Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-19

The annual session of the Grand Lodge
of Delaware, I. o. o. F., opened in Odd
Fellows Hall yesterday with a large
attendance and Grand Master Joseph III.
Seal presiding.
Reports from various committees were
read. Two reports from the committee
on appeals were sustained. The finance
committee reported that there is a good
balance in bank to the credit of the
grand lodge.
Forty-five new members were admitted
A portrait of Past Grand Master Jacot
Y. Foulk, gift from Crystal Founi
Lodge, No. 10, of Milford, was presented
to the grand lodge. The presentation
speech was made by Joseph Pyle and
John j. Gallagher responded.
Several officers of the Grand Lodge Of
Maryland we're present.
A telegram expressing greeting and
| good ishes was sent to the Grand Lodge
of New Jersey, which is in session al
Trenton to-day.
In his annual report Grand Master
| Seal said 'tWhile we are making ne
| gain, we are taking Eo steps backward
Brothers of the various lodges appear tc
be exercising unusual care in selecting
those whom they are willing to admit as
members, and this may account fol
the small number of limitations
III recommend to your favorable
| notice the action of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, in providing for, and en-
| couraging, the formation of the Patriarch
| Militant If we wish to maintain oui
strength, and keep pace with other or
CARNATIONS, we must have attractions fol
/ 49,, a., ,,,,s@a ,t,ifb fba enIif
\ teaching of our ritual, it will do no harm
to add beauty of appearance and pre-
cision of movements. For several year,
a company of enthusiastic Odd Fellow
have maintained Battalion of the Uni
form Corps, at heavy expense to them
selves, receiving from the grand lodg'
\ the use of room for meeting, free o.
expense. 1t would be merited arrange
ment to give the same facilities for tht
ensuing year.
Encouraging reports were made by thu
deputy grand master and the distric
deputy grand masters.
The report of Grand Secretary Isaac w
Hallam contained the following statistics
Number of members last term, 1881
initiated, 1876; admitted by card, 8; rein
stated, 8 withdrawn, 5 suspended, 1874
died, So; present membership, 2,491; los
in membership, 80; number of lodges, 80
brothers relieved, 1862; weeks sickness
1880; widowed families relieved, 16
brothers buried, SO; brothers wive
buried, 81; amount paid for week.
benefits, $12, 206.34; relief of widowe
families, $354.45; burial of the dead
So, $50. 10; charitable purposes, $547.9d
other purposes, 800, 605.33 total ez
penses, 1886, 444.17; total receipts, $36
971. SO; expenses exceed receipts, 81
472.31. The stagnation in trade, and tn
consequent lethargy in business circles
has had depressing effect on the growt
of the order. The additions number Id
of which 1876 were by initiation. III
losses are 174, one-fifth of that numbt
being caused by death. The death rat,
one in every rs, has been exceedingl
, heavy.
The financial exhibit of the lodges is
follows: Cash in bank, S,038.66; pc
. sonal property, $14, 242.37; real estat
$54, 4S7.48; stocks, 1924, 561.57 bond
81, 1872. SO; notes, $14 ,551. 55 mortgage
. $l2,175. The invested funds last YET
I amounted to 1926, 446.32, showing ga
a for the year Just ended of SO, 372.8l al
: proving that some of the lodges are
8 the habit of considering their inves
, ments as expenses" In conclusion Seer
: tary Hallam said "The work of the ye
7 shows that sickness and death have be,
d largely on the increase. Compared wi
8 the last statement, there is an excess
4 355 weeks, for which benefits were pal
] The deaths number 81, being 16 more thu
last year. This unfavorable feature b
made heavy draft upon the finances
I. some of the lodges, but has caused !
o permanent embarrassment. 1t is
; source of congratulation that we ha
% been able to provide for all emergencit
> as they come to our notice, promptly al
d faithfully, and though our wealth m
g have suffered reduction, we have
70 better showing in good works, and
7, warm welcome in many thankful hearts
d Grand Treasurer r. II. Ewbsnks /
70 ported that there are 81 ,2l5.65 in ba
" to the credit of the grand lodge.
I'd Reports were also made by Grand Re
le resentatives John ]. Gallagher and E.
Cooper.
% The reports Of the various officers W.
referred to committees.
At noon recess was taken until p.
At the afternoon session George
es Williams of Newark was elected gra
~ master for the ensuing year.