Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-09-17
GATHERING or ODD Eel -ows

Columbus, o., Crowded with the Fra
ternfty-Omeiai Repor n
COLUMBUS, o., Sept 17.-The liall OF the
house of representatives present a brilliant
scene with its decorations of all 0 ilors of the
rainbow, prepared for Americas sreat event
In Odd Fellowship. Pendant fro n the large
chandelier at the center Of the tviling are
huge bars OF red, white and lslue, which
stretch to the four corners of the hall, fast
sning to the ratings Of the galleries On every
wall are huge flags, disks, stars an d emblems
Of the order, all in the national c,lors The
galleries which span the north and south
sides of the hall are scenes OF splendor.
Against the walls and forming the back
Of these parts of the auditorium are decora-
tons of most artistic design, viii Q pendant
from the gallery ratings are dro 1piDg folds
OF red, white and blue bunting bedecked
with flags Of every state in the Union. Ad-
ditions have been built TO the SPEAKERS ros-.
trum, and above it is placed huge red,
white and blue star, on which st and out in
bold relief from dark backgPou nd the let
ters 81. q. o F." in gold foil
Sunday and yesterday no less than s, 900
Of the order arrived, and last night the
down with Odd Fellows The city is one
vast sea of decorations and tbs scene in
beauty resembles the G. A Il. grand en-
carnpment of n year ago.
Meeting of the Sovereign Grant Lodge.
The Sovereign grand lodge of |. o. o. F.
met yesterday with all the grand officers
present In the morning the grand body
was received at the board of trade rooms,
where the welcome addresses were delivered
by Governor Foraker and Mayor Bruck, to
which responses were made by Ora nd Master
j. l. Mckinney, OF the Ohio gr and lodge,
and by Grand Sire Underwood. The
Sovereign grand lodge then went into ses-
sion, and the grand sire made ais report
This shows that the annual in crease of
membership is larger by several thousand
than that reported for a similar period dur
ing the last fifteen years
A Largo Increase of Membe rship.
The report from the adjutant generals
files, up to September /, shows that there
are AZ patrIarchs militant departments, $40
component cantons, band cantons 10, 223
ranton members, and the value o military
outfit and other assets of cantous is S7S2,-
b2S 81.
The report of Grand Secretary Ross for
the United States gives the following facts
Di interest: Number OF grand lodges, 81 (;
grand encampments, Is; subordint te lodges,
1854, an increase OF 203 over 1887; subordi-
nate encampments, 2,09l; increase 4S; Re-
bekah degree lodges, ,76S; increase, 265;
lodge limitations, 50, IL; Increase. 2,7Sl; en-
campment limitations. IL, SIS; incI ease, SIS;
lodge members, 5S3, 552; increase, -, $50;
encampment members, log, 972; increase,
5,2:iO; Rebekah degree lodge members o.
1876 increase l6 ST.
Money Paid Out for Relief
During the year the lodges paid out for
relief of members, g., 253 020 ST; increase
over 1887, Sl33. 562 81; relief extended by
encampments, SIG, AZ 81; increase g.. 500
-; by Rebekah lodges, S2l, SIS 76; increase,
4,l4l 30. Total paid out for relie-, s., SOL
SO. y, an increase of Sl41 ,5I42l.
Every states has delegates and there are
representatives from Swift erland England,
Canada, British Columbia, NOVA Scotia,
Prince Edwards Island, Manitoba and
Denmark
The air was musical last night with
serenades to distinguished members of the
order.