The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-21
THE ODD FELLOWS.
Stmi.Annual Meeting Of the Grand
Lodge Of Indiana.
Action on the Report OF the Special
Committee Indefinitely Postpor ed
Standing Committees.


der of Odd Fellows of Indiana commenced
yesterday morning at the Grand Lodge room
with q large attendance from the subordi.
nate lodges OF the Safe.
The report OF the Grand Mas.sr, John +.
Wildman, showed dispensstions granted for
five. new lodges, two Lodges and
Valley and six Rebekah De.
gree Lodges, and three charters surrendered.
Since the last session the following Lodges
have lost their halls and some OF thsm their
effects, by fire: Penn, No. 80; Chequsuk,
No. 81; Boswell, No. SOS; Caldwell, No 27i;
Dalton, No. go; Bristol. No. AS; Kirklin,
No. 200; Garfield, No. 597; Wabash, No. 20;
Vincennes and Glenn, No. ll9, Darlington.
In some OF these cases permission has been
asked to solicit aid OF sister lodges in the State.
have ir quired into the financial standing
Of the Lodges and have not thought proper 10
grant the requests, but have asked the
Lodges making the requests 10 present the
case to the Grand Lodge at this session. M.
merous requests have been made for psrmis-
sion 10 ask aid OF the Lodges in this iuris.
diction from other States-Lodge halls have
been burned, safes robbed Of the Lodges
and various other causes. Believing that
charity should begin at home have not
thought proper to grant these requests as
we have similar cases at home that should
receive our aid.
The Grand Secretary reported, showing
that there are now SOL effective lodges In
the State with q membership OF 20 CSC; char.
liable disbursements, 81 44i.39; balance on
hand from last session. $14 .606.3S receipts
for the half year. Sc. 40; orders paid, ST..
3O2oS; balance on hand, $l3 S74 so; members
Of Rebekah decree lodges, 599 total re-
ceipts. $500 6S; expenses, ST. 796 50 The
Grand Treasurer's report correspondsd with
that OF the Secretary, rs did also that OF the
Grand Lodge Trustees.
The principal matter before the Order WAS
the report OF the special committee appoint.
cd at the iset session 10 consider the advisa.
bility OF abolisbiDg the seuli.aunual meetings
and change the base of representation to the
Grand Lodge. The report OF the committee
concludes as follows:
Experience has fully demonstrated that this
Gran Lodge. as now constituted, is far too large
for fair success In the business of practical aud
useful legis ation and while IL is true that each
and every lodge may, IL they desire, have rep
resentative in this Grand Lodge, that right will
s be nj under the REDUCTION of the
representative districts. In the judgment OF your
committee, the change proposed is one much TO be
desired. and IL is believed that the change can be
practically accomplished. without serious jar or
inconvenience to the frate' nifty in this Jurisdic-
ton. The committee, while concurring in the
general scope OF the amendments offered aud re-
ferred to them for action. have come 10 the con-
ciusion that the matters contained can be more
fairly and better presented for action of the grand
body by the presentation OF an entire constitu-
ton and bylaws including the substance ana the
spirit OF the proposed amendment.
From the fact that the question OF the abolish
ment OF the semi.annuel session is one that has
merit, independent OF the changes proposed by
the amendments, and which, in the event OF the
Grand Lodge not concurring in the organic
Changes proposed. is fit and proper question for
this Grand Lodge TO act upon the ommiItee have
determined IL their duty 10 report upon IL ss an
independent proposition for the action OF the
Grand Lodge.
Your committee, therefore. report the proposed
amendments, ana the modification or the com.
mittee with the proposed new constitution, as an
entirety, and they recommend its adoption with
the schedule attached
III the proposed constitution is not adopted by
the grand body as an entirety. your committee
recommend the adoption OF the following amend.
ment to Section Of Article OF the present coa-
stitution:
Strike out the present section aud insert in lieu
thereof as follows:
Section 2. The Grand Lodge shall hold one reg
ular communication in each year, commencing on
the "Wednesday following the third Tuesday In No.
vember. The Grand Lodge may adjourn from day
10 day until the business of the session is disposed
OF.
All meetings of the Grand Lodge shall be held
at the city OF Indianapolis.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL p OYLER,
JNo. w McQUIDDY,
n ID Corr