The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-03-12

lie succeeded in his object, anu thnt Douy
adopted portion of the work Of the lnde-
pendent OrIer-ihe degrees Of the Cove
nant and Remembrance-andf finally agreed
to surrender all claims Of jurisdiction over
the Order in the United States.
From 1929 to 1861, there had been gath
ercd into The fold of the brotherhood.
42G. .0Gs members, and the revenue OF the
Order. derived from weekly dues, Of from
six to twelve cents, amounted TO S20,363,-
O57. Out Of these receipts, there was ex-
penses Of Sd. .092 900 and for the relief of the
sick. burial Of the dead. and for widows
and orphans the sum of SS,S0i 900 was
paid: leaving balance Of $6.F3,OO0 for
similar objects. The sum expended re-
lievcd 55S.362 members, and 81 ,5G2 Wild
owed families. The number Of orphans
educated cannot be precisely given. but In
one jurisdiction. Maryland, up to 1851,
there were 2,744 children in charge Of the
Committee on Education. or that num-
ber, l,l93 were, in that year. under its
care. and 500 had been placed at trades
and other industrial pursuits.
Since 1861. during the recent interincene
troubles, the membership of the Order fell
off in the entire jurisdiction Of the Grand
Lodge of the United States But since the
advent Of peace, il has revived, AMI the
entire revenue of the Order may reach
from S35 900. 900. $4,000, 600, with cor
responding increase of expenditure for re-
lief of trothers, and for widows and Or
phans.
Under the jurisdiction Of the Grand
Lodge of the United States. there are AZ
Grand Lodges, G,G7S Subordinate Lodges
and Encampments, and 45G, l25 members.
There was paid during the year 1876, for
the relief of sick brothers, the burial Of the
dead and for specific relief, 81 .bS9, 49, d.
or This sum there was expended for G,ooU
widowed families. Sl55.696, for the relief
of brothers. 81 $50, 1888. For the burial
of 1907 members, there was paid s2o2,
1885,. The total receipts Of the Order
was about $i,000.000.
In aldtion to the Working Lodges Of the
Brotherhood, there has been instituted
Degree Lodges Of the Daughters OF Rebe-
kah. TO this degree. the brothers. the
wives Of brothers. and the widows Of bro
theirs who were in good standing with their
lodges at their death, can be initiated Be-
sides distinct Lodges of the Rebekah De.
gree, it is side degree to the Working
Lodges. In 1876. there were J. 800 bro
Tiers. and l2.36l sisters in the various
Rebekah Degree Lodges, and 5.I4S bro
Tiers. and 3,2l0 sisters connected with the
Working Lodges. The institution OF this
degree is Of recent date, but the beneficial
effect of possessing this degree by ladies,
has often been eIemplifed in the vicissi-
tudes of life, many ladies who had the de-
gree, finding friends when assistance was
mo.t urgent, and but little, IL at all, ex-
pected.
The statements have gwen in regard to
the characteristics Of the Independent Or
der Of Odd Fellows, and its beneficial Of
fees, have been given with desire to dis
abuse those who may have looked upon The
Order unfavorably. especially in reference
to the present generation, who have come
upon the stage Of active life, while the Or
der in this section has beer depressed.
Very many individual cases OF relief to the
suffering brother. the destitute and broken
hearted widjw, the helpless orphan, could
be furnished to magnify the merits of The
Order. hut probably enough has heen sta
ted. If shall have created any interest
in behalf of the Order, shall be yet more
indebted for the privilege of occupying so
much Of your columns, Mr.. Editor. and
should The interest culmluate In nm express
sion of any interest on the part of the la
dies of Camden in behalf of kershaw Lodge,
in carrying out your kind suggestion, arr
certain the Brotherhood will be grateful to
the ladies. (who are ever ready TO lend
their aid in any good causc,) as well MS to
yourself.
All out of the 0rber. who may have
looked upon the insignia Of the Brother
hood as unmcaning displays. must, on read
lug and reneOting Oh tho foregoing state
mcn,s. feel that they have done "noble
Order" injustice. In connection with these
"grotcsque haub.es," there is IL language
that g mute there is silence that speaks
there is a something that may not he told
to the uniniated-but, like the chart and
compass to the mariner, when tossed upon
the angry waves of the ocean, these bau-
bles arc the guides of every true Odd Eel
low. amid the stormy scenes of life. IL.