The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-18
ODD-FELLoW. ASSEMBLE.
seveptisth Annual session Of the sover-
e,rn Grand Lodge.

CHATIANODGA, IbNN', otpl' - -
the new and commodious convention hail
on Lookout Mountain. at O'CLOCK thls
morning, reception ceremonies We're sS ne'S
In honor OF the opening OF the seven tlesa a
annual session OF the Sovereign Grand
Lodge of odd Fellows, the highest ttlpu-
nal OF odd Fellow ship in the world. .,..,
lastly and prOfusely decorated VIZ
evergreens, flags, bunting ana s,Ied,iiI.,s arIsr
In the emblematc colors OF ths o'ugi -
white. blue. scarlet and royal purple tne
hall presented an attractive appearance.
Excellent music b. select orCnessi@ .,'','
added to the enjoyment of the OCCASION
sPIEcHfs or WELCOME.
Speeches Of welcome were made 10y
Governor Peter Turney in behalf gi III
state. by Mayor George Ochs In Dehsti ~.
of tha rftv by Deputy Grand Master W.
A Bsrrlck. of the Grand Lodge or ZEN
nessee and by Charles Lands oil I"e
Grand Encampment OF me Sla'e. -, ,a-
These welcoming addresses We're
spouded 10 by Grand Secretary Il l.
Campbell, Of Canada, who said that nOs- NOS
pitallty was the world-reno %hgn teit
Of the South, but those VINO hau IA "a III III
in as IL had been shown to the osidsr Si-
lows present could not concelye OF I7
extent or rs sincerity. AFTER tile craId IyDpd
tion ceremonies the sovereign Irand l
I,9ige an once resolved itself into Sc
cret session. when reports OF various
officers and standing committees were
submitted.
KypORTs AND PAPFBs.
The report Of the Grand Treasurer. as
submitted. shows assets or the o0rene's" Z"
Grand Lodge ~, present 20 "a S.hot Since
the last convention in the South, Whith
was held I'm Atlanta twenty years ago, tne
membership In what ts rec ognlzed pollll,
cally as the southern state mas lhcItdSevs
from eool TO s00pj. and TO the people OF
the south Odd-Fe lowship has become an
established Institution. The total mem
bershlp OF the order was now IwW9 or
Including the Sisters of the hebek1h "e-
oreo SOlO0O To this should be added IN
foroi~n Jurisdictions q membership OF -, =
1l0 making a combined membership OF
ufno-teuths Of o. illiOn men ana women.
The net increase IN membership uuIiis lite
Year had been $1,000. This was Tess thdh
fhe wear previous, but this might be ac-
counted for IN the United states by sed
son Of financial stringency th&t tS95o'i.'
the resources Of the people IN Ctil's'iu .,'
relatively a more prosperous counuy, anu
unIer IFS stable Institutions less haple a. sc
business fluctuations. the order had illaue
greater progress than I'm any year OF lts
history. There had been no diminutlon,
however IN the work accompli isntd ana
the expenditure Of three and third million
of dollars for purposes Of reuet was, a
Sufficient evidence of the activity Of odd
Fellowship.
CONDITION or TIE ORDER.
The report deals at length with the
condition OF tie order in foreign lallus,
n N
harmony prevailed throughout the en-
tirc jurisdiction. except I'm Kansas Whert
a number OF lodges had invoked the az!
Of the courts against an aSStH0li'H'
ordered by the Grand Lodge for the sup
mort of a home. This matter VIII De
referred 20 the body now IN session lQi
final adjudication. The military branch
known as the patriarchs militdnte, were
rRGr5ed aS 9el4S !" %itRr8ed 6rane2es
had been Topped OFF during the year
tIe forces geueraly recognized ana
eleven newcantons mustered into service
Tbe onthusiasm OF the slsterhood of
ReIekah has continued undated, the
membership increasing rapidly. The laws
governing this branch, however, require
careful revision. but the views OF tht
sisters themselves should receive fuil
consideration. IN no department. OF
work had there laen such decided pro-
grcss as Ia UaIuS provision for ",
aged members and orphan children. IN
many states new homes had been
opened. while numerous other Jurisdlc-
tions were accumulating funds and pre-
pairing buildings for this laudable work
The Grand Secretary concluded with an
eloaucnt appeal 10 the delegates %
hasten the establishment of the coming
altruran age. Of which poets nave
dreamed and philanthropists have hoped
but which Odd-Fellowship only has made
possible
The most important paper presented at
the meeting was a petition by Representa-
tive bikes. 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 Us
asked by many % remedy such injustice,
and this question is one of the most DIM
emit which The Grand Lodge will have 10
face. Upon motion OF Representative car
lin OF Illinois. the report OF the COM
mittees on Dues and Benefits, laid over
from last session, was made the special
order of business for Wednesday morning.
The meeting then adjourned.
TO PARADE TODAY.
This afternoon the visiting delegates and
their friends were taken for a drive 70
Chickamauga National Park. whose pleas
ure was marred during the return drive
bv great dOwnpour Of rain.
Tomorrow afternoon the grand parade
will move at o'clock. In the evening
there will be a reunion Of past grand
secretaries. The attendance Is rather
small. not more than one thousand being
present