The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-11
THE ODD FELLOWS.
First Day OF the Fortieth Session OF the
Grand Lodge.


Grand Lodge.
The fortetb session of the Grand Lodge
(. o. o. f.. was called to order yesterday in
Odd Fellows Hall by Grand Master Wilson
Two hundred and 6fty-eight past grands
were introd uced, and the Grand Lodge de-
gree was conferred upon them by Grand
Warden j. +. Thompson. Grand Master
Wilson reported the institution of seven
subordinate and nine Rebekah degree
lodges; also the resuscitation of one at Co
velo. He granted 60 dispensations, rendered
% decisions, and visited IS localities, princi-
pally in the southern part of the State. dur
ing the year. In that period As members OF
the Grand Lodge died.
The report Of Grand Secretary Lyon
shows the following state of the order
Three hundred and forty-eight lodges, %, 1863
memb ers, an increase for the year of 1886
deaths of the year, 409; total relief of year,
$3.50, 7G7 90; assets, S2,420.2S5 &c; average
assets per member, $50 90; average age of
membership, 40h years.
The report OF the Rebekah degree shows
156 lodges, with 1880 members. a net gain
of 1866 OF the mem bers SAG are males and
COIL females.
The total receipts from subordinate and
Rebekah lodges were s57o,276 l6; total relief
granted, $3.50, 1853 %; excess OF receipts over
disbursements, SS59l9 tS.
From the report of Grand Treasurer La
mont it appeared that there is a balance of
S674S 70 in the general fund. S6373 % in the
representative fund and $2054 03 to the
credit Of the Odd Fellows College and
Home.
Other reports were presented ana referred
10 the proper committees.
Since the organization of the Grand Lodge
in 1853 there have been admitted by lnltla-
ton So, 637: by card, Is, 636; reustated 51S9;
total. SO, 462; 7l47 have died. Suspensions,
Withdrawals, etc, have caused great losses.
but California has always sent progress
sive report to the Sovereign Grand Lodge.
and never scored a loss in any year. In this
respect il stands alone. none of the other
jurisdictions being able to show such
record.
During the afternoon session the appeals
OF Henry Weller VS.. Sequel Lodge No. 1877,
IsadOre Abraham VS.. Healdsburg Lodge
No Ca f. G. Payne vs.. Modoe Lodge No.
27S Philip Wagner VS.. Germania Lodge
No. ZIG. A. NJ. Armstrong W.. Fidelity
Lodge No. 222, Nj. c. Parkinson vs.. San
Joaquin Lodge No. 15l, Thomas Mitchell
VS.. Grass Valley Lodge No. II. C. ID. Hol-
brook VS.. San Lorenzo Lodge No. 147, Will
liam H. Fox VS.. lone Lodge No 10. were
not sustained, but the action of the lodges
in the various cases was affirmed.
In the appeal of John GolsOn in the mat
ter OF rejection on a ballot for the REIN
statement of member, where West Point
Lodge No. 299 after the noble grand had
decided an applicant rejected. at a subse-
Quent meeting declared the applicant re-
instated, the Grand Lodge held said action
of tho lodge Illegal, and that the original
rejection of the applicant as decided by the
noble grand the evening of ballotng must
stand
The appeal of F. S. Houseman VS.. Golden
State Lodge No. ZIG was in relation TO q
funeral in which the navy officers and
Others took part and more or less control as
well as the order, and the question raised
was as to whether the funeral was
illegal" iraternal one in the sense which
would allow n fine 10 be imposed by the
Lodge for failure to attend, etc. The noble
grand decided thatsaid funeral was legal"
and that fines could be imposed, etc. The
lodge oyerruled this decision. The Grand
Lodge held that the lodge was in error and
that the noble grand was correct.
The appeal Of NJ. r. Newman VS.. North
Star Lodge No. 81 resulted in the decision
that a lodge may, in its judgment, apprO-
pirate funds for beautifyng graves, erect
ing headStones etc, in its own cemetery.
The general relief committee reported
several brethren underits permanent charge,
and that during the year S22.4il 50 mad
been paid for relief OF stranger brothers.
IL thdut 4 request L1hI SuDOiuludbGS having
sick brethren experiencing its care would
be prompt in returning moneys expended
for their members, as the treasury was run
ming low.
Chairman Simpson of the committee OF
correspondence made an able report, giving
the status OF the order in the national and
foreign jurisdictions.
The following special committees were
appointed: On honored dead-William H.
Barnes, Lee Ellsworth, w. 5. Dryden, A.
X. Lord, G. w. Fisher; death Of H. NJ.
HewstoD, Z. g. MI. L. Alexander, Sam
ueI Gilman, A. NJ. Drew, NJ. III. DEMO. S.
L. MOrelan6; death of c. II. Randall, p. G.
Nj. B. Harmon, q. A. Atwood, III. Peers.
John Mitchell, George Kelton; on unwrit-
ten work and iOns-Representative
Gleason, Mcguire, Turner, Wolff and Maggie.
This committee will examine applicants for
deputyships, etc, in Eureka Hall every
morning at o'clock.
The Grand Lodge then took recess I'M
Ill 10 o'clock this morning.