The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-23
FIRST nAY-EnRENnON


Rev. r. Patterson of Ireland.
L. Hart of Bermuda
Rev. James ". Webb and c. B. Proctor O
California.
! w. A. Hans well of Georgia.
Hon. James Black of Pennsylvania.
| VIM. Harmon of Oregon.
| WIN. I'll. CutteIio of South Carolina.
Rev. j. F. Goodman of Tennessee.
Miss Lille j. Robinson of Wisconsin.
DR.. Sutton and Draper of New York.
Tim Needham of Kentucky.
| III. Q. Mechem and John B. Campbell o.
| Kansas.
Chas P. Russell, Mrs. H. II. Pope and J. a
Hartwell of Michigan.
The Committee on Credentials approved tn
credentials Of 60 representatives, and Sc of thes
being present were initiated and took thei
seats Several contested delegation were re
ported upon and referred back to the commit
tee.
Thirty-four Grand Lodge jurisdictions were
represented.
Adjourned to 2.30 p m.
AFTERNOON.
Session opened by T. D. Kanouse. r. w. G.
G. in the chair.
Committee on Credentials reported further,
that sixteen additional delegates were present,
and they were initiated.
The invitation to make an excursion to the
White Mountains on Thursday next was de-
clined, the members thinking they could not
afford the time.
John B. Campbell of Kansas, was appointed
Messenger.
Col. Hickman, r. W. G. T., presented very
able report, reviewing the various questions
which agtate tue Order, In a very clear and
impartial manner. From it we make the fol-
lowing abstract
He commences his report by reminding the
the brothers and sisters that they have never
before met in city that contained no licensed
rum sEep. He congratulated the people of
Maine that they have put their heels on the
serpent of the still. He had been told, he said,
in the whole state the past year. What a rec
ord for temperance!
The year closing with this session, has been
the most extraordinary in the history of the
Order. Internal dissension has threatened de-
struction. and disloyalty has shorn it of some
needed. Charity for the different opinions of
the brethren should be our motto in the discus
sion of the important questions that must come
before US.
The finances are not in good condition. Many
Grand Lodges are indebted to this body. The
neglect arises, no doubt, from inability, not
Discrimination to pay, but greater efforts should
be made to pay something. There was an extra
call on the resources of the Right Worthy
Grand Lodge the past year, and the Grand
Lodges knowing it, should have made better re-
turns. The financial system is imperfect, and
should be improved.
The Superintendent of the Juvenile Tenn
plars, Mrs. M. j. O'Donnell, has done splen-
did work, but the branch of the order under
her charge has shared the general depression.
Lode hos Ixa,, fJ,n
they should in this most important feature of
the work.
The following deputies have been commiss.
Toned since the last session.
Samuel Capper, England.
James A. Hoyes, Scotland
John Bowen, Wales.
Charles Braghen, Sweden.
VIM. r. Kahlee. Shanghai, China.
j. III. Carroll, Yokohama, Japan.
Rev. George M. Bnks Dakota Territory,
John Hisser, Fort Randall, Dakota.
D. E. Pickering. Durham, South Africa.
w. P. Cutten, Nova Scotia.
j. G. Thrower, Georgia.
A. ID. Evans, Maryland.
Brother Cappers commission was given him
shortly after the withdrawal of the British
delegates. In special report mention will be
made of the great work performed by him in
England.
Grand Lodges have been reorganized in Nova
Scotia, England and Scotland. The Grand
Lodge of Ireland has returned to its allegiance,
and new Grand Lodge has been instituted in
the Isle of Man.
A disputed election case has arisen in the
Grand Lodge of Maryland, and second char
ter was issued during the absence of the r. w.
Grand Templar in England. 1t is hoped that
the two lodges will be reunited.
There has been much discussion of the color
question in the Southern States, and colored
Grand Lodge has been instituted sin Georgia,
with u subordinate lodges. The Grand Lodges
Of Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Flor
North Carolina, and the executives of Lou
isiana and Virginia, have consented that Grand
Lodges OF colored persons shall be instituted in
those states.
1t is impossible for the R. W. Grand Lodge
to legslate intelligently for the Order through
out the world. The plan proposed some years
ago by the Rev. George Kinds of England
would work much better in practice.
That plan contemplates the organization of
Intermediate bodies, to be called Worthy Grand
Lodges, with full legislative powers within
their jurisdictions, except in regard to the
ritualstics and secret work of the order, and
the password. The r. W. Grand Templar
recommends that charters be granted at once
for the establishment of such bodies in the
British Isles, in Australasia, in Canada, and in
the United States.
In conclusion, Colonel Hickman appealed to
the order for a better support of the Temper
ance press; thanke d the r. w. Grand Lodge
for its past confidence; and besought the mem
bers to remember their fraternal obligations in
any discussion which may arise.
The r. W. G. Secretary presented his report,
from which we gather the following infor ma
ton:
The whole number of members in the entire
jurisdiction of the order is, in round numbers,
five hundred thousand, decrease of about
two hundred thousand, which has been caused
mainly by the schism in the order upon the
the English and other foreign members have
withdrawn from this body and established a
similar organization in their respective locali-
ties.
The Secretary also gave the following statis-
tics: