Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-10-01
oDD FEEEows.
The - Patrfarchs Militant p Dearoc,
a New Departure in odd-RsIlox-
slxln. n ~ ~

The sEsatrfarchs Militant >, Dearoc,
a New Departure iz odd-RsIIow-
ship.
The Sovereign Grand Lodge Of Odd
Fellows was in session at Baltimore all
day Thursday, with brief intervals for
meals, from ga. m. until IL pm. Various
reports were received and referred to the
proper committees, but the main business
before the lodge was the consideration Of
the new degree for the uniform members
of the encampment branch of the order,
suggested and gotten up by Excelsior
Lodge Of Louisville, Ky.
During the morning session the work
Of the degree was carefully discussed and
mapped out, and the afternoon and even
ing sessions were devoted to the legisla-
ton relating to the degree. This latter
provoked much spirited debate, but the
entire degree was finally formally adopted
with amendments from the original drafts.
The new degree will be known in
general terms as "Ihe Patriarchs Mill
tant, and the members individually will
be termed chevaliers. The degree is
military one, and the uniform, while re-
tanning the characteristics of the present
regalia, will more nearly approach that
worn by the Knights Templar in its
general details. The Bunker Hill En-
campment of Odd Fellows that was
present at the unwilling of the Ridgley
Monument in Harlem square yesterday
morning went to Washington, where it
was entertained by the local Odd Fellows.
The day was spent in sightseeing.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 25.-!The most i'm
portant business transacted by the Sow
ereign Grand Lodge Of Odd Fellows, now
in session in this city, was the adoption
of revision of the uniformed degree.
The revision was based upon o report
presented by John H. Albin of New
Hampshire, John @. Underwood and
Edward A. Stevens of Kentucky In 1888 the
Sovereign Grand Lodge adopted degree
for uniformed pntriarchs. II was in
tended TO help that branch and give II an
organization Of its own, or distinctive
feature. 1t was found to be beneficial.
There has been of late demand to revise
the degree and place il upon permanent
basis. The friends Of the degree wanted
to see IL perfected. They clamored for
an attractive degree, hence the appoint
ment of the committee. In the pre-
face to the report the COM
mittee say Recognizing the fact
of desire for display and liking for
| military pomp and grandeur, and being
aware of the use made of such human
characteristics by other and rival socie-
| ties, n military feature has become neces-
| sary al an adjunct to the /. o. o. F.,
otherwise the natural supply of initiate
material will probably go to the out
wnrdly more attractive and snowy
1 Nta .Nf he 80
| the revised degree will be "Patriarchs
| Militant" The degree is based upon the
principle of universal Justice. The de-
gree is intended to be purely military,
and for purposes of display. The unit of
the organization of the degree is the
Canton" The canton shall consist of
at least fifteen members. The cantons
| throughout the world shall be organ
lied into battalions, regiments,
brigades, divisions and an army. Four
cantons shall constitute battalion; n
regiment shall consist of three battalions
three regiments shall form brigade !;
three brigades shall make division the
army shall embrace the entire rank and
file of the "Patriarchs Militant" The
"grand sire" of tho |. o. o, +. will be OK
oflicio the theoretical commandefsin-
chief. There will he 10 commissioned
officers, ranging from lieutenant general
down to an ensign. There will be ninr
non-commissioned officers. When the
membership of canton shall reach IU2,
the body will be termed "a grand
canton. A military council. con-
sisting of the field and general officers
of the army, will be held annually prior
to the meeting of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge. The 10Th of April of each year
will be day of annual parade in celebra-
ton of the anniversary of American Odd
Fellowship. The whole degree is civic
military idea. II corresponds in its de-
tails TO the United States army. The
banners and colors of the new degree are
on exhibition at Barnum's. The banner
is perfect beauty. II is SO inches wide
and "a inches long. 1t is made of
silk. The front is scarlet, with
white silk lambrequin, trimmed with gold
lace fringe and tassels. The buck is blue,
trimmed with gold lace and fringe. The
escutcheon shield rests in the centre. 1t is
of gold body. The motto, "Justitia Uni.
, versalis," runs across the centre. The
fling or "colors" is the same size rs the
banner. II consists of three equal vertical
stripes, purple, white and scarlet. &C and
NJ" iu old English are embroidered in
gold upon the purple and scarlet stripes
The flag is trimmed with gold fringe. The
workmanship is in keeping with the de,
sign. They were made by the PettibonC
Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati
The revision of the degree takes effect nj
once.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 2G.-The Sovereign
Grand Lodge of Oddfellows, after having
been in session since Monday morning
adjourned this afternoon, at o'clock, e
meet next year in Boston. The only bus
mess of importance transacted TO-DAY
was the election of Ex-Governor John G.
Underwood, of Kentucky, to be lieuten
ant of the new degree Just adopted, termed
, "Patriarchs Militant" This is really the
highest officer, the grand sire being
| general ex-officio. Among the more i'm
portant items considered by the lodg,
were the reports of the grand sire, CRANE
secretary and grand treasurer. Applica
Grand Encampment of Florida; Albert,
Lodge, No. l, Alberta, Canada Fraterni
dad Universal Lodge, No. 2, Cuba; Poca
hontas Lodge, No. 2, Indian Territory
Juarez Lodge, No. 2, Mexico; Unity En-
, campment, No. 8, British Columbia
Push-ma-ta-ha Encampment No. Q
Indian Territory; Niels Ebbersens En
campment, No. 8, Denmark; Skialn
Hoides Encampment, No. 4, Denmark
Nnnaimo Encampment, No. A, British
Columbia, Canada; Cuba Lodge, No. 8
Cuba.
Chinese Fears for Other Cinnamon