New Germania Hall

The dedicatory exercises in connectiou with the opening of the handsome new hall erected af the corner of W. William and Second sts., by Gemianía Lodge, No. 47(J, and Friendship Lodge, No. 70, D. O. H., were held Wednesday and yssterday and were condncted with the open handed hospitality that is characteristic of our Gerrnan-Arnerican citizens. The visitors frora out of the city were lond in their praises of the handsome appearanoe and comrnodions acoorumodation of the uew quarters of the society, which is the only one in the city to own its home. Toledo sent the largest delegation, which included the Frohsinn Gesangvereiu, and there were others froru Detroit, Manistee and Lansing. The uew home is a large two story frame building with high, roomy basement. The ground floor is divided off into reoeption and dining rooms, while the second floor is ocenpied by a large hall in which there is a neat little stage with drop curtain, wings and footlights and a large gallery. The hall has admirable acoustic properties as has already 6een proven. Clothes rooms and toilet conveniences are. ampie. The lighting is by electricity or gas, either one, combination fistures having been put in all througb the place. The building presents an imposing appearance from outside and is surmounted by a tall flag pole from which floats one of the largest, if uot the largest Atuerioau flag in tbe city, 12 by 20 feet iu size, and which was presented to the society by the clothing firru of Lindenschmitt & Apfel. Shortly after 2 o'clock Wedneactoy afternoon a parade was forrned headed by Otto's Band, and including in its ranke the ladies of Friendship Lodge, D. O. H., Germania Lodge, D. O. H., Ann Arbor Arbeiter Unterstuetzungs Yerein, and visiting members of other Germán societies from ont of town. Tbe parade was in charge of Titus F. Hutzel, fest marshal. lts route lay north on Main st. from tbe oíd Harogari hall, round tbe court house square, south on Main to Liberty, west on Liberty to Fonrth, soutb on Fourtb to William, east on William to the hall. Arrived at tbe hall the procession disbauded and shortly afterwards tbe exercises in the hall were commenced a goodly number of people being present. Seated on the platfoiin were : Philip Koehler, of Chicago, ex-grand rnaster of the D. O. H. of America, who delivered the "fest-rede" in' the evening, Carl Hauser, of Detroit, grand roaster D. O. H. of Michigan, G. Zindier, of Detroit, graad secretary, F. Moll, of Detroit, ex-grand master, Eugene Oesterlin, grand treasurer, Julian R. Trojanowski and W. Weimer, president and vice president of the local lodge, L. J. Lisemer, John Mayer, Christian Martin, J. Kafcz, J. Lutz, Charles A. Saner, architect of the building, Carl Tessmer, contractor, Adam Sauer, and reporters of the Argus and Democrat. John Mayer made the address of welcorne and acted as master of ceremonies. He welcomed the brothers and sisters and friends of the order to it3 new home and said h9 was proud of the fact that the German-Americans of this city were in possession of a hall of their own, where concerts could be held and where the Germán language could be spoken as well as the English. Every good German-American. in fact every American should avail himself of the upportuuity to learn to speak another language besides the Engilsh. They are at all times welcome to come to this hall for we are here all good Ameiicans, and not Germans. He thanked Messrs. Tessmer and Saaer, the builder and architeot, for the beautiful strncture they have succeeded in erecting, as well as all tiiose who had directly or indirectly aided in the erection of the hall. He said: "I especially wish to thank the gentlemen for the gift of the American flag which hangs on yonder wall, in the center of which hangs the portrait of Lincoln, the nation's noblest son and humauity's great benefactor." He then handed the keys of the building to Julian R. Trojanowski, the president of the order of Harugari in this city. Mr. Trojanowski made a short speech of acknowledgment and was followed by L. J. Lisemer, who read a poem composed for the occasion by Herman Hartwig Dancer, of the HansfreundPost. Christian Martin was nest introduced and made a neat little speech. Grand Treasurer Eugene Oesterlin followed with a few bright words and then the Harngari Üaennerchor sang a seleotion which was encored. Titns F. Hutzel was the next speaker aud at the close of his remarks called for three cheers for the Harngari, which were given with a will. ïhis ended the afternoon's exercises. The evening was taken up with a grand vocal aud instrumental concert under the direotion dï Prof. R. H. Kempf, and speeches by Mayor Charles E. Hiscock and Mr. Philip Koehler, of Chicago. The concert opened with a selection by the Aun Albor orchestra which was deservedly enthusiastically encored. Mayor Hiscock was then introdnced and delivered his address of welcome. He exteuded to all the visitors a hearty welcome, spoke in words of oorumendatou and piaise of the good features of the Harugari society which was organized for the relief of distress, thö care of the widows and orphans and the fostering of the Germán language, and congratulated Germania Lodge, D. O. H. , on beiug the ouJy lodge in the city which owns its own home. Philip Kohlfer of Chicago was next introduced to deliver the "fest-rede. " He spoke for nearly au hour upon the growth of the order, its aims and aspirations, of its past, its present and its future. He told how the spirit of fraternal love, fosterod by the teachings of the D. O. H., had raised the Standard of human living aud done much to put dowu strife and jealousy betweeu man and man. In closing Mr. Koehler dwelt feelingly upon the Germán as an American citizen, and assured the assemblage that as long aa the United States shonld exist arnong the nations of the earth, so long should the voice of the German-American be raised in het praises and his arm be steeled for her defense. The concert program was then continued. The seleetion by all the singing sooieties combined uuder the directiou of H. Otto was well sung and well reoeived. Master Fred Daley's sweet soprano voice charrned all bis hearers in his two numbers, one in Germán, the other in English, and was vociferously enoored. The Frohsinn JMaennerohor, of Toledo, was encored for their good singing and so was the Lyra of Ann Arbor. Frank Smith's violin solo was also enoored. Walter L. Taylor's tenor solo was one of the best numbers on the program and was deservediy encored. He sang in English. The other numbers were "Bravu Brueder" by the Phoenix Maennerchor, "Scheiden" by the Harngari Maennerchor and two orchestra numbers. Af ter the concert au "allgerueine unterhaltung" took place which lasted pntil au early hour. Last evening the exercises were concluded with a grand "Festball" for which mnsic was furnished by the Ann Arbor orchestra. Refreshments were sen'ed during both days by Airs. John Schneider, jr., who looked carefully af tei the comfort of her numerous guests.