The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-20
GRAND LODGE I. o. o. F.

Eo1'ty-EightlI Annual SessiOa-RepOrts of Of
observation-disclosures Business.
The forty eighth annual meeting Of the Grand
Lodge, |. 0. O. f., began yesterday morning with
an attendance of over 800 delegates-all the
subordinate lodges in the State being repre-
scented
The Grand Master. Hamilton Mccoy of In
dianapolis, submitted his report He said:
u am happy in being able to report that the
Order is in prosperous and fiourishpg condi-
ton. sound and strong financially and with a
continual increase Of membership there having
been over LOCO limitations during the last term
and, as the cause of shrinkage in membership by
the change in the work has undoubtedly been
overcome as the above would indicate, ! can see
no good reason why our Order shall not again
rapidly increase in membership, and extend its
sphere of usefulness, as it becomes financially
stronger year by year.
II notice that during the last half of my term
of Office the social features of our order are
given more prominence. and more letters asking
permission to hold entertainments and picnics
under the auspices of the order were received
by me than letters asking decisions in matters
of difference of opinion between lodges and their
members regarding claims for benefits. This
consider q healthy indication. While ] fully
recognize the benevolent and charitable features
of oar order in regard to benefits i cannot sub
scribe to the ASSUMPTION that they constitute the
only adhesive quality. / am of the opinion that
imam cannot live by bread alone" conveys n
lesson to us as an order. Men have souls as
we'll as appetites hearts as well as pocket books
While as an order
Friendship shall give the keynote to the songs that
And Loves unfading story shall our hearts in con.
cert bring:
And Truth, the sister virtue, join in the lay
of love to God and good will to man. Our
course vii be onward and upward until our infiu-
ence will be felt throughout the worlds
During the year he appointed five hundred
district deputies OF which all but seventy-six
made reports. Lodges were instituted by charter
at Kennard, Henry county, and Tennyson, War
rick county. Rebekah degree lodges were insti-
tuted at South Whitley, Whitley county; Green
Oak, Fulton county; PEather Clark county and
Pimento, Vigo county. Lizton lodge, No 800,
surrendered its charter. The work of Grand
Instructor MeQuiddy was complimented, and re-
greet was expressed that the State was not dis
tricted, and each district provided with an in
strnctor. Thanks were rendered to Grand Sec
rotary Foster for his uniform kindness and val
liable counsel and advice. In conclusion, the
Grand Master said:
With thRnkfuness acknowledge the God
above us, who has watched over us as an order
and has given us prosperity and happiness
within our borders during the last year, and
principles OF friendship, love, and truth we are
following the line along which his blessings
come, and the benedictiOns uttered eighteen
hundred years ago from the Mount mean the
same to-day as when they first fell from His
sacred lips. Brothers With the close of this
session, my term of Office expires, and I take
this opportunity of expressing to you. one and
all. my full appreciation, not Only Of the high
honor which your suffrage has conferred upon
me but for the uniformly kind ana courteous
| have at
realize now more fully than ever before. the i'm
portance of this high office and the trying diff
culties with which it is surrounded, and think
/ voice the feelings OF my predecessors when
say have no desire to try the journey over
again, even could endure the fatigue"
Grand Secretary Foster reported the work and
condition of the subordinate lodges for the term
ending June 80, 1884. During this period there
were l,019 limitations. nearly double the number
that we're made in the term ending Dec. 81, 1888
Deducting losses by suspensions and other causes
there is a net gain in membership of 1923 When
it is considered that the preceding term showed
a loss of over 400, this increase in numerical
strength is peculiarly gratifying 1t is also an
evidence that the new work is being better I'M
derstood and appreciated by the lodges and there
is no donbt that in due time their ability to rem
der the same will be universally attested
The relief report is unusually. large and may
be summed up as follows: During the term / 5l6
brothers and l79 widowed families have been re-
lieYed. The sum of S3l, SIP 30 has been paid for
the relief of brothers: $3.235S7 for the relief of
widowed families: $6l0.25 for the education of
orphans: 81 448 IS for bnrving the dead and SIS
:it2 Ii for. other charitable purposes making the
total amount Of relief for the term $40 100 A.
In the foregoing statement Of the amount paid
for relief, is included the donations of lodges to
the flood sufferers.
Two new lodges and four Rebekah lniges have
been instituted since the last session of the
Grand Lodge, and one lodge, Starke No 39S
has been suspended. Five hundred and fifty
subordinate lodges are now effective, with an
active membership of % $50. The number of
ladies receiving the degree of Rebekah during
the year was $50 The resources of lodges were
81 43l SO %; the receipts, $ll9 0l65l; expenses
$50, IA 49, and the dues to the Grand Lodge
s. 942 90 The total expenses, including relief,
was 500, S54. g. The balance in the treasury,
Nov l. was $l4. 1851.
The Grand Treasurer, Theodore P. Haughey.
reported the total assets of the Grand Lodge at
81, 506 81.
The. lodge hall trustees reported dividends de-
clared July !, 1884. at 81. 1923 IS
Grand Representatives Will Cambaek and 8.
p. Oyler, submitted a report Of the proceedings
of the siXtieth session of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge
Grand Instructor John W. MeQuiddy made a
report 1t had been his purpose to give prac-
teal rather than elaborate instruction in the
work. There was. however, much to be done in
this jurisdiction before uniform system of con
ii,rfluS ueSreSS WAS SSlaDlSneu, anu ihOSe lodges
that have provided paraphernalia could assist
very materially in dffusing it in their immedi-
ate neighborhoods.
The appointments of the usual standing com
mittees concluded the morning session.
The afternoon session was largely taken up
with routine work.
kilograms were sent TO the Grand Lodge of
Illinois in session at Peoria
resolution was submitted looking to a redue-
ton in the number of representatives to the
Grand Lodge dividing the States into one hundred
districts. This was laid over until the next com
Ipunication.
Hon. Schuyler Colfax was present and ad-
dressed the lodge in Characteristic speech,
dwelling upon the benefits conferred upon man
kind by the order -"
4 telegram VAS received from the Grand
Lodge l. q o. F., Of Illinois returning frpter-
nal greeting, coupled with desire for the pros
perity Of the craft in Indiana.