FOR THE AID OF THE ODD FELLOWS'
BAND
THE MCKEAN DEMOCRAT
March 17, 1910
Excellent Organization in Need of Funds
TO CIRCULATE PAPER
Money must be Raised to Prevent Smethport’s Fine Musical Organization
Disbanding after Reaching a Stage where it will be a Source of Much Enjoyment
to Residents of Town-A Statement of Organization’s Affairs.
In June, 1903, the Odd Fellows’ Band was organized in this borough,
an organization which has given a good account of itself under the skillful
leadership of Mr. John E. Chadwick, than whom there is no more thorough
bandmaster in this section of the State. This band was organized through
the efforts of a few enthusiastic citizens of Smethport who on divers
occasions had seen the need of a good band. The matter was presented to
Smethport Lodge, No. 389, I.O.O.F., and the Lodge very generously, by
an unanimous vote, advanced from its entertainment fund $60 for the purpose
of purchasing instruments, in addition to those on hand, to equip the
band, and by reason of the Odd Fellows’ Band, with the management
consisting of members of the Lodge. S. R. Lindsley was elected Manager;
Chas. Lemmler, Secretary, and E. W. Strong, Treasurer. This board of managers,
up until Mr. Lemmler removed from Smethport, last fall, had entire charge
of the financial end of the band, and we can assure the public that every
dollar received was judiciously expended wholly in the interest of the
band, and for no other purpose, as the only object in view when the band
was organized was to place it on a self-sustaining basis, so that every
citizen of this borough could find enjoyment in the music furnished by
the organization. Along in November Mr. Lemmler resigned as secretary
of the band, and by an unanimous vote of Smethport Lodge Mr. Guy McCoy
was elected in his stead as secretary, with the other two officers the
same as they were at the organization of the band.
As above stated, Mr. Chadwick was engaged as bandmaster, and by his untiring
zeal he has brought the Odd Fellows’ Band up to a state of efficiency
that places it in the front rank of similar organizations in this section,
and today Smethport has a band that no citizen has any reason to be ashamed
of, as the band has worked hard during the winter in their rehearsals
with most pleasing results to the management, and will give a most excellent
account of itself when the weather conditions will warrant its public
appearance.
Now, the facts of the case are, the leader of this superb organization
has to be paid if the band is to be kept together, and the management
are under moral obligations to see that he receives his pay. While Mr.
Chadwick has always been fair with the management, we do not feel like
putting off pay day too long, and as we owe this gentleman for services
most efficiently rendered, it is nothing more than business that he should
be paid in full for those services up to date. We fully realize that the
citizens of Smethport have already contributed most liberally for the
support of the band when they have been called on personally, and at a
meeting of the officers held last Saturday evening it was decided to make
one more appeal for funds, with the confident hope that sufficient money
can be raised to pay Mr. Chadwick in full, and still leave sufficient
funds in the treasury to meet incidental expenses that may have to be
met in the near future, and to that end a subscription paper will at an
early date be circulated among the citizens of the town.
The band management has endeavored to meet current expenses with dances
and an entertainment. The first dance returned a very satisfactory revenue,
but the other two, and the entertainment, barely met expenses. Early in
the winter it was planned to give a home talent entertainment right after
Easter, but when matters had been brought to a focus it was found that
two or three other home talent entertainments, which will come close together,
has been arranged for at about the time the band had decided on, and in
the opinion of the management it was thought not advisable to try to give
a home talent entertainment at this time, as it would be grouping too
many home talent entertainments together, which could not help conflicting
with each other in various ways. This state of affairs was a great disappointment
to the officers of the band, and it was then that they decided to try
other means to raise the money to pay Mr. Chadwick for services rendered,
and we are sure that the generous-hearted citizens of Smethport will agree
with the management of the band that it would be a shame to allow the
band to disband for lack of proper support, and we have an abiding faith
that such will not be the case, when it is taken into consideration that
the expense of maintaining the efficient organization will not much exceed
$20 a month.
We want it distinctly understood that neither Smethport Lodge, No. 389,
I.O.O.F, or Mesers, Strong, McCoy, or the writer, are to be benefited
one penny by any moneys that go into the treasury of the band now, or
at an other time. The sole object of both the Lodge and the officers they
elected to look after the affairs of the band was to make the band self-sustaining,
and to see that all moneys was judiciously expended in the interest of
the band, further than that their interest is in common with every other
citizen of Smethport—that of having a first-class band organization,
which we are proud to say we have.
In closing this article we urge upon our citizens to meet the solicitors,
who will call upon them in a few days with a glad band, and at the same
time show that they are heartily in favor of maintaining one of the best
bands that Smethport has ever had. It is an organization that will benefit
the town in many ways, and the cost of maintaining it has been placed
on the very lowest outlay of money, and we believe the pleasure to be
derived from it are too great to allow it to collapse at this time for
the want of support.
Give the matter careful consideration, and be prepared to lend your aid
when the subscription paper is presented to you.
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