Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-01
,an. however. only make the following brief OK

=
| to your chief executive officer q general super
| intendence of theinterests of the order durln
the recess of the Grand Lodge CT the Uni
States. and at the same time admonishes tina
| officer of the temporary character OF his tru'
by requiring that at every communication n
shall ma q report, in writing. of all his ON
cisl acts and decisions. In obedience to TINS IN
junction. / respectfully submit an account
| my stewardship during the past year.
The wise forecast of our Fathers. which or
| dained an annual Congress of this Suprem
Grand Body, representing every CONSTITUENCY
of the general federation, has noe been NOR
distinctively illustrated by the universal bar
meny which it has evoked. and by the promp
relief which it has afforded TO every possible
want Of the subOrdinates. than by the spirit o
progress which has characterized Its Legislation
in obedience to the demands of q constantly de.
veloping age. and responsive to the enlightened
experience of membership actively alive TO Ia
true welfare.
Superadded to these important advantages 70
the common good arising out OF our annual
communication, its benefits to us as member
ship, individually and collectively, are equally
apparent and effective; brought together from
every quarter of our widely extended Jurlsdlc-
ton once in each year. we meet as brethren as
sembled under our vine and hg tree, our IN
tercourse partaking sympathetlcaliy OF the no.
BILE principles of our order. which unite US IN q
common bond, is fraternat IN the true sense OF
the word, and cannot fail to be productive OF In
creased love tor the cause, and OF renewed zeal
for its success, thus. the sessions Of the Girand
Lodge of the United States bring around with
their annual recurrence season OF genera
qualification, aid are looked to By the brother
hood at large with pleasant sntlcipations
Especially important to all is this assemblage,
in view OF its high prerogatives as the supreme
head of the order; in it is deposited the execa'
tive, judicial and legislative power. and in the
prudent, constitutional and wise exercise of this
highly responsible trust, is the well. being and
destiny of great and leading public benefac-
ton largely involved.
On this occasion our meeting is characterized
by more than ordinary interest; an uncommon
energy has distinguished all the jurisdictions
during the recess, in order that each should be
present here day. however remotely situated
from the seat of legislation. Among the many
very remarkable and extraordinary incidents
connected with the history of Odd Fellowship,
ard which have by their distinctive character
been regarded as epochs in its career, there is.
/ venture to say, not one which will surpass that
which is now transpiring. The Grand Lodge of
the United States, representing q constituency
difused over this continent and beyond it, is
this day assembled in annual session on the
Pacific Coast, at the splendid city of San Fran
cisco, the metropolis OF one of the greatest CON-
mOnWealths of the American federal Union;
for the most part the representatives present are
distant thousands Of miles from their homes,
transported thither as If on the wings of the
morning, Whirled across vast continent, over q
highway which is not only the wonder of our
people, but the marvel OF the world, Nor Is the
character of the incident, Extraordinary as IT IL,
more transcendent for its illustration OF daring
genius and enterprise, than is the field upon
which it has been enacted remarkable and pre-
eminently the subject of wonder. Here IN this
distant part of the Republic, about q quarter OF
q century ago, the wilderness reigned; on this
spot, a few insulated men, In Ignorance and
Incidence, then herded in perhaps squalid novels
and the rudest tenements; this beautiful bay OF
worldwide renOTn, now ghstenlng all OV
with huttering canvas, knew then only
harry Whaler, chased hither by the storm king
of the ocean. Civilization, If any, was print
tive. and only reflected from the dim light OF
zeal; the foot prints Of AnglO-SaEOn
had not pressed this earth, nor had his adven'
turOus spirit yet been free to wing its way
In the order Of Providence and IN
the fulness of time our cOuntrymen came; lg-
norance and lnd0lence and superstition retired
from their presence, as if withered by the con-
tact; the wilderness smiled and blOssomed;
thrift and enterprise and intellect constructed
out of this material an Empire. such as we be-
hold Callt0I MIA to day. Great and remarkable
as these facts are, which exhibit the grandeur of
q mighty State, rising as it were by magic out of
comparative chaos, they appear, II possible,
s i'll more wonderful, if the moral elevation Of
the commonwealth be regarded; with improved
civilization came as inseparable from IL, gene
raj enlightenment and the broad spirit OF hu-
manity. In this train was d"telloWshlp-
planted by the pioneer spirit OF our country
men and cherished BY the love and devotion Of
a faithful brotherhood, il has kept pace with all
other institutions of the State, manifesting as
a career of success and prosperity
as does the body polite itself. Although q COM
par atiYeiy young jurisdiction, California al
ready ranks among the strongest Of our State
aud Is destined under future
correspondent TO that which has
characterised it in the past, to outstrip most OF
its older sisters. Tie truth OF this remark Is
supplied. not so much in the number as in the
zeal and activity of her Lodges; in their stas
bifty, strength and resources; in the extent and
of their work; tho large amount OF
real relief afforded; in the great interest dis
played to advance the usefulness of the Order,
by supplying the means Of high moral and
intellectual culture to the membership, and IN
that grand and noble spirit Of fraternity which
has rendered her name a synonym with muulh-
fcence and liberality throughout the Order; but.
