The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-10-17
ANNUAL REPoRr.


The Annual Report Of the Grand
Master, George W. Martin, of juno
ton City, is a well written exhibit OF
the work of the order during the year
in this State, and of its present condI-
ton. 1t abOunds with sensible sug-
EestiOns "fOr the good of the order"
While the order has not extended as
rapidly as in some former years, yet it
has made 3 healthy and encouraging
growth. The number Of members in
the State Is something over 5000.
Nine new lodges were organized dur
ing the year. Two new halls were
dedicated, one at Atchison and one at
Wichita. The widows and orphans
fund of the order Is now SIS, S66.08,
and the total valuation of property
and funds is $45,439.e9. Atchison has
the richest lodge. Some very sound
suggestions are made as to the care OF
the widows and orphans fund.
One OF the best Recommendation
In this excellent report is that to dis
trict the State so that q representative
may be elected for several lodges in
stead OF one for each lodge, thus great
ly reducing the expenses of the Grand
Lodge, and turning the funds to more
useful channels. The Grand Master
thinks the Grand Lodge could be very
safely reduced to twenty-six members,
and he has mapped out the State into
twenty districts in the shape of a sug-
gestion.
The Grand Master recommends leg
islation looking to the establishment,
by the order, Of an Odd Fellows Asy-
lum and College. He fully appreci-
ates the great field OF usefulness which
the order may attain in this State, and
Is not content that it shall go along
without accomplishing higher objects.
He says:
ave are wasting valuable time. In
older jurisdictions the time has already
arrived when q class OF membership,
disabled by age or misfortune from
contri buting to their own support, are
proper objects of care. It may be 3
long time before there may be any
need for such an institution; but such
legislation as may be necessary to pro-
vide and start fund should be had.
Kentucky has a Widows and Or
phans' Home and University, to which
her membership have contributed
$3.50, 700. California has an Odd Fell
lows College and Home, with an en-
dowment of over $4,000. Michigan
has an Institution valued at $50, 900, to
which the brethren during the year
contributed over $4,000. Wisconsin
has fund of $1,000 for this purpose.
Mississippi has an Orphans Home well
supported. The brethren of Tennessee
have two institutions of this character,
and Texas two also. Western Penn
sylvania has q home for Odd Fellows
at Meadville. The Fraternity in Ma
ryland has been educating orphans for
thlrty-nine years. Ohio, New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut and Missouri
are moving in this direction"
The total receipts are given for a
period of eight years. In 1865 they
were $3,7s9.40. In 1872 they were
$50, 473.22, which figures furnish the
best evidence OF the growth of the Or
der in the State. The grand total for
the eight years is $40, 102.07. In the
same eight years the toGal paid for re-
lief was $l5, 20s.76, commencing with
$649 in 1866, and Increasing to S2,446.lS
in 1872. This whole document Is full
of interest, and is one of the most ably
and tersely written ones of the kind
we ever read.
ITar OE RRpRRSENTATIVES