Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-17
The Odd Fellows.

ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GRAND LODGE.
The Grand Lodge Of the United States, In,
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, convened in
annual session Yesterday morning at odd Eel
lows hall, in Baltimore.
GRAND SIRE'S REPORT.
Inc report OF the most worshipful grand sire
represents the order with entire harmony aud
good order prevailing in all its branches. but
states that while the annual returns exhibit
an increase In the lodges and encampmcni $,
year, they Indicate, for the first time since
1863, falling off in the membership and rev
enue. This loss to the order of members, for
certed and systematic effort to win them back
to active membership, with liberal induce
ments as to the payment of their arrearages,
Is lSreeommended to the favorable consideration
resent the condition of the order at present as
follows: Grand lodges. As; subordinate lodges,
6.sn; increase during the year, l99; grand
lS5; increase, %; lodge limitations. 36,OS7-a
decrease from the year 1876 of 1859; lodge
members, y aJa 44I ls6: decrease during the year,
299S; total relief, 81 ,7G5 26S Il: increase $l5-
~ a G9; total revenue, s4,423,05l S5; decrease,
THE ORDER ABROAD
1t Is announced that Thomas Wildey Lodge,
NO. l, and Anglo American Encampment, No.
|, instituted in London. England, have vir-
tually ceased to exist. Since last report Den
mark has been added to The list of foreign
Jurisdictions. The order in Switzerland is
desirOus of being instructed in the higher
degrees.
1T is stated that wi tn the close of this session
the balance in the treasury which has been
df gradufally diminished for several years, will
penses exceeding this year the revenue seye-
raj thousand dollars. A fruitful source of
this depletion, 1t is suggested, results from a
propensity to hold the annual session of the
cody at places remote from the seat OF gov
ernment, and legislation Is recommended fix
ing permanently the place of meeting.
REBEKAH DEGREE LODGES
The reports from these lodges do not pre-
sent an encouraging prospect for the future,
and the opinion is expressed that the extent
OF their usefulness and success is not such as
to warrant continuation, or at least that it
be lett entirely under the control of subOrdi-
nate lodges.
REVISION OF sUBoRDINATE DEGREES
The committee appointed at the last session
to revise the subordinate degrees will report
Grand Sire. gives it as his opinion that the de-
clded sentiment of the order is in favor of
consolidating the five degrees to three.
FEVER SUFFERERS.
Inc attention OF the Grand Lodge is called
to the reception OF an appeal from the officers
OF the Grand Lodge of Mississippi in behalf of
the suffering and afflicted brethren, their
widows and orphans within that jurisdiction.
THE WORK OF DEATH.
The death of two members OF the Grand
Lodge during the year-Grand Representative
Nathan Porter and Past Grand Sire Frederick
ID. Stuart-is felllngly announced and such ac.
tiOn recommended as may be fitting tribute
to their memories.
THE TREAsURER's REPORT.
Hon. Joshua VanSant, Grand Treasurer ex-
presses regret that he cannot present more
favorable report of the financial condition OF
the Grand Lodge, but conceives it his duty to
present the money affairs as they exist. The
Expenses, $i1,97231: revenue, $3l, $50. 81; bal
ance against revenue, $40, ,591.79. The available
assets August 81, 1878, were: Cash in the
par value, $500; total, $lS,66l. .49. The Wildey
monument fund assets consist of United States
bonds at par value, S., 900, and cash balance
Of $9O.l3: total, $2090.13.
OTHER REPORTS.
The report Of Grand Secretary James l..
Ridgley. vOluminOus document, and the re-
port OF John b. Harmon, Deputy Grand Sire
and special commissioner to Australia and
New Zealand, were submitted to the Grand
Lodge and read.