The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-29
aiiitIsa a.is 40. q .ag5 5sIie 1ailel 30 :

| Iissitasae s:is no. 6.sss ON - I
Tas S4faand ii Of the IND epen- pen
dent Order Of Odd Fellows OF the
| United States met in annual session
in Baltimore on the 2lst instant.
Repges sentatiyes from all the States
| and the Oanadas were present.
Grand Sire James P.s Sand ders, of
New York, submitted a. lengthy re-
port, giving d detailed account Of the
success. of the order during the past
year. The report congratulates the
members upon the continued and
unexampled growth of the order,
and says that the past year has more
fully developed its greatness. From
nearly every jurisdiction come up
the sounds of rejoicing. The Grand
Sire says:
From the report of the r. W.
Grand Secretary and Treasurer, it
viii be perceived that never since
our existence as an order, have we
received in one year so numerous
body Of members into our fold; nor
is this exercise confined to any par
ticular jurisdiction. All seem to
have enjoyed the fruits of prosperity;
and from nearly every Jurisdiction
come up the glad sounds of victory.
The number of members received
the past year into our subordinate
Lodges exceeds 40, 900. The finances
of our order. not only in the Grand
Lodge, but in subordinates, never
we're in better condition. Our
treasures are augmented, and every
where peace and prosperity in our
order is the standing word.
The Goth day of April, 1865, will
be the semi-centenial anniversary of
the order in the United States, and
the report recommends that action be
taken in reference thereto, deeming
it necessary and proper that the
day should be celebrated rather more
than on ordinary occasions In re-
sponse to inquiries made of the Sec
retaries of the Southern Grand
Lodges, as to the exact condition of
the order in their respective jurisdic-
tions, the Grand Sire says that he
has reports from Virginia, Mississip-
pi, Texas, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, and Arkansas. These re-
ports show slight increase in mem
bership during the past year, and
that Lodges that have become
dormant on account of the ravages of
war are being resusticated. The re-
lief furnished them the past year by
the Grand Lodge and the order gen
orally, has been gratefully received,
and has been the means of cheering
the hearts of the brethren who have
been struggling manfully against
what seemed to them almost death to
the order.
In referring to the press, the re-
port says "that much of our success
in years past has been accomplished
through and by the influence of the
public press, and it is another evil
dence of the position we hold before
the community, that they give to
their readers accounts of our annual
meetings and 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 yerly in giving notice
of the place of meeting, of anniver-
saries and public meetings, it would
be the means of keeping the order
before the public, and would repay
the order hundred fold. The re-
port also recommends that the maga-
zines and periodicals of the order
receive generous support.
General James l.. Ridgeley, of
Maryland, Grand Corresponding and
Recording Secretary, also submitted
a very elaborate report. After Civ
ing a detailed account of his action
with reference to the series Of resolu-
tions adopted at the last session of
the Grand Lodge, the Grand Secre
tary says:
II have great pleasure in reporting
that the correspondence Of the year
manifests the decided onward pro-
gress of the order-a general increase
as we'll in its numerical strength as in
it resources and ability, not only to
meet all just demands upon its trea-
sury, but C. largely accnmnlating ex-
cess for provident investment against
all possible future casualties.
The Grand Secretary reports that
the revenue of the fiscal year, up to,