The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-18
ON LOOKOUT'S HICHTS.
Annual Session Of The Sovereign
Grand Lodge |. 0. @. F.

NHh Aa4 eA4AGu VI ttAd OIIHI OF Ouu + bA@
lows Growth Of the Order in the
South Unprecedented - Financial
Status of the Order-Address Of the
Graudsire.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Sept. f7.-lu the
new and commodious convention hall Of
Lookout Mountain, at o'clock this
morning. reception ceremonies were held
in honor of the opening of the seventieth
annual session of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge Of odd Fellows, the highest tri-
bunal Of Odd Fellowship in the world
Tastily and profusely decorated with
everFrcous, flags, bunting and streamers
in the emhlematic colors Of the order,
white, blue, scarlet and royal purple, the
hall presented an attractive appearance.
Excellent music by select orchestra
added TO the enjoyment of the occasion.
Speeches of welcome were made by Gov
Peter Turney in behalf of the state,
by Mayor George Ochs, in behalf of the
city, by Deputy Grand Master W. A.
Barry, of the Grand Lodge Of Tennessee,
and by Charles Lands, of the grand en-
campment of the state.
These welcoming addresses were re.
sponded to by Graudsire c. l.. Campbell
of Canada, who said that hospitality was
the world renowned virtue Of the south,
but those who had not felt it as it had
been shown to Odd Fellows present,
could not conceive of its extent or its sin
ceritv. After the reception ceremonies
the sovereign grand lodge at once re-
solved itself into a secret session, when
reports Of various officers and standing
committees were submitted.
The grand sire announced the death Of
Grand Marshal Walter G.. Dye at Mime
apolis March 3l last aud appointed Will
lam =. Frost OF Maryland TO the position.
Past Grand Representative r.. Il. Shipley
OF Missouri was made official reporter of
the weeks proceedings. Grand Secretary
Representative Humphreys oflllinois pre-
sented a souvenir of the Odd Fellows
Home Of Illinois in the shape of a beauti-
full specimen Of the printers art.
The grand sire made his official annual
address, Of which a summary is here
given:
The grand sire said that since the last
convention 10 the south, which was held
in Atlanta twenty years ago, the men,
borship in what is recognized politically
as the southern states has increased from
5000 TO $4,000, and to the people of the
south Odd Fellowship has become an es-
tabllshed institution. The total mem
bershIp of the order was now 100000,
/ or including the Sisters Of
| Rebekah degree 900. To this
] should be added in foreign Jurisdictions
membership Of 255, 900, making COM
| bined membership Of nine-tenths of q
million men and women The net in
crease in membership during the year
had been $4,000. There was less than the
year previous, but this might be accounted
for in the United States by season of
financial stringency that lessened the re-
sources Of the people. In Canada, rel
| atiyely more prosperous country, and
under its state institutions less liable 10
business huctuatiou, the order has made
a more marked progress than any
of its history. There has been no
dtminution, however, in the work ac-
complished and the expenditure of three
and third million dollars for the pur-
pose OF relief was a sufficient evidence Of
the activity Of odd Fellowship. The re-
port deals at length with the condition of
the order in foreign lands, and then goes
on 10 say that peace and harmony pre-
vailed throughout the entire Jurisdiction
except in Kansas, where a number of
lodges had invoked the aid Of the courts
against an assessment ordered by tho
grand lodge for the support of a
home. This matter will be re-
ferred TO the body now in session
for final adjudication. The military
branch, known as the patriarchs mill
tant, was reported as being in q pros
porous condition. Numerous withered
branches had been Topped of during tho
year the forces generally reorganized
and eleven new cantOns mustered into
service. The Sisterhood of Rebekah has
continued undated, the membership in
creasing rapidly The laws governing
this branch, however, required careful
revision, but the views OF the sisters
themselves should receive fun considera-
tion. I'M no department of work had there
been such decided progress as in making
provision for the aged members and
orphan children In many states new
homes had been opened, while numerous
other jurisdictions were accommodating
funds and erecting buildings for the laud-
able work. The grand sire concluded
with an eloquent appeal to the delegates
10 hasten the establishment Of the coming
altrurian age, Of which poets have
dreamed and philanthropists have hoped,
but which odd Fellowship only has made
possible.
The present resources Of the sovereign
grand lodge were shown in Grand Secre-
tary Ross Official report in the following
tabulated statement Receipts from
grand lodges, $i4, ,02565; receipts from
grand encampments, IS 532. 70; receipts
from subordinate lodges, 81, 1888; re-
ceipts from other encampments, Sl26l1;
receipts from sundry cantons, Sl03 55; re-
ceipts from patriarchs militant, 81, ,35605
receipts from individuals, S357.65; inter-
est on railroad bonds, 81 .575; sales of
Philadelphia and Erie railroad bonds,
Sl4,962. 30; returned by committee, per
resolution, page 1867, Journal of 1893,
$1O56; total cash paid TO grand treas
urer, S74.45S.2l.
The report of the grand treasurer sub
mttcd, shows assets of the sovereign
grand lodge at present TO be S79016.72
The most important paper presented at
the meeting was a petition by Represen-
tative Dilkes of New York, touching The
status OF aged members Of the order who
have been left out Of the Odd Fellows
home by reason Of their particular lodge
surrendering its charter. Legislation is
asked by many TO remedy such injustice,
and this question Is one of the most DIM
cult which the grand lodge viii have TO
face.
on motion Of Representative Carliu Of
Illinois, the representative report OF the
committees on dues and benefits, laid over
frcm last session. was made the special
order of business for Wednesday morning.
The meeting then ad ourned
This afternoon the visitingl delegates
and their friends were taken for a drive
to the Chickamauga National Park,
whose pleasure was marred during the