beyond all these in that earnest love and devo-
ton of our brethren which is so distinctive In
the invitation extended to this Grand Lodge 70
come TO this, the city of their Just pride, to
witness their Marvellous growth; to partake OF
their splendid hospitAlities, and to do them
goo by our example. our influence aHd our
ftaisTnaF G9Gnsss Al ha to the GPa9 ~
your behalf l render them your sincere ae-
acknowledgements, and invoke for them hugely
increased prosperity in the future, as lust re-
ward for their unparalleled devotion to our
cause,
rejoice that it is my privilege to congratu-
late you upon the continued advance of our Or
der in every quarter of the general Jurlsdlc-
ton; from every county IN which our brethren
are employed, without exception, there comes
up good report, and spirit OF generous EN-
uiation obtains in all parts of the moral vine
yard. Whether we regard the home WORK, or
look to the more distant helds OF labor 10
which Odd Fellowship has been borne IN that
broad spirit Of propagandism which seems TO
characterize its nature. peace and concord,
brOtherly love and general prosperity greet the
eye, as the grateful rewards, OF Its benign ana
heaven born principles. For years kind
Providence has watched over our devoted IN
stitution, securely conducted it from feeble in
fancy to vigorous maturity. guided 1t through
many perils, delivered it from that scOurge OF
all governments, internal discussions, and
blessed it with such a spirit OF concord and
unity that our hearts have been knitted to-
gether as brethren of one family, and our de-
year 10 year more and more intense. Under
these most favored circumstances, II becomes
US to invoke with profound reverence His con-
tinued mercy and protection.
GENERAL CONDITION OF THE ORDER.
The report of the R. W. Grand Secretary ex-
hibits most gratifying condition of the order.
showing that its progress during the past year
has been healtbful in the highest degree. and
that in every jurisdiction its administration
has been characterized by great energy and
zeal; the fruit OF which has been ,rI large az
cession of numbers and resources. The report
of the R. W. Grand Treasurer presents state
of finance which is the more gratifying because
it evinces a degree of strength in this regard
commensurate with the decreasing wants and
necessities of the Grand Lodge, inseparable
from the extension Of the Order into new helds,
and the cOuseauent organization of additional
Grand Bodies. As compared with the fiscal
year of 1865 it will be found that the revenue
for the current year is in excess of the former
period, and will fully meet the increased ex'
penditures growing out Of our session IN TINS
city, and thus avoid the necessity CT reducing
the amount of the invested funds, which now
reach ten tn Ousand dollars. L refer you for de-
tails to the able reports OF these two very ell
cient Grand officers.
By resolutions passed at the last session, pages
I ed nd IN
visit, as soon as possible, Louisiana, Virginia,
Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, Alabama,
North Carolina, Georgia. Arkansas and Flori-
dR with view to a revival Of interest and ma
terially to increase the membership in those
Jurisdictions, and in cOnjucuon with the exeeu-
tive officers of said States, to use such efforts as
may be required to accomplish the desired
purpose" and, by further resolution, L was en-
powered, in my discretion, ito call to my as
distance such members of the Order as | might
deem necessary" IN conformity with this
resolution, visited in person all the Southern
jurisdictions which my time would permit.
CONDITION OF TIE ORDER II THE SOUTHERN
STATES.
interior of the Southern States is peeuniarily
bad; very many ofthe lodges have not the means
to supply the necessarles and comforts of q
Lodge room; such wants cannot OF course be
reached by individual efforts or visitatiOns
There is very general desire to be restored to
their former healthful condition; this can only
be attained by prompt and elective pecunlary
aid, and in my Judgment a large proportion oil
the demised Lodges in that country may be re-
viyed by the application Of this potent agency
do not doubt the great advantage of personal
visitation and the powerful influence of apprO-
pirate and earnest personal appeals, yet with.
out, at least in my opinion, the aid of material
support moral treatment will be comparatively
unprOductive. l have not awaited myself OF the
authority conferred upon me to detail other
persons in the service at the expense of this
Grand Lodge, for the reason above set forth,
that peeuniary aid was the more needed than
personal Intervention, and for the additional
reason, that felt it to be my duty, under the
circumstances, to husband the means of the
Grand Lodge; hence have not thought proper
TO make any draft upon the treasury for my in
diyidual expenses.