professor Wardel was chairman of the meeting and E. E. Branden, secretary. Eighteen men signed the roll at this meeting, an adjournment was taken to a future date and an invitation extended to T. S. McPheeters^ of St. Louis, chairman of the Y. M. C. A. State Board, to be present and address the members.

Prom that day to now the Young Men's Christian Association has been a fiixture in Carthage and has exerted a great influence for good in the community. Its attractive reading rooms and gymnasium features have provided splendid social and club advantages to its members.

One of the most enjoyable and also novel church entertainments given in Carthage during the nineties occurred April 2, 1890, at Armory Hall, and was known as the Calendar Pair. The entertainment was given by the ladies of the Congregational church. The twelve months of the year were represented by twelve booths appropriately decorated and either by the entertainment furnished, or the articles sold, typifying the month or season.

The booth January was appropriately decorated to represent a winter scene and here, emblematic of New Year's day, refreshments were served free, new acquaintances were made and old time friendships renewed. This was really a splendid thought, because every one was put in a happy frame of mind at this first booth and at the visitation of the other eleven stations enjoyed themselves to the highest degree and, incidentally, spent their money more freely.

March, as a rule, is a windy month and while here in southwestern Missouri there is an occasional warm spell, still the frosty nights and cutting northeast winds remind us of the old fable-picture of Winter sitting in the lap of Spring, and so during these changeable days and blustering nights a sack of pop com, or a bag of hot peanuts, is just the thing to drive away the cold - or punctuate a lagging conversation on the way home from singing school or the literary. March was a candy store and here tempting confections, peanuts and pop com were sold.

In April when the city folks long for the first country air and hike to the woods for a scent of green, there it is that the happy lovers stroll along the long woody lanes to visit the fortune teller. The April booth was a veritable country bower, where the traveler found a lively gyi)sy camp - tents, camp fire and all - ^where one of the most bewitching Carthage ladies, dressed as ''Wild Zenguralia," read palms at twenty-five cents per. It might be added that the readings were highly satisfactory and very comforting. Business men were told that they would prosper, politicians that they would be elected and every swain was as ardent a lover as Leander and the object of his affection as true as Hero.

At the next booth the little red schoolhouse and the ringing of the school bell announced that September had come, and with it the demand for books, tablets, slates, pencils, etc., which were sold to the

October was typified by a picture gallery and very properly so. In October, when the harvest is gathered, the falling leaves tell the story of the departing glory of the summer. The rich beauty of the fields.

the grandeur of the forest, would be lost in winter if it were not for the magic touch of the painter who transcribes the glories of nature to the canvas and keeps before us the memories of the past.

It is needless to say that in December Christmas and the holiday season was the i>aramount idea brought out, and the toys and Christmas cheer made old and young be children again and sent them home in the happiest possible frame of mind.

The Odd Fellows of Jasper county celebrated the natal day April 26, 1890, at Carthage and, although the day was exceedingly disagreeable, a heavy downpour of rain marring the pleasure of the celebration, the exercises were attended by five hundred members of the fraternity. The Patriarchs Militant made a most imposing appearance, the canton from Lamar being voted the ''cake" for general appearance and military bearing, every man in the company measuring six feet or more and not a single one weighing less than one hundred and eighty pounds. Rev. H. M. Hackney, of Joplin, was the orator of the day and delivered a pleasing address on the ''Foundation Stone of Odd Fellowship.''

In the evening the assemblage sat down to a banquet and the following toasts were proposed and responded to, the speaker being introduced in a happy vein by Al Cahn, who presided as toastmaster :

What Knights Templarism is to Masonry and the Patriarchs Militant are to Odd Fellowship, the Uniform Rank is to Pythiamsm. The military branch of the Knights of Pythias is so called because it carries out the chivalric idea of the several ranks of knighthood, the military branch, of course, being the Uniform Rank.

The U. R. K. P. came into great prominence in southwestern Missouri during the early nineties and Carl Gray, of Carthage, then division freight agent of the Frisco System being the father of the movement. Carthage division No. 34 won for itself, and the county seat, great fame, and for a number of years was a great factor in the fraternal life of the city. More extended mention of the Carthage Company Uniform Rank has been made in our notes of the semi-military societies in the county-at-large.

The third Sunday in June of 1890 was set apart as Knights of Pythias Memorial Day and, beginning with June 18th of that year, Fraternal Lodge No. 14 of Carthage has since appropriately observed that day. The first Decoration Day ceremonies were largely attended, A. R. Crane, of Lamar, being the orator of the occasion. The graves of the several departed Knights were decorated with flowers and the tender and comforting address of the speaker gave to the large- gathering of Pythians a new inspiration, pointing the way to a nobler, grander and better life.

The Eiiights of Pythias is purely an American institution, having been organized in Washington, D. C, and among its fundamental principles is the inculcation of patriotism and love of country.

One of the most enjoyable social events in Carthage during the early nineties was the K. P. Columbian ball, given December 21, 1892. The ball room was most beautifully decorated vnth the colors of the order and the flags of the nation. One hundred couples, most of them wearing the uniform of the order, participated in the dance, while many more witnessed the splendid pageant and lent eclat to the occasion by their presence. Quite a number of Knights from the surrounding cities were in attendance.

