The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-19

Meeting of the Grand Encampment IN
the Evenipg-Gains Reported in This
Branch of the ortier-The Relief Asso-
ciation's Lively Meeting.
Especial to the Press.7
AUGUSTA, October 18.-The 10th an
nual session of the Odd Fellows Grand
Lodge of Maine called here today an I'M
usually large number of the order, many
of them coming on the morning trains.
1t was estimated that there were over
800 in attendance, an excellent illustra-
ton of the need of annual instead of
semi-annual elections in the subordinate
lodges, with the consequent eligible can
didates for the Grand Lodge. At the
forenoon session 113 new members were
admitted.
The reports of the Grand Master,
Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer
were accepted without reading.
Grand Master Nicholas Fessenden in
presenting his report, said:
'sIn presenting the record which has
been entered up since the last session of
the Grand Lodge. | think | may truthful
ly say, that no backward steps have been
taken-that in point of activity, harmo-
ny. enthusiasm and general prosperity,
the Order stands yet little further to
the 'front.' than at the close of the pre-
ceding year.
II found it in advanced position in re-
gard to all these points, and | have striv-
en- to keep it and to so leave it.
Condition of the Order,
The changes since the last session of
this body, in the lodges of the order, are
shown as follows:
Number of subordinate lodges at last re-
port. .-.....- l25
Added the past year 3
Total number of subordinate lodges. 12S
Number of members per last report. 10. .43S
Net gain for past year. ............. 549
Total membership p................. Is, ,9S7
RebelSah lodges at last report. .. 39
| Added past year ........-....-...-.. D
Total number of Rebellah lodges. 43
| Number of members per last report...... 4,044
| Net gain Tor past year. ..-....... 9O3
Total membership 4,S47
Three subordinate and five Rebekah
| lodges, have been instituted during the
term, which number might have been in
creased had it seemed wise.
lam satisfied that with the present
| large number of lodges of our order in
| this jurisdiction, the greatest care and
utmost scrutiny must be had in regard
| to instituting new lodges of either
branch. Only strong lodges should now
be made in any section of the state.
Weak lodges are always an evil, and the
order is now in such an excellent stand
| ing that it needs no advertising through
the medium of weakling.
sit seems to be yet Unlearned lesson
with too many members of our order
| that the laws of the order are OF any
governing force; too many members and
officers also seem to forget that there are
| laws which should be obeyed and they
| act at pleasure or at will in many in
stances. regardless of law. Sometimes
such things are done from actual ignor-
ance of the law, quite as frequently from
wilful and wrongful motives, with full
! knowledge that they are breaking the
laws they have time and again obligated
themselves to respect and obey.
| Among the suggestions of the grand
master were that law be passed pro-
hibiting the lodges of the jurisdiction
! from loaning any portion of their funds
| to any.member of their board of trus-
tees: also series of questions to be
| adopted and made part of the report of
| the investigating committee; also several
amendments. The grand master sug-
gested that it might be wise to ''erect
each of the newly instituted Rebekah
Lodges into district by itself instead Oh
| leaving them where felt obliged to as
sign them, in the nearest district, as the
district exists by the action OF the
| Grand Lodge"
OF the Rebekah degree he says: sThis
branch continues to flourish, and is MAX
| ing marked progress in all that tends to-
wards good lodges. In new member
ship it is outstripping the Subordinate
Lodge branch, and so far as [ can OBJ
serve it is fully the equal of the Subor-
dinate Lodge branch in conferring the
work of the degree. No lack of interest
is observable, and in all the details which
must combine to make an excellent
whole, the ladies equal, if they do
not excel the brothers. Following the
precedent, / appointed ladies for dis
| trict deputies wherever it was possible,
and as a result, only one out of the 81
| districts has been otficered by a male dis
trict deputy, and in no ease have been
disappointed in the ability of my lady
deputies; on the other hand they have
| more than justified their appointments
|
commentator, but thanks
In course of his closing the Grand
| Master says:
II can see no clouds in the bright hori-
zon Of the future, for the order we all
love and serve. 1t gathers strength and
| glory as the years pass, and through its
mnistrations and benefactions it contin-
ually adds newer and fresher lustre to
a name already linked to noble deeds and
generous purposes Its mission is high
one, calling for exertion, for self-sacri-
| flee, for the possession and exercise day
| by day, and every day, of the best and
| l,rayest characteristics of heart and
mind"
| Other Reports.
Grand Treasurer Stephen Marsh re
| ports available assets OF s5S, 077.51 par
value, with a market value of SS, 4!}2. IS, a
decrease IN assets Tor the IA months end
| ing September 80, 1892, of S400.37.
Secretary Dayis's relief report for the
year ending December 81, 1891, shows
| the amounts paid for relief as follows
| f<appfitc &lf $50 SH. relief for widowed