Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-01
ODD FELLOWS At ST. LOUIS
Some Proceedings of the Sow
erelgn Grand Lodge.
RAPID GROWTH OF THE CANTONS
Defeat of the Project to Re-
duce the Age Limit.


ST. Louis, Mo-. Sept. 25.-The Sovereign
Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows this morning
voted down proposition made by Lieu
tenant-general Underwood to the effect
that members could become eligible to the
degree of patriarchs militant without
going through the encampment.
Efforts were made to have another con-
vention of the degree Of Rebekah next
year, but the movement was oyerwhelm-
ingly defeated.
A resolution was presented to move the
headquarters of the grand secretary from
Columbus, o., to baltimore, Md. 1t was
referred to q committee. 1t was stated that
this resolution will very likely be favor
ably reported and passed. The head
quarters Of the Sovereign Grand Lodge
was changed in 1888 from Baltimore, the
birthplace of the order, to Columbus, o.,
but there has ever since heen a growing
disposition to return to Baltimore. 1t has
been thought the change would be made
on the completion of the new hall, now in
course of erection in Baltimore, at the
corner of Saratoga and Cathedral streets.
If the headquarters are returned to Balti-
more it is probable that substantial
firc-proof building will be erected near
the new hall for the use of the sovereign
grand secretary and for the proper care of
she papers and documents. The new hall
of the Grand Lodge will be used for a
piuce Oh InectliiS.
At the session of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows, in st. Louis, on
Saturday, the constitutional amendment
providing for admission into the order
Of youths of Is years, was defeated by a
vote of 107 to 81. the necessary three
fonrths vote not having been obtained.
The lodge also decided to postpone for a
year consideration of the liquor question.
STATE OF THE ORDER.
The report of the acting grand sire has
the following:
am pleased to be able to announce
that the returns which will be sub
mitted to you show most prosperous
year. During 1890 no less than 68,295
men were initiated into Odd Fellowship
under your jurisdiction-the greatest
number in any year of our history
And the net increase for the same pc.
Rod was equally unprecedented, reach
ing 37,442. On December 31st, 1890
our male membership in the United
States and Canada, and related jurisdic'
tons, was 649,702. The returns from
Australasia give 19,746, while the Ger.
man empire has 1891, making the total
number no less than 672, 1899.
II our increase during this year has
been at the same rate, and we have nc
reason to doubt 1t, we may safely as
sumo that our membership on the LIST Of
September, 1891, was not less than TOO,
900. II to this number he added the
60,661 Daughters of Rebekah reported
December 1890, with the probable add
tons they have received this year, {
moderate estimate will give at the
present date grand total of not les
than 775,000.
Not only numerically, but financially
the record is gratifying. With an ag
gregate revenue from lodges and en-
campments of $7,244,297, we have ex
pended for purposes of relief through
the ordinary channels Of the orde
$2,917,6SS. When we add to this thu
relief expenditure of Australasia anc
Germany, together with the payments
made to widows and orphans by tn,
large number of Relief and Endowmen
Associations operated in connection
with our society, we can place the pecu
MARY benevolence of Odd Fellowship
during the year 1890 at the magnificen
sum of S4,000,000.