Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-22

OfdIlO OlcetS DelLg present.
GRAND MASTERS REPORT.
Representatives and Brothers: 1t is with
feelings of reverence and gratitude to the
Great Giver of all Good that L am permitted
to welcome you under such favorable aus
pices in your annual reunion around the
altar of Friendship, Love and Truth. Upon
your coming together at our last commu-
nicatiOn death was abroad in the land.
Sickness, gloom and dependency held
high carnival in portions of this jurisdic-
tiOn, and left in the wake Of the deadly
epidemic, as heritage to the Order, SORROW
ing widowhOOd and helpless orDhanage
But during the dark days of the epidemic
in Memphis, when the local membership
of our Order had exhausted their treasury,
and almost their physical ability for en-
durance, the brotherhood throughout the
habitable globe wherever Odd Fellowship
unfuTls its white banner, with a prompt
ness and lberality almost Unprecedented,
gave to the world another evidence of their
devotion to the principles they profess by
pouring into a repleted treasury liberal con-
tributiOns for the relief of the afflicted and
distressed brOtherly kindness which will
be gratefully remembered by the uDfortu-
nate and unhappy recipients and Landed
by philanthrOpists throughout the civilized
world.
The yellow f,ver in Memphis, which
had ragged with such fury and taken from
our midst some of the brightest Jewels of
our fraternity, was still undated when
this Grand body adjourned on the 18th day
of October last. But we are assembled to-
day under a more benignant sky, with a
land free from disease and death, from cpl
denies, with an atmosphere pure and
healthy, and the whole land smiling with
peace. 1t is with these pleasing surround
ings / am permitted to greet you.
Ii is unnecessary for me to remind you
that our coming together on this occasion
is for a laudable and praiseworthy purpose.
You are the chosen representatives Of a
great brotherhood, unitedly and earnestly
striving for the elevation of the human race
and for the emancipation of the human
family by reciprocal acts of brOtherly kind
ness in time of need from the ills and woes
incident to life. Guided by the experience
of the past, and impressed with the de-
mands and necessities Of the present, /
trust your deliberations will be characterized
by wisdom anda manifest desire to subServe
the best interest Of that great fraternity
whose future prosperity in this jurisdiction
is dependent, in a great measure, upon the
character of the legislation had at the pres
ent session of this grand body. 1t is there
fore no holiday occasion that brings us to-
gether. Let US, then, with those fraternal
feelings which should characterize broth
ers, address ourselves at once, and in earn
est, TO the work for which we have assem-
bled. avoiding, on the one hand, haSty and
ill-advised legislation, and stunning, on
the other, useless and protracted discus
siOns upon minor questions, thereby
lengthening, unnecessarily, the labOrs of
the session.
STATE OF THE ORDER.
As TO the condition of the order, its in
crease in numerical strength during the
past wear, the institution of new and resus-
citation of detunct lodges, you are respect
fully referred to the Grand Secretary's re-
port.
In the aggregate there have been institu-
ted:
view IOuSco. ..s's' ...ss.'..ss L
Old lodges resuscitated. ............ 3
Rebekah lodges instituted. .......... II
Your attention is also called TO the ne
cessity of action in regard TO property in
the hands of the Grand Secretary of de-
stock in the Widow and Orphan Life In
surance Company, notes, real estate, etc.
You are referred to the Grand Secretary's
report for amounts, etc.
The death of good, true Odd Fellow is
not only a loss to his family and friends,
but a sad calamity to the order, and a mis-
fortune to the cause of humanity. Such a
loss, such a calamity has been sustained in
Ia Hnofla Of IeaT- n d.. ID
w. q. Chaplain of this Grand Lodge. who
departed this life at his home i'm McMinn-
vile on the 18th day of last August, and was
buried by the members of the Older with
suitable ceremonies.
Brothers, my principal acts for the last
year, together with such recommendations
as suggest themselves to me as being of
sufficient Importance for your considera-
ton, are before you. For my official acts.
l claim for them at least an honest effort,
in the performance of them, to promote the
best interests of the Order. Forthe recon-
mendatiOns submitted, l ask only the
adoption of such as will add to the efficiency
and promote the general good Of our great
brotherhood.
Ii is due to our brothers at Memphis, who,
through the dark days and cherries nights
OF OcDlcLuDCl anu OClObtI. 10 iO-Nnenll the
monster, Yellow Fever, in its widest mood
of recklessneSS, was dealing death and dis
treSs among the inhabitants of that devoted
city-exhibited such herOism and self
sacrificing devotion to the relief of the suf-
fering and distressed, should at least re-
ceive honorable mention for their acts Of
devotion. By their conduct, through the
DAYS and weeks of death, danger and dis
L = i
and administering TO the wants of the
needy and distressed, they have written for
themselves, and for the principles and pre-
cepts of the Order, the brightest page in
the history Of Odd Fellowship. The prompt
and earnest manner with which they met
and battled with this relentless and terrible
destroyer of human life; the self-sacrifcing
devotion and interest exhibited for the
safety and welfare of others, in the presence
Of danger and death, have won for them
selves. and the Order of which they are