The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-20
factors In the perpetuati,n Of those bodies.
fyIEDpu n1Au


UNIFORM RANK.
In compliance with instructions, and
bearing commission from the Supreme
Chancellor, Instituted Trinity Division,
No. 3, in the ely Of Petersburg, on June
1871. This sci sice was rendered peculiarly
pleasant in lie fact that j had been selected
by the applicants as their instltntng officer.
In this rink there are now four divisions
in our 'ds'e-to-wit: Atlantic, No. |, at
Portsmouth; Virginia, No. 2, at Norfolk;
Trinity, No. 3, at Petersburg, ard Rich
mor.d, No. 4, at Richmond. This, like the
Endowment rank, is another strong factor
in the advancement Of our order, and ut
once commends itself TO our young and
active membership. II is really an essen
ttal in so young a membership as ours, NJ
fordng attractions not to be found in the
other branches OF the order. This rank
meets much favor wherever it has been in
troduced.
REPORT OF GRAND KEEPER OF RECORDS AND
SEALS.
The report Of the Grand Keeper OF Re-
cords and Seals-LerOy :. Edwards-giyes
concise summary OF the transactions OF
the order for the past year and its present
| status a. TO
MEMBERSHIP, FINANCES, &C.
The following extract gives the main
points OF interest
An analysis Of the reports OF the subOrdi-
nate lodges will present in concise man
ner the general CONDITION Of the order in
| Virginia on December 81, 1879, so far rs re-
ported.
The present December 81, 1879 member
ship is 2,406, rot including pages and es-
quires nor the membership OF Lodges A.,
81, and -. hicb have made no reports.
On December 81. 1873, the membership
rs above was 2,0S0, and the amended tabu-
| lar statement, as printed with the minutes,
after receipt OF all reports. was ,, ia.
| Balance in the treasures OF Subordinate
lodges is SIS, 400.41, not including reports
OF LODGES A.. 81. and 52-an increase Of
$4,000 over amount reported December,
1878.
Total collections in 1879 10y the lodges,
80. 39O.S9, not including amounts collected
By Lodges A, 40. 81, and -.
Total expenditures, Sl4,9l2 50; OF this
amount s., 70j.G0 (beng over 33 per centum
Of total coIIeciioB>) was used for the reliei
Of memters and their families. For other
lodge purposes $9,207.20 was expended
an increase OF 500 for relief over previous
year, and Of nearly $4,000 for other eX-
penSes.
BY limitations and rtinStatementN mot in
GLIDING 81, 81, and 52l ji2 additions were
made TO the membership OF The lodges.
Losses from all causes in 1879 were 1874,
as follows: BY death. 20; by suspension,
1879; by withdrawal, %. 1t will thus be
seen that there was a marked improvement
! in 1S79-a net gain OF 32G among the lodges
1 D.; .b n
| Is, 1891. Losses from all causes have been
less than for many years.
The following exhibit OF the gains and
losses in membership and financial increases
and losses will present 10 CONDENSED form,
| PEI spicuous manner, the condition OF the
several lodges for the year ending Deem
| Der 81, 1879. rs compared with same date OF
previous year:
The unprecedented successes OF Atlantic
Lodgr. No. u; Portsmouth Lodge, No. l6 !;
| Norfolk, No. 9; Naomi No. 30, and Ruth,
| No. 20, will not escape your attention. A.
| lanic, No. a. i now the strongest lodge in
| the jurisdiction in membership and III
| finances.
OF The thrty-one lodges reporting, twen-
ty-twO show an increase in membership OF!
3Sj and large increase in financial strength.
whilst only seven lodges show falling of
IN memberships total OF thrty-siX-and
comparatively small decrease in assets.
NOTES.
The Grand Lodge is in session to-day and
will elect officers tonight.
The Uniform Rank from Richmond has
arrived. and those from Norfolk, Ports
mouth. and Petersburg VIII arrive to-day.
The procession VIII lake place tomorrow,
with the military as an escort. and viii be
one OF the most imposing aif,irs OF the kind
that ever took place in Virginia.
AT night a splendid banquet will be given
az the Lynch House, when Wit and wine
will flow in sparkling rivalry.
TELEPHONE.
1This letter ought to have reached Us in
time for yesterdays issue, but did not. We
give il as containing facts interesting to the