Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-23
Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.
ODD-FELLOWSHIP

SpeClal DlSpalcH W IAo Da''iio ''
ODD-FELLOWsHIP.
Meeting of the Grand Lodge of Odd
Fellows of the United States--Re-
ports of the Grand Sire and Secre-
tary--Statistics and Prosperity of the
Order. &c.
San Francisco, September 20.-The
Grand Lodge of the United States of
the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows
met in this city to-day in annual session,
full delegations being present from
every State and Territory in the Union,
also from the province of Ontario and
the continent of Australia. The meeting
of this body on the Pacific slope is an
event worthy of remark, not only in
the history of this benevolent organiza-
ton, but in the history of our country.
The session of to-day was consumed in
hearing the annual reports of the Grand
Sire and Grand Secretary, both of which
reports are full and voluminous docu-
mentS.
The Hon. Judge Carey. of Baltimore,
was made chairman of the legislative
committee, and Jos. B. Escavaille, of
your city, was made chairman of the
committee on the state of the order. The
body will remain in session during this
week and the business will be mostly
of private character, although Of
much importance to the order.
L.
The following extracts may be of in
terest to the general reader, showing
the extent and usefulness of this wide
spread order
REPORT OF GRAND SIRE.
In the report of the Grand Sire, e.
d. .Farnsworth, Esq, he says :-"Es-
pecially important to all is this assem-
blage, in view of it's high prerogatives
as the supreme head of the order In
it is deposited the executive, judicial
and legislative power and in the pru
dent, constitutional and wise exercise of
this delicate and highly responsible
trust, is the well-being and destiny of
great and leading benefaction largely
involved" The Grand Sire then goes
on to say "On this occasion our
meeting is characterized by more than
ordinary interest. An uncommon en-
ergy has distinguished all the juristlic
tons during the recess, in order that
each should be present here to-day
however remotely situated from the
seat of legislation. Among the many
very remarkable and extraordinary in
cidents connected with the history of
Odd-Fellowship, and which have by
their distinctive character been regard
ed as epochs in its career, there is,
venture to say, not one which will sur
pass that which is now transporting.
a." The Grand Lodge of the United
States, representing constituency diff
fused over the continent and beyond it,
is this day assembled in annual session
on the Pacific coast, at the splendid city
of San Francisco, the metropolis of one
of the greatest commonweaths of the
American Federal Union. For the most
part, the representatives present are dis
tant thousands of miles from their
homes, transported thither as if on the
wings of the morning The Grand
Sire then offers his congratulations upon
the continued prosperity of the order in
every quarter of the general jurisdiction.
From every country in which the breth-
rem are employed there comes good
report. He says that in pursuance of
resolution adopted at the last meeting of
the Grand Lodge, he has, during the
year visited Louisiana, Virginia, Missis-
sippi, Texas, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas,
and Florida, with view to revival of
interest, and to materially increase the
membership in those Jurisdictions. The
Grand Sire gives it as his conviction
that however gratifying it is to our
brethren in the South to have the good
feeling and wishes of their brethren in
more favored localities, and to receive
the personal visitations of grand officers
and special instructions in the work yet
this is not the aliment upon which, just
at this time, they can be expected to
attain strength and vigor. Tine condi-
ton of the order generally in the interior
of the Southern States is pecuniarly bad.
Very many Of the lodges have not the
means to supply the necessaries and
comforts of lodge room, and such
wants cannot be reached by individual
effort or visitation. There is very
general desire to be restored to their
former healthy condition, and this can
only be attained by prompt and effec-
tive pecuniary aid He thinks that
large proportion of the demised lodges
in the Southern States may be revived
by the application of this potent agency.
During the year Special Deputy A. u.
Meachaum has organized Grand Lodges
at Victoria and New Zealand, colonies
of Australia, and Grand Eneampnlent
at the former place, and also subordinate
encampments at the city of Melbourne
and at the city of Geelong. After visit
ing Tasmania, or Van Dieman's Land,
for the purpose of organizing the order
there, Mr.. Meacham would depart for
San Francisco, where he will report in
person during the present session of the
Grand Lodge.
In referring to the deaths OF Right
Worshipful Grand Representative Rich
ard Marley, Of the Grand Lodge of Ma
ryland, and of Past Grand Representa-
tive and Right Worshipful Grand Sc
cretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl-
vania, WIN. Curtis, the Grand Sire thus
speaks of Mr.. Marley: "He was
contemporary of the illustrious Widely,
opd L;s oornast and faithful co.lahorer