Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-12-09
WEST VIRGINIA ODD FELLOWS.
Succinct Report of the Proceedings of
the Grand Lodge.

the 0FdHu LOuxe.
The Grand Lodge, 1. o. o. F., met
at Wheeling on the 2Ist ultumo and
was in point of attendance the largest
session i'll the history of the Grand
Lodge of West Virginia. This year S
meeting was also one of the most in
teresting and profitable, and in a So
cial sense one of the most enjoyable.
Each incoming train Monday aug
mented the number of distinguished
visiting brethren and by evening
there were probably three hundred
strangers in the city wearing the EN-
blem of the three links of the order.
The Grand Hodge was called to or
der at ten O'Clock Tuesday morning,
by the Grand Master with the follow
ing officers present: Grand Master
A. G. Dayton, of Philippi; Deputy
Grand Master, Septimus Hall. of New
Martinsville; Grand Warden, J. A..
Book, of Fairinont; Grand Secretary,
E. A. Billingslea, of Fairmont Grand
Treasurer, Henry Seamon, of Wheel
ing; P. G. NJ, Grand Representative
Godfrey Schul, of Wheeling; and
Grand Representative John Beckley,
of Raleigh c. H.
The appointed officers were as fol-
lows: Grand Chaplain, RichardWoods;
Grand Marshal, Glenville E. Taft;
Grand Conductor, George Rad eff;
Grand Herald George A. Flooding; and
Grand Guardian, James Burdette.
Grand Master Dayton announced
the appointment of the regular COM
The roll call ofrdelegates showed
the largest attendance of any meeting
of the Grand Lodge ever held in the
State. The commodious hall was
crowded, and many delegates stood
throughout the meeting.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
The report of the Grand Secretary
gave an excellent showing of the
progress of the order during the past
year. The net gain in membership
was not as large as during the pre-
ceding year but it reached the good
ly number Of 7S5. Seven new lodges
were instituted and all are in pros
porous condition. The total member
ship is now S,365; total number of
lodges, 1873. One lodge was lost by
with another.
The report of the Grand Treasurer,
Henry Seamon, showed the following
totals: Cash on hand Nov. IS, 1892,
-, Coo. 70; Nov. 10, 1895, So, 500. 40;
disbursements during year, S3,o55.6 Oh:
ash on hand, s., 4o6.S5.
The reports of all the Grand officers
we're referred to the respective COM
nittees and the remainder of the
Ifternoon session was devoted to con-
erring degrees.
Tuesdays meeting Of the Grand
lodge was very interesting aud was
marked by increased attendance. All
he officers were present when Grand
Master Dayton raped for order.
S. X. Bradshaw, of Columbus, a
Past Deputy Grand Master of Ohio,
md Claude Buckley, of Lexington, a
Past Grand officer of Kentucky, were
interesting spectators during the pro-
of the session. The meeting
vas opened in regular order. A re-
port was presented from the commit
zee on credentials, relative to the ad-
mission of new members, and tie
Grand Lodge. degree was conferred
upon some twenty-eight or more cam
iidates. Various other committees
This business was largely
routine and of no public interest.
The selection of the next place of
was one of the most interest
ng matters taken up at the morning
session. Wheeling, Wellsburg. Point
Pleasant, Huntington, Harpers Ferry,
aud Parkersburg each presented claims
Tor the honor and there was consider
able work done among the delegation
On behalf of the respective places.
Harpers Ferry asked for the Grand
Lodge upon the strong claim that
there were about ten subordinate
lodges in its immediate vicinity and
no session of the Grand Lodge has yet
been held in that section. Delegate
Richard Woods, of Huntington, made
. 80