Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-18
ORDER OF W0RKMEN.
THE GRAND LODGE TO MEET IN LEE
CAMP HALL THIS MORNING.
Some Points on the Origin, Organization.
Objects, Growth, and Operations Of
This Fraternal Organization.

Nearly every train arriving in the city
yesterday brought members Of the Order OF
United American Workmen.
They came as representatives to the
Grand Lodge, which assemblies in Lee
Camp Hall at 10 o'clock this morning in its
eleventh annual session.
Most Of the officers arrived Saturday and
Sunday and the delegates came in yester-
day in such large numbers that last night
both Ford's and Murphy's Hotels, where
the headquarters are, were crowded.
In the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge
OF Maryland, New Jersey, Deleware. and
Virginia.
THE SESSIONS.
The Grand Lodge will be in session two
days, or possibly three.
IL Will be called 10 order at 10 o'clock this
morning by Grand MASTERY Workman John
W. Diefendorf. of Wilmington, Del, and
the greater part Of the morning will be
taken up in preliminaries, appointing. COM
mlttees, mapping out the work OF the
body, etc.
There will be two sessions each day-one
in the forenoon and one In the afternoon
and If it appears that the rush Of work
will be very great 1t will be decided to
meet at night.
The annual reports of the officers will be
submitted to-day, and the time for the
election Of officers will be decided upon.
Their installation will be the last business
before the adjournment.
GRAND OFFICERS.
The. following are the officers of the
Grand Lodge:
Grand Master Workman, John ". DlefendOrf.
Wilmington, Del. Grand Foreman. Walter
A. BarroTs, MI Holly. y. j.. Grand Oyerseer,
". II. Fouk. Wilmington, Del. Past Grand
Master Workman, j. Alpheus Vansant Camden,
n. j.; Grand Recorder, A. +. Colbert, Bsltl-
more, Nd. Grand Receiver, Myer Hirsch, Bal
tmore, Nd: Grand Guide George T. Trutt. NJ.
d., Pocomoko City. Nd. Grand Inside Watch
man, j. T. 3. Hyslop. NJ. D., Belle Haven. Va
Grand Outside Watchman, A. B. Jones. VIII
wilkins, ~ d., Baltimore. Nd. Grand Trus-
tees: d. Meredith Reese, Baltimore. Nd: Will
liam Thegen, Camden. y. j.. Joseph X. Adams,
Wilmington. Del Committee on finaD G: ).
Ecces, Jr.. Baltimore, Nd. Joseph Grape, Bal
timore, Nd. ,. william II. Pierson, Whining on.
Del. Committee on Law and supervision
George Norris, Jersey City, y. j. W. A. Rey-
nolds, Wilmington, Del I; Merritt horner, Cam
den, y. j.
All Of these officers are eligible TO re-
election, but MASTERY Workman Diefendort
for said last night that he thought mostly
new men would be chosen, as few care to
serve more than one term.
REPRESENTATIVES, TO SUPREME LODGE.
One of the duties of the Grand Lodge
will be to elect three representatives. to the
Supreme Lodge. which meets in Boston on
the third Tuesday in June next.
The gentlemen who served IN TINS ca
IL -
cles. Jr.. Of Baltimore. Nd. John }. Gal
lqgher. of Wilmington, Del. j. Alpheus
Nansant, of Camden. n. j.
Irs OBJECTS.
These are the objects of the order:
1. To unite white male persons over
twentv-one and under fifty years of age,
regardless Of nationality, political prefer
ences or denominatiOnal distinctions, into
u fraternal brotherhood. the members OF
which recognize and believe in the exist
ence Of a Supreme Being. the Creator and
Preserver of the universe.
,. The adoption of such secret work and
means of recognition as will enable the
members TO make themselves known to
each other wherever the order may exist.
?. To embrace and give equal consldera-
tion TO all classes and kinds Of labor,
mental and physical; TO endeavor TO I'M,
prove the moral. intellectual. and SOC ial
condition of the members, and 10y whole
some precepts and fraternal admonltionst
inspire a due appreciation OK the realltles
and possibilities of life.
!. TO hold lectures. read essays discuss
new inventions and improvements, en-
courage research in art. science, and litera-
ture. and, when practicable, MAINTAIN IL
braries TOR the improvement OF the men,
bers.
3. To create funds in aid Of the members
during sickness or other disability, and
generally TO care for the living and bury
the dead.
6. TO pledge the members to the payment
of a stipulated sum 10 such beneficiary as
deceased member may have deslgnatedi
while living. under such restrictions and
upon such conditions as the laws OF the
order may prescribe.
wHEN AND WHY FORMED.
In little pamphlet issued by the order
for the use of it, members appears this un-
der the head OF plan Of Organization ~
The Ancient Order of United Workmen
i n social and fraternal. a. well IA bench
cial organization. Its membership l,
taken from all ranks ofsOciety, and includes
merchants, business and professional men,
as well as mechanics. It's purposes and
aims are 10 benefit each other while llylng
and provide for those we leave behind al
fer we are dead. II is purely mutual III 1t,
operations. Each member bears his Just
proportion (and no more) OF the whole
expense, and shares equally IN ltS
privileges and benefits. as provided for IN
our rules and regulations.
mo political. religious, OF sectarian
Questions are introduced OF discussed IN
our lodges. All stand upon the broad plat
form of a common brotherhood, and are
alike recognized and acknowledged hs men
and brothers, whether high or low, rich OF
The order was organized ut Meadyllle,
Pa. in October, 1868, by few men with
pure motives and an honest intention to
promote the well-bcing of their fellow
men. These objects have been faithfully
carried out by their successors, not IN the
interest Of the few. but for the welfare OIL
all"
RAPID GROWTH.
The growth Of this organization has
been very rapid. Its entire membershl
on the lst Of January, 1890, was 23l.O3o
During its history it has disbursed over
$50 .OOO. 900 on account of deaths. There
are twenty-four Jurisdictions. Inc mem
bership extends 10 every part OF the
United States Except the yellow-teyer dis
trict) and Canada. r
This jurisdiction was formed on the 4th
Of March. 1882. though this Grand Lodge
had existed two years before. The sepa
rate jurisdiction could not be established
though until the lodge had membership
OF 1000 or more. Virginia was admitted IN
1885. Now there are l19 lodges IN the dis
trict with membership March lst OF 6,792,
and there will be 149 voting representa-
tives in the body that assemblies to-day,
During the fiscal year just ended TINS
Grand Lodge paid into the beneficiary tunc
Sl15,O36 and received $1,000 on account OF
ffty-six deaths. thirty-two of which oc
cured in Maryland. twenty-one IN Ne"
Jersey, and three in Delaware. Ia th'
eight years Of this lodges existence there
have been 122 assessments, and c54S.O0O ma
been paid out on account of l56 deaths II
the territory embraced in this jurisdiction
and eighteen in the Supreme Lodge.
THE YEARS WORK.
In his report, which will be submitted
today. the Master Workman says: =,
Brother organizers, one and all, oy
your assistance thus rendered arn per
mitted to say 10 the Grand Lodge ofhcer,
bara oGQpmDlpd. auC