Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-17
STATE GRAND LODGE, I. Q. Q. F.

' The Doings at the Annual Session in Stamford Yesterday - Important Accommodation by Grand Mas ter Mar1gold-Continued Prosperity of she Order--The Result of the Election-The Grand Secretary's Re. port and suEgestio ns-The odd Eel. lows, Home.
 STAMFORD, Conn.,, May 16.-over 500 delegates were present at the annual sea sion of the Connecticut grand lodge held here to-day at the town hall. Grand Mas ter Marigold presided. W. W. Gillespie made the address of welcome on behalf of Stamford lodge and Hon. Samuel Fessen- den, . past grand master, welcomed the visitors in behalf of the city, both making stirring speeches. Fifty new members re- ceived the grand lodge degree in tho morn ing.
 The following were nominated for off, cers of the grand lodge: Grand master, Leopold De Lseuw of Hartford; deputy grand master, D. R. filling, New Haven; grand secretary, Frederick Botsford, New Haven; grand treasurer, J. W. Smith, Wa terbury. There were four candidates for grand warden. They were: L. H. Fuller of Putnam, John Blair of Waterbury and Judge H. Stanley Finch and I. T. Taft of Stamford. The lodge reoonvened at 2:30. The address of Grand Matter William H. Marigold of Bridgeport WAS a masterly effort. He said had it not been for the business depression no doubt total mem- bership of 15,000 Odd Fellows could have been reported on the list at this session. The starting of new lodges that were pro- l jscted had to be postponed for time. but the old lodges recruited largely during the year, initiating nearly 954 new members as against 751 the year before, fine show | accompanying changes. Four new Re- beksh lodges were reported and . member l ship January of 1 ,5s7 brothers and 2, COB l sisters, 8 total of 3, ,569, 8 gain of 347 for l the year. As three of the new lodges were | instituted since January 1, the gain for the | grand lodge year Is considerably greater. Several new Rsbekah lodges are contem- | plated, which is another matter of con- | graduation.
 MT. Marigold favored strongly having a digest made of the laws enacted by the grand lodge. He then modestly spoke of | the varied duties he had performed as grand master, and the fraternal bonds that had been formed thereby. He spoke of the long and honorable record of Odd Fellow. ship, the good accomplished by the order. and the noble objects of brotherhood and helpfulness for which it stands.
 Grand Secretary Botsford reported: To- tai number of lodges as per last report, 78 1894, 79.
 Total receipts of subordinates. $134,' 313.88; paid for relief, $75, ,230 02 paid for expenses, $61 1887 52; total, $136, ,617. 54 3O3 S6; the total fund January l, 1894 $389, ,516 46; thsincrease in amount paid fol relief, $4,74s 75; the increase in amount paid for expenses, $6, 455 Al.
 "This is the first time during my incum ! bsncy that I have had to report 8 loss il the general fund. The increase in expense is accounted for by the payments made ts the home, which have been charged to ex traordinary expenses. The great increas in relief is chargeable to conditions caused by the great depression in business ant consequent deprivations of the lsborinl class. We sincerely hope for an early re turn to the normal condition.
 MEMBERSHIP.
 Number of members as per last report 14.S11; initiated, 954; admittsd by card, ,64 reinatated, 2s; total, 15, ,357; from which de duct-withdrawn by card, 109; suspende for N. P. D. s97; expelled, 12; deceased . 1, 1894, IA 648; net gain for the year. 33e
 "The number of weeks sickness 19, ,O5t an increase over last year of 2, 446 week. | an average for each member of eix dayi | seven hours and thirty minutes. Tn number of deaths during the year is 19s being rate of 14 per cent. on the men bership.
 DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH.
 "The report for this degree Is as flo lows: Number of lodges as per la report, 32; added during the gran lodge year, 4; total number May 16tl 1894, 36. Members as per last repor Ii. .462 brothers, 1,760 sisters; total 3.S2 Admitted during the year, 293 brotl CTS, 356 sisters; total, 649. Totals, 1.7t , brothers, 9, 116 sisters; total, 3.871. Fro which hdeduct-withdrawn, 146 sisters, brothers; expelled, 30 brothers, Il sister deceased, 12 b others.21 sisters; total, 3O Members December 31, 1893, ], ,567 brot CTS, 2, ,O02 sieters; total, 569.
 Amount of assets as per last repor S22 476 O4; receipts for twelve months, ,$S 9O5. .29; total, $3l, ,3S1 33 Paid out-for T lief of members, $l 196 25; for relief { widowed families, ,$l19: for relief expenae 6,475 Fl; toral, $7 s7O 90. Total, $25 51037 Net gain in membership, 347; h. gain in funds, $1 034 33.
 GRAND LODGE RECEIPTS.
 "For the year ending April 30, 1s9 $3,114 76. From ths following source Dues, $3. 237. 71; cards. $494 50; odes. $4s s5; rituals, $91 30; book of forms, foo work, etc, $27. 05; constitutions, $51. Il veteran jewels, $S; digest, $9; charter fe $30; fee of mutual aid associations, etc s4s'
 i've must now print 8 new edition blanks for semi annual reports, and I suf | gest that a committee of three past gra~ masters, including the grand secretary, appointed for the revision of said blanks with power to print the same when so II vised-and that hereafter no changes shs be made without reference to special con mittee raised for that purpose.
 During the year have been pained, 1 u perueing the amendments to ledge by law which have been forwarded to the legisli tive committee, to notice in some by-1a, limiting the time for watching with sic brother. believe this is an unconstitu tional departure from the fundamental an long observed principles of our order.
 believe that 1t is 8 sacred, individual obi gation, resting upon every Odd Fellow. t watch with the eick brother SO long as Tiff lasts, or his necessities require, and tn lodge should enforce the observance of thi obligation by its members. The matte will be brought before you by the gram master aRd I sincerely trust that thi grand lodge will most emphatically reaf firm the principle that to evisit the sick relieve the distressed, bury the dead, edu cate the orphan, is the command of ou laws and an imperative daty which cd, Fellowship enjoins.'
 "And now 1 wish to gay few words ol the subject of our Odd Fellows home Every member of this grand lodge know that the grand secretary has been an en thusiastie advocate of home for aged an, indigent Odd Fellows. Some twelve year ago a suggestion was made in his rspor | which failed to obtain the support of thi grand lodge; and it was again referred t, in 1883, and action was taken in 1891 , which has finally resulted in the establish ment of home, and the lodges in thi stats almost unanimously have nobly re sponded to the call for funds to sustai, the enterprise.
 MT. Botsford suggested that every 1odg contribute $1 per capita per annum for tn | support and maintenance of the home