, 1883-08-23
Grand Master f.. 0. U. W.


To fhe officers G,d NcmbcrS Of the
subordinate Lodges Of the AUcieHt
Oydcr Of UHifed IIorhmeR, jH the
jurisdiction Of oregon. Washing
foH 0!sd British CoIumbiu:
Brothers: l have been selected by
you as Grand Master Workman for
the present term. and Ill assuming
the duties of that station, feel that l
ought to visit you at your respective
lodges, for the purpose of urging
you to renewed and increased eXer-
ton IN extending the benefits which
ou Order offers to those willing to
embrace its advantages, but the ex-
tent Of this jurisdiction, the difficult
ties Of reaching all its parts by the
absence of speedy and convenient
facilities Of travel, and the pressure
of other business upon my time.
makes it practically impossible for
me TO do so, and ! must content my
self to address you through the me
dium OF our official paper, upon Il
few of the matters | deem of vital
interest to us as an organized body.
And first, the sessions of the sU-
bordinate lodges should be better at
tended To accomplish this end, the
meetings should be made attractive,
interesting and pleasant.
Section 65S of the Digest of Laws
and Decisions, adopted by the sev-
enth session of our Supreme Lodge,
held at Nashville, declares it to be
one of the objects of our order ito
hold lectures, read essays, discuss the
new inventions and improvements,
encouraging researches in arts, scicn-
ce and literature and where practi-
cable, maintain Il library for the i'm
provement of the members"
What field OF usefulness is here
presented, if we would but avail our
selves Of it. Usefulness to not only
ourselves and each other, but to the
respective communities in which our
lodges are situated. The evenings
are beginning to lengthen in proper
ton rs the days shorten, and by in
augurating system Of hceums or
debating clubs, or literary work of an
educational character, you will make
your meetings pleasant andprohtable
and attract thereto, class Of young
men who would be uIimpressed and
unimproved by Il mere transaction
of the business OF the society.
VIII our subordinate lodges in this
jurisdiction act upon this suggestion?
Second. Our ranks should be re
cruited by obtaining members from
the fast increasing population of this
whole western country, because of
the strength that numbers give, and
because that by SO doing we not only
tighten our own burdens by way of
defraying lodge expenses, and make
our beneficiarieS more secure in case
of our demise, but we extend the So
cial, charitable, educational and fra
ternal characteristics of our order to
all those who accept them.
Third We should be more careful
i'll reading and knowing the laws
that govern the society. Each Off
Ger of the subordinate lodge land
this applies to the officers of the
Grand Lodge, myself among the
number) should seek to know what is
required OF him to do, and do it faith
fully and fully, because he has given
a solemn pledge and promise that he
will do SO, and because the property
rights of the widow and orphan
children may depend upon his care
full, painstaking honest action in
Office. And each brother should ia
miliarize himself with the Constitu-
ton and Bylaws of his lodge, and
not look upon the little volume as
containing hidden secrets, too COM
plicated for him to understand, and
therefore useless waste of time to
investigate.
And finally, brothers. let us in ev-
cry good and charitable work en-
deayor to be more faithful toilers
than in the past, to the end that So
ciety may be benefited by our labors,
and that we may have the gratifying
conviction that We are doing our duty
as true Workmen and good citizens.
/ CHARLES NJ. BRADSHAW.