The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-15
THE oath ANNUAL SESSION
OF The Grand Lodge Of Virginia, Independent
Order Of 0dd-PellOWS.
LARGE GATHERING OF BRETHREN
Reports of Various acknowledgements
lions Made--Prominent Men
in Attendance.

Ilay morning al Lee camp ilai'
Grand Master w. +. Larabee opened tho
Lodge, and prayer was offered by Grand
Chaplain J. II. Robinson.
Among the grand officers present were: {.
C. Wheat. ID. g. NJ: ID. II. Strawberry, grand
warden; T. Wiley Davis. grand secretary; John
w. Ferguson. grand treasurer; Thomas n.
Render. grand herald; A. b. Compton grand
master; and Il. b. Shelton, grand guardian.
The committee on election and returns re-
ported that the Grand Lodge was duly repre-
scented.
Grand Master Larabee read his annual re-
port. wherein he SAYS the following: II de
sire 20 call your attention t. the following eN-
tract from the Grand Secretary report 10 the
Sovereign Grand Lodge for the year ending
December 81 1890. Number Of lodges, 20;
number Of members per last report, 33}7 IN
itiated during the year. Gao admitted by card,
~: renstated 81. Total, 1861. From which
deduct. Withdrawn by card, 63' suspended
for cause, 5; suspended or dropped Tor non
payment of dues, 22S expelled, e. deceased,
TO- Total. 3G2. Total number of members
December 81 1880. 4.335. This shows "A clear
gain during the past wear Of 897."
With reference 10 the distngushcd mem
bers Of the order who died during the past
year, the Grand Master made the following
remarks:
"One wear agowe werocalled upon 10 mourn
beside the bier of our lamented amt dis-
tinguished brother, A. J.. Hill, Fast Grand
Representative
TODAY we have 10 report the death Of our
greatest chieftain, orr prince of Odd-lelloWs
our +. II. Fitzhugh. Past Deputy Grand Sire,
of Richmond.
The hand Of the destroyer stopped not
here no. it has also swept from earth our
honored and loved Past Grand Master, John
d. Kelley. of Petersburg.
~ would advise that you appoint special
committee 10 prepare suitable resolutions
commemorative of your appreciation Of the
services and worth Of each of these dlstin-
guished brethren, and that IL memorial page
be assigned them III you lrOurnal.
II have learned of the death of three Past
Grands. who were honored members of this
grand body, viz: James 7. Morris, Of Peters
burg; L. Il. Steele, Of Front Royal. and }. W.
Palmer, of Salem.
'Of Brother Morris. ! would say. in the
words of Past Grand Representative T.. Is.
Branch. He was an active, Jealous Odd
Fellow "a regular attendant al meetings.
served as chaplain Of his lodge many years.
and frequently appeared upon the floor Of
the Grand Lodge
Brother Steele was an eloquent, enthuri-
aStic Odl-Fcllow Astounding in good works,
full Of devotion TO all our principles, keen IN
intellect and fluent Of tongue.
Brother Palmer was man Of culture and
refinement: polished gentleman, true
husband and father, and devoted odd
Fellow.
II would recommend that the names Of
these and any other members Of the Grand
Lodge who may have passed away during the
year. be also placed on memorial page III
your journal"
ANNIVERSARY PROCLAMATION.
Further on the Grand Master refers TO his
anniversary proclamation. which reads as
follows:
Whereas, Charles W. Bushec Grand Sire. has
issued his proclamation emolning upon all
grand and subordinate bodies To properly ODE
serve the 10Th day of April, 1891. the seventy
second anniversary of the Independent order
Cf Odd Fellows in America;
Now. therefore. /. W. L. Iarabce, Grand
Master Of the Grand Lodge Of the State of
Virginia, do most earnestly recommend and on
3oin the brotherhood OF TINS jurisdiction TO DC
vote the 26th day of April, 1891 or as the 18th
will fall on SUNDAY, the 25th or the 9TH day OF
April. may lee selected. 10 suitable and aplro-
pirate exercises in cOmmcmOration OF the day
and to public THANKSGIVING To Almighty God for
Jls manifold blessings Nouchsatcd To MS as an
order and as individuals during the past year
Done at Hampton Va, the Both day of March,
A ID. 1891, and of the Order the soNonty-second
year
OTHER MATTERS.
A full account is given in the report IF all
the vistations made, of the appeals consid-
cred, and other business transacted during
the past year.
The erection of memorial stone 10 the
memory of Past Deputy Grand Sire +. H.
Iitzhugh Is recommended. and the Grand
Master also speaks IN very encouraging terms
Of the progress of the Widows and Orphans
Relief Association, and makes Il number of
recommendations OF various character.
Ia closing his report the Grand Master
called attention to the fact that when be was
invested with the Jewels and regnlia a year
ago, and made the official head of the order,
he did not realize the importance or response
bIlty of the position which ne then assumed
He then continued II came not with elo-
quent tongue or fine address, but with broken
health and inexperlence. seemed 20 lack
al those qualities essential To success
My only hold was my love and zeal for
the order, my perseverance and reliance on
Divine support.
How well | have succeeded You must
Judge. My work Is done; its history has
been written.
in few short hours shall surrender 10
my successor the official mantle. / trust IL
has not been soiled 10y my wearing.
ITO my brother officers of this Grand
Lodge including our grand representatives,
] wish to extend my sincere thanks for their
kind assistance
ITO my immediate predecessor owe much
of my success.
The many happy hours spent in the various
lodges of this jurisdiction will ever be dear i'm
memory. i hope the brethren who met me
there will always feel, as | do, that we were
mutually benefited by those associations.
During these visitations there has been
many acts of special attention and care be-
here, but time and space forbid
Il thank all the brethren of the STATE for
the uniform kindness and courtesy with which
they received me"
COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
The reports Of Grand Secretary T. Wiley
Davis sand Grand Treasurer John ". FERGUSON
were then submitted. and the following com
mlttees were appointed by the Grand Master.
Elections and Returns. d. W. Bowles. T. \
Tumly. William A. Scater
Finance: W; I. Parham, George Il. Davis
and c. Il. keblnger
State of the Order j. J. Scherer. r. II NJ
Harrison, Decatur Edwards, ~. Y. Vail. ~
X. ArmentrOut.
Bylaws Of Subordinates: A. T. Burr. l.. f.
Mason and A. Bcnlng
Charters IT,. Conroy, H. A. Ethridge and
H. L. Hennighauseu
- Appeals. c. D. Dewitt, W. L. Clark and
George W Hill
Distribution of Subjects. J. Y. Gripstead
L. 4 Tucker. W W. Sherwood
The representatives and past arands who
We're emitted TO receive the Past Official and
Hiand Lodge degrees were then introduced
10y the Gtand Marshall and the said DEGREES
conferred on them by James b. Banks grand
representative.
Afternoon session.
IL.