Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-25
rHE ODD
Items of Interest TO the EsnevO-
lent Fraternity.

The Sovereign Grand Lodge Of the
United States |. o. D. F. held its
session at Baltimore last week, and its
session was Of more than ordinary in
terest to the fraternity, while one in
particular, noted below, related d.
rectly to one Of the lodges in this
city.
The report Of Grand Secretary Ross
shows that 1905 members have been
added to the order since the
last report, while its tenn
pies have been increased and the
three linked banner has been I'M
furled upon heretofore forbidden soil.
During 1881 nearly 100000 we're
paid into the treasures Of subordinate
lodges, aud but little less than 5000,
900 we're discussed for the relief of
the unfortunate. Ia ffty-one years
the expenditures for relief amounted
to S32,777,554, and the total receipts
to $S7, 574,26O.
There are new 1857 subordinate
lodges and 1851 subordinate encamp-
ments, 69 grand lodges and AZ grand
eneampments, while the total mem
horsh;n 10 400 2e9
The report goes on to say: The
Eucampment branch of the Order has
shared in the prosperity of the subor-
dinate lodges, adding more than 100
to the membership, and now number
ing nearly $1,000 patriarchs. And
when to these home returns We add
the statistics of the foreign bodies oil
Australasia and Germany, and, count
log the grand aggregate of the labors
Of little more than half a century, We
End 1000, 600 brothers relieved, l33,
600 widowed families assisted, $4,000
brothers buried, the figures are simply
astounding. These grand results can
not fail to gladden. the heart of every
Odd Fellow, and impress him with
the firm belief that however unstable
other institutions of human origin
may be, there is something in this
order, some potent influence for good,
a power that fail to fully appreciate,
guiding our efforts and directing our
energies into the grand channel OF
success.
The Grand Sire, chosen for the next
two years is Erie j. Leech, Of KeO-
kuk, Iowa. This gentleman was born
in Erie county, New York, in 1926,
and went to Ohio in 1923, settling 10
Cuyahoga county, near Cleveland,
which then vas almost a wilderness.
he was a graduate of Yale College
His parents died when he wal quite
young, but having a fair classical edu-
cation, he removed to Fort Madison,
Iowa, in 1850. In 1851 he was ap
pointed Deputy Treasurer and Re-
corder of Lee county. In 1852 he was
appointed Deputy Clerk Of the Dis
trict Court, and in 1854 removed t.
Keokuk, where he has since resided
He was admitted to the bar in 1856.
and practiced with ability for four
years. He was made an Odd Fellow
in 1854, in Puckechetuck Lodge, No
43, of Iowa. He became a Past GranC
In 1857, and was elected Representa-.
tive during the same year. He be
came Grand Master Of Iowa in 1860
and Representative to the Sovereign
Grand Lodge in 1861. Here he con
tinucd in active official service unit
1880, when he was elected Deput.
Grand Sire by a large majority owe
two Of the most distinguished mem
bers in the United States. During BIZ
official career he has served on som,
Of the most important committee
With distinguished success. He il
the author Of the Digest Of the Law
Of the State Of Iowa, and has con
tributed many valuable essays to th,
literature of the Order. Personally
be is very popular, and has man.
warm friends throughout every juris
diction.
The legislation referred to above re
lates,to the Chickasaw Lodge No.
Of this city, a lodge thirty-eight year
Of age, and which has considerable
reputation in theOrder throughout tn
State for its general knowledge Of tn
laws governing the order and its accu
rate Interpretation Of the same
The question involved, and de
cided in its favor by tn
Sovereign Grand Lodge las
Thursday was stated in a brief care
fully prepared by Past Grand W. A
Goodman, Of Chickasaw Lodge, on a
appeal from the Grand Lodge Q
Tennessee. From this brief the com
mittee in the Sovereign Grand Lodg
made a summary of the facts in tn
case, and they were: That in Ma
1879, Grand Master Budd, of Ter
nesses, granted q dispensatiOn author
izing the merging Of Bluff City Lodg,
Of this city, into that of Chickasav
Bluff City Lodge at that time had 8
members in good standing with th
lodge; also five widows. Grand MAJ
ter Budd said in his ~dispensatior
"Chickasag Lodge is to enter upon il
roll all members in good standin
Of Bluff City Lodge, No. Is,
and is to assume all liabilities Of sal
4 lodge, now and hereafter, to widow
and orphans, and others holding claim
against said lodge. Charter an
books TO be surrendered TO the Dii