Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-07
A. @. u. w.
.ANNUlL MEETTNG OF Grand LODGE
or WTNNESOT IND DAKOTA.

Report of the Grand Master Workman
The order in a FlOurishing Condition
Suggestions rs to the Improvement OF Its
System of Insurance-Annual Report OF
the Grand Receives and Other Officers.
The Grand Lodge A. o. U. w. of Min
nesota and Dakota commenced its annual
session yesterday morning inWorkingmen's
hall, on Wabashaw street There was a
large representation of delegates present
from all parts of this state and the terri
tory of Dakota, and great interest was
manifested in the proceedings.
The day was devoted mainly to the re-
ception of the reports of the grand officers.
The report of the supreme representa-
tives was first presented. 1t was simply a
report of the proceedings of the national
grand lodge, held in Cincinnati in June
last.
Report of the Grand Master Workman.
Following are the portions of the report
of Grand Master Workman Levi that are
of especial interest:
DAOSAASAo' O4AO lOaL elSoO JOu OOAAOAAOO
on me the unsolicited honor, the highest in
your gift, of grand master. 1 now return
to you the authority and trust you thus
cOnfded to me, hoping you will find that
the duties thereby imposed, have been full
filled. So far as l have been able, 1 have
given careful personal attention to all the
duties OF the Office, including correspond
ence; except, during the month of Janu-
airy, when afflicted by the most grevious
visitation of the Divine Workman, 1 was
compelled, for time, to accept the kind
assistance of our grand recorder. Any de-
lays or omissions arising during this
period will, 1 have no doubt, be overlooked
b. my brothers, as you will recognize that
in more senses than one, 1.-The night COM
eth when no man can work.
You intrusted 10 my government in this
grand jurisdiction, upon my accession to
office sixty-1ine lodges and about 1900
members. The only accurate data fro :
which to estimate members at that time is
the amount paid on relief call No. 3, 81 ,098.-
80 which indicates 2,197. Of these, however,
No. 20, Fergus Falls, was already substan-
italy dead. I found it impo ssible to re-
vive it, and therefore withdrew its charter.
Lodges at Owatonna, Still water and Gran
ite Falls were also on the verge of disso-
luton. The first and last have been
placed, I believe, on a good working basis,
and the other hope may yet be, although
it still requires help.
1 now return you eighty-one lodges and
about $500 members. Thirteen new
lodges have been organized during the
year, five IN Minnesota and eight in Da-
kota. detailed list of these lodges will
be found in the report of the grand re-
corder. [ also place before you the report
of the deputy G. NJ. W., who organized and
instituted these new lodges.
DAKOTA.
The supreme lodge at its last session,
having attached the territory of Dakota to
this grand jurisdiction,I deemed it my duty
to organize lodges therein. The work has
been prosecuted with as much vigor as cir
cumstances would permit, and appears
upon the list of the new lodges added Sdur-
ing the year
APPEALS.
Only one appeal from any subordinate
lodge has been taken during the year, and
in this the decision below was affirmed.
Another appeal was attempted, but aban-
doned or settled.
The difficulty IN the latter case arose out
of an attempt by one brother to garnish
the sick benefits of another 1 now men
ton the matter simply because in my
opinion. under no circumstances, should
such an attempt be ever made, or coun-
tenanced. Sick benefits, as we'll as bene-
4iciary funds, in our order, should be ever
sacred to the purpose for which they are
primarily intended, and authorized by our
Law, and be IN no event subject to the pay
ment of ordinary debts.
The older in this jurisdiction to-day is,
/ am satisfied, not only in numbers and
financially but also in health and esprit du
corps, in better condition than it has ever
been; and with care in the selection OF
grand officers Including such deputy and
a medical directory who will give their
best efforts to the work, 1 see no reason
why the membership of our beloved order
in this grand jurisdiction could not, with
entire safety, be largely increased during
the coming year.
Notwithstanding the large number of
new members who have come to US during
the year, the record shows that there must
have been several hundred brothers, who
have fallen from the ranks. While this to
q certain eAIGuJ IN all OfuerS. ASSOCIATIONS
and insurance organizations, must be so,
as d rule, 1 do not think our loss in this
regard, unexpected or too large.
On the whole 1 am inclined to think, that
we seldom lose brother in this wise worth
preserving. That by means of suspen-
sions, we are frequently relieved of IN
healthy lives or those over age. In such
cases the attention of subordinate lodges.
should be called to the importance of not
attempting a reinstatement, but of avoid
ing it whenever possible. In no case
should we increase our members at the
expense of our probable death rate. Our
order in this jurisdiction, so far as its pur
poses as an assurance organization is con-
cerned, is now l believe upon sound,
healthy basis. Its insurance of the safest,
cheapest and best. Every effort should be
made to keep it so. At the same time 1
am not content with the present
status of its social or lodge features.
Why should there be such apathy in
attendance upon lodge meetings and in the
performance oflodge duties? 1 venture
to say that in no other matter in which my
brothers had each $4,000 of their own
money invested, requiring as this does
oorafuI and cOnSiderata attanti0r oD6