The Irish standard., 1894-09-22
THE THREE LINKS.
Odd Fellows Meet IN Seventieth
Annual Session.
y Wonderful Growth Of the Order shown
by the Grand Sires Address and
Omcers' Representations
Spent for Charity.
SOVEREIGN GRAND LODGE.

SOVEREIGN GRAND LODGE.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Sept. 1s.-
Prominent odd fellows from all sec
tions of the United States and Canada,
representing the various districts OF the
order, assembled in the SEVENTEEN an
pual session of the Sovereign grand
lodge in the hall of Lookout Noun
tain inn on Monday. Grand Sire c. T.
Campbell, of London, Ont, pre-
sided, and the public was admitted to
the opening session. When the lodge
had been formally called to order the
delegates were welcomed on behalf OF
the state by Gov. Peter Turney,
while Mayor George II. Ochs spoke
Tor the city
Grand sire's Address.
The annual report Of the grand sire
was long document, the reading last
ing over one hour. A synopsis OF the
document is as follows:
The grand sire said that since tho last
convention in the south, held In Atlanta
twenty years ago, the membership In the
southern states had increased from 60p TO
$1,000. and to the people OF the south odd fel-
lowship had become an established tnstitu-
tion. The total membership OF the order was
now 76O 900, or, including the sisters of the
Rebekah degree. 889. 900 10 this should be
added membership OF 5000 in foreign juris-
dictions, making a combined membership OF
900 men and women The net increase in
membership during the year had been
$1,000. This was less than the year
previous, but this might be accounted
for In the United States by a season OF fnan-
cial strngency that lessened the resources Of
the people. In Canada the order had made
greater progress than in any year OF it's history.
Millions spent for Relief.
There has been no diminution in the work
accom- plished, and the expenditure of three
and third millions OF dollars for purposes Of
relief was a sufficient evidence OF the activity
of odd fellowship.
been such decided progress as in making pro-
vision for the aged members and orphan chill
dren. In many states new homes had been
opened, while numerous jurisdictions were ac-
cumulatng funds and preparing buildings for
the laudabie work.
State of the Order.
A charter has been granted for a grand
lodge in Sweden, and it was recommended that
an application for district lodge in Naples,
Italy, be granted Overtures had been made
looking to the Introduction OF the order into
India, but there were evident reasons why the
proposition should not be entertained. A
charter has been granted for an initial lodge in
Newfoundland, the only part OF British North
America not hitherto occupied.
The military branch known as the Patri-
archs Militant, was reported as being in q
prosperous condition. Numerous withered
branches have been Topped off during the year,
the forces generally reorganized and eleven
new cantons mustered into service
The enthusiasm Of the Ststerhood OF Re-
bekah had continued unabated, the member
ship increasing rapidly. The laws governing
vision but the wishes OF the sisters themselves
should receive full consideration.
Secretary's Report.
The report of Theodore A. Ross, grand Sec
rotary and adjutant-general:s shows that during
1893 the get gain in the membership of lodges
was ~, 1877 and in encampments 3,54s
In the Rebekah lodges the net gain in the
number Of lodges Was 378: in membership, 3D.
b73. OF the increased membership p in these
lodges $3.50 were sisters.
Assets Show Decrease.
The report Of Grand treasurer Isaac A.
Sheppard shows the financial condition of the
Sovereign grand lodge for the fiscal year end
ing August %, 1894, as follows Receipts, cash
balance as per last report, $34.076.72 sundry re-
ceipts during year, S74,45S2l; total cash re-
serve. St0s, ,b34.93; expenditures during the
year SIS, ,2SS. 6S: balance in hands of treasurer
&33 PSI. 25 assets. cash balance In treasury
$33, .5i.25 Lehigh Valley Railroad company 4A
per cent bonds, a15.00); other per cent. bonds
$4,000; total. S63, ,25l25 The total available
assets as per report August 10, 1893 were S79.-
O76 72, showing a loss in assets Of SIS, ,625.4
Honored by the Odd Fellows.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Sept. 19-At
She business session of the sovereign
grand lodge of odd fellows Tuesday
morning, reassembled in Lookout con-
vention hall, Atlantic City was Sc
lected as the place of the next meet
ing. John w. Stebbins, of Maryland,
was elected grand sire; Fred Carleton,
of Texas, deputy grand sire; Theodore
Ross. Of New Jersey, grand secretary,
and Isaac Shepard, of Pennsylvania,
grand treasurer.