The Mineral argus., 1884-09-25

1CNNA 1tcobfOtA ~ lD4,UJO ~
Lodge limitations ....... 43,774 +3,775
Decrease.
Following this are decisions of points of
special interest to the order, with a review
of the status of affairs in Australia. Chill.
Cuba, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Neither
lands, Peru, Sandwich Islands, Sweden.
Switzerland. Turkey and Trinidad, showing
a generally fattering condition, with a
healthy growth anticipated.
THE PRESS ORGANS.
Regarding the press of the order, he saws:
The discussion of the internal affairs of the
order by and through several of our fraternaI
Journals, styling themselves organs will, 1
greatly fear, be seriously detrimental to the
best interests of Odd Fellowship. While 1
cheerfully accord to the brothers who have
so earnestly labored to extend and build up
the order in it's various fields of occupation
the purest motives. and willingly aoknow-
ledge the great good they nave accom-
plished, yet 1 am reluctantly impelled
by a sense of duty to say that many erro-
neous constructions of law and usage, many
erroneous impressions of the effect and bear
ing of those laws have been, by means of the
press, scattered broadcast throughout our
wide domain. The constitution of the
supreme head of the order, as well as many
laws of the sovereign grand lodge, have been
subject of bitter and unfavorable COM
nent and controversy, and in the
columns of some OF these journals
it is strenuously argued that the
sovereign grand lodge is not the source of
true and legitimate Odd Fellowship, etc.
Paper has warned against paper, each, as a
matter OF course, having the support of a
portion of the order, and thus already discord
is being fostered and a loosening
of respect for the andat of the supreme
law-making power is growing where peace,
harmony and obedience to our laws
formerly prevailed Certain parties
during the year some of promin-
ence in the order-referring to the
source of all true and legitimate odd Fellow
ship, seem to contend that the sovereign
grand lodge is not the source of all true and
legitimate Odd Fellowship in the United
States, etc. Against such doctrine l
desire, here and now, to enter my
solemn protest. 1t s~ustains and perpetuates
not only itself, but the order of which it is
the great supreme head by ENGRAVING into
its constitution such provisions and amend
ments as may be deemed wise. 1t was hoped
that the legislation had at the last session on
the question of the
SUPREME TEMPLE AND PATRIARCHAL CIRCLE
would have been a inality. From all l can
learn, no attention is paid by the cir
Gle adherents to the act of the su-
preme temple, and they are still con-
tinuing to form circles and take in
members as they did at the beginning. The
supreme oracle of the circle organization has
boldly declared that he will accept a charter
unless all the charter members are of the
royal purple degree thus, virtually multiplying
and setting aside the order made by the SUI
preme temple in the interest Of peace. 1t is
true that no very great progress has been
made by the circle during the year, only
eight subordinate temples having been
instituted during that period, to wit: four in
Wisconsin, three in Minnesota, and one only
in Illinois,: whilst two have surrendered
their charters, one of them being in Ohio and
one in Maine, showing quite a falling off
from the precious year, and being a gain
OF only six temples. They do not seem to
get a foot hold in more thar eight or nine
jurisdictions, yet with a stubborness worthy
OF a better cause, they seem to be determined
to try and force the sovereign
grand lodge to yield to them
ulg1timate demand Some further action
seems to be demanded from the grand body
70 finally settle this annoying diff
GSultty, and L leave the whole sub
lect to the wisdom of the repre-
senoatives, who, 1 have no doubt, will
no what is proper in the premises. Docu-
Mmehus and proclamations
retar grand sire's report Grand Sec
aeUary Theodore A Ross presents
luminous annual report of
oorenSyInlne pages containing carefully
~ tIp ~ statistics with a tabulated exhibit
SronS financial transactions of his office.
onanu treasurer Alexander L Spears an
,connt tePoss shows an aggregate debit &C
count OF $$o9 ,647. so; aggregate disburse-
~ p @oo'o62S5i balance on hand, $40