Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-23
4. O. OF q. II.
Meeting Of The Right Worthy
Grand Lodge.
ONE HUNDRED DELEGATES
PRESENT.
Reports of tho Right Worthy
Grand Officers.


meeting of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge Of
Good Templars for the World commenced at Cor =
gress Hall, at ten, Tuesday morning, Col. j. j.
Hickman of Louisville, KY, presiding. Eighty
regular representatives are present, with twenty
other members, aud more to arrive.
The morning session was occupied with the re-
port of the committees on credentials and recep-
ton, and initiation of new members.
The reports of officers will be made Tuesday af
ternoon. aud in the evening a meeting will be
held at City Hall. when the delegates will be well
coined by Mayor Butler and Governor Conner, to
be followed by a banquet at toe Falmouth
r. W. Grand Templar J. j. Hickman, read his
address. He said they before met in a city
which contained no licensed rumshop. The year
has been in the history Of the order
Internal dissenson has been threatened, destruc-
ton and disloyslty has shorn it of some of its
fair proportions. The financial condition is not
very favorable. Many Of the grand lodges are
largely indebted to the body. new grand lodge
has been instituted in the Isle of Man. He re-
ported much disturbance in the Southern States
on the color question, and the states Of Kentucky,
Arkansas, West Virginia, Mary land Missouri,
lana, Virginia, and Georgia have consented to
organize colore grand lodges. lie recommends
the institution of several national grand lodges.
The Grand Secretary, w. S. Williams of Ma
panee, Ontario, reported the whole number of
lodges IN the world. 1874; members SAG, 2S7; to
| which one hundred thousand not returned NAV
| be added.
He alludcs to the disturbances in the order the
past year and states that such an extraordinary
ferment and conflict of opinion over SO wide a
portion Of the worlds population may be taken
from one stand point as proof demonstrative of
progressive pawer of the Independent Order of
Good Templars. The year has been one of unre
hitting trial and anxiety. The executive officers
of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge have been
abusvely misrepresented and the utmost vigilance
and unceasing activity has been required and ex-
ercsed to ward off danger and direct honest effort
toward the peace and unity of the order. lie dis
| cussed the secession question at some length, and
states that whatever the issue may be, the Right
Worthy Grand Lodge can hardly be expected to
surrender its identity and authority and place it.
self at the mercy of indictments whose abstract
theo Ties of right are imprscticable. and whose no
| tons of government are revolutionary. Abstract
| of returns shows names of 60 grand lodges. No
returns have been received from England, Wales,
| Isle Of Man, Cape Natal and some subordinate
| lodges
The Grand Treasurer reports balance from last
| year. S4044.76; receipts SIG, 0l550; Total $40,
l44.4o; payments Sl9,500.l2; assets, including
| S9,62l45 due from grand lodges are figured at
SIS 1871; liabilities are 81 ,967.74 leaving bal
ance Of assets over liabilities of SIG, 1851; but
it Is curiously stated in addition to the above La
bilities, that Col. j. j. Hickman. r. w. G. T.,
and W. S. Willinms, r. w. G. S., have not been
paid full amount due them. But no intimation is
given ss to what the amount of their claim is.
The amount paid Col. Hickman. including $500
for salary for previous year and expenses incurred
in Great Britain, is $685. ,2S, and Mr.. Williams
has been paid 81, lSS.49 Indebtedness of Grand
| Lodge of England is 81 .57o.20. und ffty-fve
grand lodges are indebted to the Right Worthy
Grand Lodge, an aggregate of nearly ten thou
sand dollars. The Secretary states that the returns
very imperfect, and he claims that it is due to
false position assumed by seceders. The main
portion of the report is devoted to the discuss ion
Of the question of division.
A discussion on supplementary report Of the
committee on credentials then occupied the time
! until o'clock. when the meeting adjourned until
$50 Wednesday morning, with discussion pend
ing.
City Hall was filed this evening to attend the
| reception of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge by
the Good Templars of Maine. The meeting
| opened with prayer by Rev. DIR. Scott of England,
followed by singing by quartette.
Mayor Butler welcomed the delegates to the
city, and Gov. Cennor to the State. Sidney Per-
| ham welcomed in behalf of the order.
Remarks were made by ex.Gov. Dingey, Col.
Hickman of Kentucky, Rev. Mr.. Todd of Eng
land, Samuel d. Hastings of Wis Tim Needham
Of Kentucky and Rev. Mr.. Patterson of Ireland
Mary E. Erwin Of New York. read an original
poem. Later, at the Falmouth Hotel there was a
lunch given to the delegates.