Oglesby Camp, Sons of Veterans, was, during the nineties, a popular organization. It was strong numerically and played an important part in lodge circles. One of the most important things accomplished by the camp during the decade was the launching and carrying to a successful completion, a movement to build a monument in Central Park which would commemorate the deeds of the Jasper county Union veterans.

The movement was begun Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 1890, when the organization conducted a public camp flre, at which Dr. Beecer, of the Collegiate Institute, and Hon. Jno. H. Flannigan, delivered addresses. Following the memorial in honor of the great liberator, a fair was had, numerous articles were disposed of, and the money raised was placed in a fund to be used in building the monument. Al Cahn was the master of ceremonies and created much merriment by his announcements. His witty sayings and droll stories told in presenting the several articles for sale, put the audience in a happy frame of mind and made their bazaar a success.

Among the articles offered were a barrel of apples, which was to be voted to the handsomest man in the audience, and a barrel of potatoes to the homeliest in the house. In his offering Mr. Cahn closed his remarks by stating, in his inimicable way, that they had plenty of potatoes at his home, but were short on apples.

The barrel of apples and the bushel of potatoes netted $112, which made a nice little nucleus for the monument fund, which was added to from time to time. The monument is a beautiful memorial pillar, attesting the valor of the boys in blue. The State Camp, Sons of Veterans, met in Carthage, May 17-18, 1892, and Oglesby Camp did itself proud in the matter of entertainment.

The G. A. R. posts of Jasper county on the invitation of Stanton Post, No. 16, participated in a three days' reunion at the Fair grounds July 4-6, 1890, Hon. Leo. Reassieur, of St. Louis, being the principal orator. One of the features of this reunion was a flag-raising at each of the public schools of Carthage on July 4th, when Old Glory was flung to the breeze and floated proudly over the schools. A mention of the meeting of the Missouri Department, G. A. R., is made elsewhere.

Ascension Day, May 7, 1891, was duly celebrated by the Knights Templar of Jasper and Barton counties, Jasper Commandery, of Carthage, being the hosts and the Knights of Ascension Commandery of Joplin, and Mount Olive Commandery, of Lamar, with their ladies, being the guests. Two hundred Knights were present and the parade was a most beautiful sight.

The services* were held in the First Methodist church and were concluded by the entire assemblage repeating the Apostle's Creed; the white plumed champions of the Christian religeon, after the ancient custom of the feudal times, placed their right hands on their partially drawn swords, as they repeated the vow. After the services the Knights and their ladies were escorted to the beautiful homes of W. E. Hall and W. T. Tuttle where, while the Carthage Light Guard band, then second to no musical organization in the state, discoursed the sweetest music, light refreshments were freely dispensed.

In the evening, at Armory Hall, a sumptuous banquet was served and was thoroughly enjoyed by the Knights and their ladies. The following after-dinner speeches rounded off the day's pleasure and sent every one who sat at the festive board home with the kindliest feelings for Carthage and her splendid people:

**The Ladies,'' Sir J. Y. Leeming, Webb City. **The Day We Celebrate," Sir Allen Ward, Carthage. **The Knights of Southwestern Missouri/' Sir S. A. Underwood, Joplin.

January 13, 1897, rounded out thirty years of Masonic influences in Carthage and the event was duly celebrated by the blue lodges of the county. A delegation from Joplin, Webb City, Earlville, Oronogo and Sarcoxie being present at the meeting of the Carthage lodge. £. B. Jacobs^ master, presided. Past Master Robinson, who, was the first presiding ofiScer of the lodge, was present, was escorted to a seat at the right of the chair and given an ovation. At the close of the lodge the ladies of the Eastern Star served a supper to the craft.

The Seventh Annual meeting of the Missouri department, 6. A. R., was held in Carthage, May 19-21, 1898, and was a great event in G. A. R. and Sons of Veterans circles at the county seat. Stanton Post No. 16, of Carthage, was a strong one and comi>06ed of some of the best business men of the city, and the department was entertained in a most excellent manner. The city was profusely decorated with flags and the grand opera house, where the meetings were held, was exceptionally well ornamented with the national colors.

Among the pictures which graced the walls of the building were the familiar faces of the great soldiers of the Civil war and the new heroes of the day - ^Roosevelt, Dewey, Sampson, Schley, and Fitzhugh Lee, who, in the Spanish-American war, were winning new laurels for the nation.

The meetings of the department were presided over by John R. Piatt, of Kingston, department commander. Senior Department Commander Col. Chas. H. Morgan, of Lamar, was the only state ofBcer not answering to roll call, but when his name was called the department adjutant made the announcement that he was with the boys of the Fifth Missouri, fighting for Cuban independence and this announcement was greeted with a round of applause.

Over six hundred veterans registered at headquarters. The veterans were from the troops of twenty-two different states. Among those who registered was H. B. Kramer, of St. Louis, who was in Carthage with Sigel and, as a member of Essy's famous battery, participated in the battle of July 5, 1861. A severe rain storm spoiled the parade and this was a great disappointment to the people.

At the close of the session Captain Tuttle, on behalf of the Carthage veterans, presented each of the delegates with a beautiful 6. A B. badge, made in blue and gold, as a pendant, which hung from a tiny silk United States flag.