The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-04
/. O. O. F. NOTES.

Metropolitan Encampment will meet to-mor-
row night
The Sovereign Grand Lodge will meet in Bos
ton next year.
Indianapolis Lodge worked the initiatory
degree on Friday night.
Shelby Lodge. Sheibyvllle, had five petitions
for membership last Monday night.
S. P. Oyler, N. Mccoy and J. w. McQuiddy
returned from Baltimore last Sunday.
G. II. Randall, grand representative of Cali
forna, spent several days in this city during the
past week He left for home on Wednesday
night
Tho meeting of Fidelity Lodge, D. of R., last
Monday night, was very enjoyable. The degree
was conferred, and eleven petitions for member
ship received.
The friends of Past Grand Sire Erie J. Leech
will be pleased to know that he was able to be
prese MT at the session of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge, in improved health.
The Past Grand Representatives Union elected
the following officers at the recent session of the
Union in Baltimore: Erie j. Leech, Iowa, pres
ident; j. w. Smith. Connecticut, vce-president;
and j. w. McQuiddy, Indiana secretary.
new encampment will be instituted at
Shelbyvile on the 18th inst by Grand Patriarch
Porter. The grand instructor has been requested
by the grand patriarch to take charge Of the
floor work, and the staff of Metropolitan En-
campment will be invited to assist the instructor.
Forty-fve candidates will be initiated, advanced
and exalted
The order in North America now consists of
"a grand lodges, A grand encampments. 7,845
lodges, 1884 encampments, 1l32 Rebekah De-
gree lodges, SIG. 230 lodge members, 81 257 Ell
campment members, 49,943 Rebekah lodge
members. There were ii, 098 persons initiated
during the year. Revenue of lodges, 81, 736, 1885,
30; encampments, $3.50. 97S SO; Rebekah lodges,
$56 49a 81; total S. 24 307 &c., total relief for the
year. So. ILL 926.S6; total relief since 1881, $685.
918, 406 16.
The following new petition for membership in
lodges was adopted at the recent session of the
Sovereign Grand LODGE II respectfully request
admission into this lodge, and in consideration
of being admitted a member promise and agree
to conform to the constitution and bylaws Of
your lodge and those of the Grand Lodge
and that will seek my remedy for all rights on
account Of said memb ership or connection there
with in the tribunals Of the order only, without
resorting for their enforcement in any event or
for any purpose to the civil courts.
During the past year the Rebekah Degree has
made friends rapidly. At the session at Mime
apolis petition for separate grand lodges was
before the Sovereign Grand Lodge, but the COM
mittee reported adversely. This year twenty
nine lodges of Massachusetts again petitionod for
separate grand lodges, and the committee report
ed in favor OF the measure The report was rot
adopted, by vote of forty one yeas to fifty seven
degree, and should encourage the ladies to per-
severe in their endeavors, as it is only ques-
ton of time when their wishes will be acceded
to by the conservative head of the order.
The Sovereign Grand Lodge adjourned Satur-
day, Sept &c A new degree. called the Patr-
archs' Militant Degree, was adopted, to take the
place of the Uniform Degree Camp. 1t is reg
ular military system, of which the Sow
ereign Grand Lodge is the head,
and the grand sire commander-in chief
John c. Underwood, acknowledgements of
Kentucky, ard graduate of West Point. was
elected lieutenant-general, and is really the
active commanding officer. The subordinate
bodies are called cantons and the members
chevaiiers. The uniform is changed, but can
tons are permitted to still wear the uniform now
In USE The secret work of the degree has been
much improved, and was exemplifed by Excel
sior Canton, No. l, of Louisville, KY com
manded by Capt. G. w. Northrop with twenty
seven chevaliers in line 1t is hoped and
expected that the new legislation will be
accepted as solution of the difficulties which
have existed for several years past.