Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-22
United States Grand Lodge OF Odd Fell
lows'-Annual cts OF the

1ows'-Annual Reports-frospects OF the
Order. &c.
The Grand Lodge of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows Of the United States met yes.
terday in annual session at Odd Fellows,
Hall II Baltimore. as stated in our special dis
patch. The Grand Sire submitted lengthy
report, giving a detailed account Of the success
of the Order during the past year. He saws
"that from the reports of the X. w. Grand Sec
retary and Treasurer, il will be perceive ed that
never since our existence as an Order have we
received in one year so mum erous a BODY of
members into our fold; nor is this exercise con
hned 10 any particular jurisdiction. All seem
10 have enjoyed the fruits of prosperity; and
from nearly every jurisdiction come up the
glad sounds of victory. The number OF men,
oers received the past year into our subord-
mate lodges exceeds forty thousand
The finances of our Order. not only IN the
Grand Lodge, but In our subordinates. never
were in better condition. Oar treasures are
augmented, and every where peace and pros
PeTity in our Order is the standing word
During the year, the Grand Sire visited sew
enteen State jurisdictions, and in all of them
founo that the spirit OF the order had been fully
established The Goth day of April, I-69. will
De- the semi-eentennial anniversary Of the order
IN the United States, and the report recon.
mends that some action be taken in reference
thereto, deeming il necessary aud proper that
the dsy should be celebrated rather more tn an
en- ordinary OCCASIONS" In response to inqui-
rIes made Of the secretaries of the Southern
Grand Lodges, as 10 the exact condition of the
order in their respective sdictions, the
Grand Sire says that he has reports from Vir.
gInia, Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabsma and Arkansas These re.
ports show a slight increase in membership
during the past year, and that lodges that have
the war. are being Tesuscitated. The relief
furnished them the past year by the Grand
Lodge and the order generally, has been crate.
cheering the hearts Of the brethren who ha We
been struggling manfuliy against what seem ed
10 them almost death TO the order.
In referring TO the press, the report says.
ssthat much of our success in years past has
been aecOmplsh bed through and by the infu-
ence OF the public press, and il Is smother evil
denee OF the position we hold before the com.
munity. that they give 10 their readers accounts
ofour annual meetings and Of our proceedings:'
and the report suggests that If IN every city,
town and village where lodges are located, q
small amount of money was expended yearly
in giving notice Of the place of meeting, of an
niyersaries and public meetings, IL would be
The means of keeping the order before the pub
The report also recommends that the maga-
zines and periodicals Of the order receive q
generous support
The report announces in fitting terms the
death during the wear OF =. G.. NJ. and Grand
Representative q. L. Townsend of Connects.
cut, and p. q. NJ. and z. q. Rspresen tative
John w. Hodgson, of the District of Columbia
General James l. Ridgeley, Of Maryland
Grand Corresponding and Recording Secre.
tary, also submitted a very elaborate report
II. Hall Sweet. Grand Secretary of the Grand
Lodge Of the District Of Columbia. on trans
mitting his report 10 the Grand Secretary saws:
ut affords me great pleasure 20 state that The
order in this Jurisdiction is in the highest de-
gree pros sperous, and promises for the time TO
come increasing usefulness" The Worthy
Grand Scribe, e. Ii. X. Colledge adds, that
.sOur success IN the Patriarchal branch has
been greater this year Than that Of last" In
the District there are 13 subordinate lodges,
with 2,il2 members, limitations during the
year, 2s5, admitted by card. Sc; Withdrawn by
card, 81; reinstatements, -; suspen slons, IA:
deaths. nd
Sli, ,3Se Is; annual receipts, sz3,0SA6 number
of encampments, !, with 765 members; Initia-
Sy ea1a sy e:r
pensions, 1s; deaths, :; total relief paid, a..
J66 81; annual receipts, si,0661l.
of the fiscal year mp TO and inclusive OF Sep
tember I, 1858, amounts to S26,l2).C0. OF the
amount due and unpaid, the report says there
a total of S3u,o.O6O. The eaggreeate exceeds the
the revenue Of the last fiscal year. This is
considered particularly gratifying, in view o.
wa. wa made at the last session in the price Of
charge and degree books, and in diplomas and
digests-
Southern relief fund the following amounts
during the year California, SI,3g3 o.: Onta.
rio, sill Sc Maryland, $50; Oregon, 81 IS: Massa-
cnusetts, $3.50; Wisconsin, slvoi New Jersey,
Referring to the fact that before another as
semblage OF the Grand Lodge, time, in It's tram
sit, will have completed the cycle Of fifty years
since The foundation of the order, the report
states that sin 1919. Odd-Fellow ship set on foot
It's mission under the auspices Of Ave plain and
nnpretending citizens; with feeble voice II Mt.
tered its proclamation Of peace ana good-w
20 men on earth; its banner was fiung 10 the
breeze CT Heaven, with its noble motto inscribed
upon its fold Friendship, Love, and Truth,
The fatherhood of God over all, and the univer-
sal brotherhood Of man. Moving forward from
this noble standpoint, in half century IL has
enrolled in its army over a half q million OF
votaries, most OF whom this day are at active
labor. To a single lodge of Ave members il has
sdded thousands upon thousands, scattered
over all the wide earth where civilization pre-
walls, and snli its stately tread Is onward
among the islands of the sea."
The greater part OF the days session was de-
voted 10 the reading and consideration Of these