Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-18
GRAND GROVE IN SESSION.
THE TwENTY-sIxTH ANNUAL SESSION
BEGINS AUsPICI0UsLY.
Encouraeing Reports from the Noble
Grand Arch and Grand Secretary
Committees Appointed.

The twenty sixth annual session of the
Grand Grove of the United Ancient Order
of Druids convened yesterday morning at
10 A. M, at the Senate Chamber of the
Capitol building, the freedom of which
had been kindly extended to the Order by
Secretary of State Hendricks.
The session of the Grand Grove opened
under very favorable auspices, there being
very good attendance of the representa-
tives.
A sentiment and feeling of good humor
seemed to have seized all the representa-
tives as if it were contagion, and the
work of the session progressed glibly and
with refreshing rapidly.
The Grand Officers were all at their sta
tons and eagerly entered into the perform.
ance of their respective duties.
All the Past Arches on whom the Grand
Grove Degree had not been conferred were
directed to report to the Committee on
Credentials, and await their action. The
Committee on Credentials is composed OF
the following representatives, viz: Adam
Smith, P. Eohrbacher, F. w. Weishaar.
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
The Grand Grove then convened with
the impressive rites and ceremonies of the
Order, lasting nearly an hour.
A recess was taken to enable the Com
mlttee on Credentials to prepare their re-
port.
Presently the announcement was made
by the Grand Guardian, J. ]. Mollison.
that the Committee on Credentials were
ready to report.
The Grand Grove was called to order
again, and the Committee escorted the rep.
resentatives on whom the Grand Grove De-
gree had been conferred. They were wei.
coined by the Noble Grand Arch and in
vited to take seats with the older repre-.
sentatives.
Hereupon the Noble Grand Arch COM
menced to read his report, which was
received with long continued ovation.
He reported the Order to be in prosper
GUS condition. The Noble Grand Arch OBJ.
serves that when he went into office he
promised to work hard and faithfully for
the advancement of the Order, and it is
with pleasure that he felt able to report the
Institution of ten new Groves during the
year, one of he Groves being THE banner
Druid Charter Grove since the foundation
OF the Order in California. The report
complains that brothers have overwhelmed
him with inquiries which the Druidical
Digest explains. Dluidism has been once
more established in Portland, Or, and the
report asks that the new Grove there be
advanced to the best of the ability of the
Grand Grove. There are fifty EIGHT Groves
In this State, and no Order shows q more
cosmopolitan character. OF the Groves.
thirty-seven work in English, seven in
German. two in Portuguese, four in French,
seven in Italian and one in Swedish Re-
ports from the country at large show a
fairly healthy condition of the Order.
While in some States there has been a de-
crease, owing to various causes, on the
whole the condition of the Order is salts.
factory and displays gain. The fact that
the growth is slow is compensated by the
sureness and solidity of the development.
GRAND sEcRETARY's REPORT.
The report of Grand Secretary, John H.
Knarston, was next read. 1t shows that
three Groves surrendered their charters
during the past year. The number of Past
Arches reported during the past year was
553. Degree members reported 1855, max
ing the total membership 330S-the total
number of reported members on Nav /.
1890, being 3,0S7. The gains by initiation
during the year were 635, and the losses by
withdrawal, suspension, DEATH expulsion
and surrender OF charter during the same
period 463, making a net gain of 221. The
total revenue of subordinate Groves for the
year was S5O,457 40, an excess over last
year of $1,000 Oh. The assets of subordi-
nate Groves aggregate $97, 533 90 or 81 ,975 81
more than those for last year. During the
year there was paid out in sick benefits
and from the relief fund 81, 796 90. To
widowed families $685. 90 was paid, and for
burying the dead 1920 40. The per capita
tax aggregated S2,443 20. The Secretary
makes several recommendations including
an amendment to the bylaws, providing
that no representative to the Grand Grove
shall hold more than one elective office at
one time.
The reports were referred to the Commit
tee on Distribution.
A recess was then taken till P. M. to en-
able the Committee on Distribution to pre-
pare its report.