, 1876-12-03
SECRET SOCIETIES.

The funds Of IN Odd-tell0W6' Lodge are lis
life-blood. Tho financial system Of Odd-FeltoW-
ship is one Of the most important factors which
have contributed to It's wonderful growth and
prosperity during the last half century. Al
though ou1 Order is yet young, in too many OF
our lodges have the painful effects been expert
enced of careless management OF their funds
in the earlier years of their existence, when the
great majority OF their members were in the
flush OF youth and vigorous health, and before
disease and death became frequent visitors with.
is hard to care for the sick properly, or
to relieve the distressed to bury the dead or to
care for the widow and orphan, when there is no
impossible to make Odd Fellowship more than
u,ockers in the sight Of the world under such cir
cumstances. In some Lodges, ST. and even less,
ed brother. 1t cannot be claimed that such feeble
benefits are in accordance with the spirit of the
teachings Of the Order. Some OF such Lodges DO
vide for their destitute widows and orphans, and
they arr equally unable to relieve brother when
in the tolls Of distressing trouble because their
ability to meet the regular and lawful claims upon
the Lodge. Such lodges hare reached this helpless
condition simply by neelecting to care for their
every Odd Fellow than the duty Of using his
every effort to protect the funds Of his Lodge
from loss OF waste. He should remember every
time thai ne F0tES upOu EtlItf kAc dppfupI1AkuN
the investment of the Lodzo MONEYS that he is
not only acting for himself ~ an individual nem-
bcr bur that be is di.posng OF funds to which, in the
near future hu9d1saS o. hepess ero.fss rss, scs
widows and orphans, will look for help. Upon
the fidelity with which the brother executes the
tits i fund Will depend. whether or not their de-
penderce is npon u broken reed. -: Theirs
are two methods OF careless management By which
Lodge may become impoverished One of these
is by carelcssness in voting the funds of the
Lodge for appropriations; and the other ia By care
less or ;n;udcious investments OF its funds. The
p!etins the Lodge treasury. All well-recu!ated
Of sound health snbcrDp s is OF bisS1 sd
proper, as otherwise, the finances OF the
Lodge are liable to become seriously deranged by
the admission Of members who, with constitu-
tioual tendency to disease, soon become lifelong
burdens upon tho Lodge This precaution against
hysicaly nnsouni candidates il = necessary Incl
dent to the beneficial system Of the Order and in
no way initiates against its other features
u working organization.
Unnecessary donations By the Lodge sometimes
make great leak in it's treasury. Many Odd
Fellows vote away funds Of the Lodge under the
mistaken idea thar act Of charity it ia right to
do 30, even it the person to whom such funds arc
given has no other claim than that Of charity upon
tucir liberality. In SO doing, such persons arc
only giving away money generously which does not
belong to them. True Charity demands that, in
such cases they exercise their generosity BY per-
Uud- Fellowship, enjoins charity md heneyoence
among Odd Fellows as individuals, it nowhere,
directly indirectly, teaches that the Lodge, Us an
organization. should exercise those virtues except
in the manner aud to the extent limited By the
laws OF the Order The limitations and rcslric-
tions imposed BY law upon the use OF the funds Of
the Lodge are for the purpose Of guarding against
1he result Of confoundfng the duty Of the individual
member in this respect with the obligations OF the
Lodge.
and Systematically invested in lnteresI-beariny
securities. It is unwtc for Lodge to have all its
funds in banks, esen though they y may be IN sev-
for it to invest a it's funds in any other single line
Of security. even though the interest offered may
be tcmpt;ngy larzc general financial panic
before it; or the securities may, from unforeseen
causes. shrink in talue and become nnmarketable:
Perhaps among the most stable securities, and
therefore to be preferred, though by reason Of
thei: stability they may not comnand the highest
rates Of interest, are bonds Of the Government
national and State. Such bonds, besides being
safe, are always marketable, and easily realized
upon when it is necessary to draw upon the reserve
which they represent 1t would be well If Lodges.
when making their Investments, would guard
against local depressions OF trade, and the consc
qent risks Of losses in local investments, by put
ting portion, at least OF their finds in bonds OF
the character here :usgested.-Contpanion.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Grand Scribe Gen. j. c. Smith was called to
Ga1ena last Friday evening, to attend the fnue-
raj services Of John Lcekly, Esq, prominent
and highly esteemed citizen Of that city.
Brother 4. G. Lull. e. G. r., will give in
structious in the sssecrct work Of the Order"
tomorrow evening at the hall Of Rainbow, No.
100, corner Of Kobey and Madison streets.
Members Of other Lodges are cordially invited
to attend.
The Hon. John B. Harmon, Of San Francisco,
who was elected. Deputy Grand Sire of the
Grand Lodge OF the United States, was accorded
a reception BY California Lodge No. /, Of San
Francisco. Grand Representative Porter, Grand
Master Boyd, and Other distinguished members
Of the Order were present The Odd Fellows
Of California are delighted by the selection Of
Brother Harmon, who is highly esteemed by all
who know him.