Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-12
Lodge and Society.

Grand Encampment and Mutual Aid As socihtion, T. Q. Q. F.-Annual Meetings.
 The adjourned annual meeting of the Grand Encampment,L o. o. F.,was held yes terday at Odd Fellows Hall. The business was the discussion of the new work and measures relative to the distribution of the books. The books are expected to be ous in April.
 The annual meeting of the Odd Fellows Mutual Aid association was held yesterday afternoon. During the past year the number of deaths has been larger than in former years, but in past years the death total has been very light
 In the first class Jan. 1, 1880, there were dropped for non-payment of assessment, 80; dropped for other causes, 8 new members received, 146; leaving total present mem bership of 2,632.
 In the second class Jan. l, 1880, the num- Der was 1,133; died during year, 19 dropped for non-payment, IS; dropped for other | causes, 9; new members added, 75; trans ferred from first class, 9; present member ship, 1,1G5; total membership, 3,797; gain | since last report of 101.
 Amount of funds at beginning of year, $12, ,696.7o; fees of new members, $1,996 fees for assessments, $55, ,342; fees for inter. est, $459.94; total funds, $7O, 49464. There was paid during the year for office and other incidental expenses g., ,265.36. There were paid benefits on 32 deaths, first class, SIS, 900; benefits on IS deaths, second class, 5000; making total expenses for the year $59, ,265.36; leaving the amount ot money on hand $11, ,229. .2s.
 The cash assets are divided as follows Contingent fund, $S,642.21; benefit fund, first class, $2,044.O5; benefit fund, second class. $543O2
 The contingent fund transactions are Amount Jan l, 1880, $9,551. .3s; admission fees, $1,996; interest on bonds and from savings banks, $377.5s; total, $11, ,924. 96. Accrued interest and premium on SC, COG of Essex town bonds, $2S2. .75; two benefits | in first class, $3 900; leavidg balance in the fund Jan 1st, 1881, of $S, 642.2I.
 The secretary calls attention to the use oi this fund in assisting in the payment of ben efits and he views larger amount as most l satisfactory. "I know of no lodge of oul order, either in this or any other jurisdiction but that labors with more or less assiduity 1T the building up and increase of it's fund.- l The death rate in the first-class was II pe1 cent, in the second class E per cent The rate for the IA years of the society's exist I ence is only one in 120.
 The average membership for the year wal 3, TIT, and the average expense fraction les, than sixty cents per member The ultimate return of the expense of buying Essex towr bonds will reduce it to 523 cents. being the smallest amount of expense reported for number of years. The rate of insurance wa SIS per $1, 900, far from excessive, compared with ordinary insurance companies
 The average age of members is now 4: years, months, an increase of months an6 14 days. The number of new members ii smaller than in former years. Efforts should be made to increase it. especially from the ranks of the younger brethren. My obser Vation leads me to the conclusion that bu little attention is given to this matter, mucl less than its importance would seem to re quire, and hope for much more effort anc | labor in this direction in future" The tota amount of benefits paid now reaches $211, 1 738, distributed to widows and heirs of 14, members, who have paid in $7 ,O52. 55.
 President J. K. Bundy and Treasurer Holli | also submitted reports. Measures were adopt ed for an increase of the contingent fund.
 The officers of the past year were re-elect ed: Joseph K. Bundy president George N | Moses, secretary; Thomas C. Hollis, treas | urer.