Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-02-16
A. o. q. ".
Extracts from the Report Of Grand
Master Towle, Submitted at the recent
Session Of the Grand Lodge.

Extracts from the Report Of Grand
Master Towle, Submitted at the recent
Session Of the Grand Lodge.
To the Officers and members of the Grand
Lodge Of Iosct, Ancisnt order Of Unii
cd Workman:
BRoTHERs:-It is with feelings of pro
found pleasure and satisfaction, largely
due to the very marked and flattering
success attained by our esteemed Order
in this State during the past year, that
present to you my annual report. And
in thus addressing you on this occasion,
being the fifth session Of the Grand
Lodge of Iowa. desire, first, to call your
markable growth of the Order within
this Jurisdiction; and secondly, while SC
doing, to disdvow any desire on my part
to seek celebrity for myself or to lay
claim to the performance of aught but
simple duty in my humble efforts to pro.
mote the interests OF. this Order
When, by your flattering, though per-
haps unmerited consideration, was Sc.
lected year ago to fill the honorable
position of presiding officer in this body,
that portion of the Ancient Order of
United Werkmen located in Iowa, num-
bering but 43 Lodges, with member
ship of about 400, was yet within the
Supreme Lodge Jurisdiction and subject
to assessments for beneficiary purposes
upon deaths occurring in several other
States. need not call to your minds the
extreme anxiety then felt to so increase
our membership that ut the meeting of
the Supreme Grand Lodge. at Covington,
KY, in March, the requisite membership
of 1900 within this State should be at.
tanned, emitting US to separate jurisdic-
ton for Iowa. The time has been SO
short since that meeting that the history
of the subsequent two months must be
fresh in your recollection. Suffice it to
say that when the Supreme Lodge met,
We had. by united and diligeut efforts,
secured the required 1900 members and
an application for q separate jurisdiction
was promptly made For the gratifying
result quote with pleasure from the pub
j proceedings of the Supreme Lodge !:
l will not weary you with unnecessary
details regarding the growth of the Order
within the State after 1t became, as above
outlined, a separate jurisdiction. ! will
only add that during the eventful Grand
Lodge year closing with this date the
number of Lodges In Iowa has increased
from 43 to 50, and the membership from
400 to 4,OOO-thus demonstrating in
figures what cannot be stated so briefly
and pointedly in language-the remarka-
bic prosperity marking our vigorous and
meritorious Order.
And now. brothers, having disposed of
the various business matters demanding
your attention, permit me in conclusion
to return my sincere thanks for your
kind attention, and to you, end through
you as representatives to the members in
general, for the valuable assistance and
uniform courtesy have continually en-
joyed during my associations with you
as your Grand Master. Many of you
have met within the pleasant precincts of
your respective Lodge rooms, my visit to
which will long be remembered. The
position l have occupied, though attend
ed with certain share of honor, also
carries with 1t great responsibilities. and
if have erred in my official course, let it
be attributed to mistaken judgment, or
want of proper understanding of the mat
ter in hand, rather than to desire to be
cratic or dictatorial or to wilful disre-
gard Of duty.
Finally, let me remind you that in ad-
ding to our membership, and in prompt
ly meeting our pecuniary obligations, we
do not discharge our whole duty as men,
bers of the noble Order. There are high
er elements which should enter into the
composition of our brotherhood, else Its
most worthy objects will not be attained.
l refer to the cultivation and practice Of
those principles distinguishing true man.
hood; encouragement of friendly inter-
course one with another, of cheerful de-
meaner, OF courteous conduct and of
honorable action; the dissemination not
only of charitable donations but of words
of sympathy to the bereaved, Of encour-
agcment to the weak, of friendliness to
the oppressed and Of hope to the down
hearted. While contemplating with pride
the financial prosperity of our Order and
its success as a life insurance organization
let us not ignore Its fraternal advantages.
1t is not alone our duty to pay quarterly
dues and assessments; it is incumbant up
on us as faithful Workmcn to frequently
visit the Lodge room and participate in
its social communions and Its ceremonies !;
to interest ourselves in each others be-
half on all proper occasions, ana to slim
ulate moral and spiritual progress as we'll
as pecuniary prosperity. need not tell
you in how many ways you can discharge
these several duties. need not explain
Just where should be felt the cordial
hand clasp, where should be rendered the
proffer of assistance, where should be
given the kind word OF appreciation. -
You are as we'll qualified rs myself to
judge of opportunities where the higher
graces of character may be properly eX-
ercised, where the nobler qualities of the
mind may be proftably expressed. l
only desire to urge that these higher du-
ties be not overlooked, and l have suffi-
Gent confidence in your good judgment
to believe that you fully appreciate the
Importance of the .traternaI as we'll as
the financial obligations of the Order.
THE CITY ELECTION The proclama-
ton OF Mayor Holdridge for the annual