The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-21

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Opening Of the Twenty-sev-
entn Annual Session of
Grand Lodge.
GRAND CHANCELLoR's REPORT
Action of the German Lodges In
Parting With Their Ritual
Complimented.
GRAND CHANCELLoR'S REPORT
Special to the Jersey CITY Nescs.

TRENTON, Feb. 81, 1S94.-The twenty
seventh annual session of the Grand Lodge
of the Knights of Pythias of New Jersey
began this morning in the Masonic Temple.
All the grand officers arrived last night and
the various committees went in session pre-
pairing their reports.
The most important business today was
the reading of the annual address of Grand
Chancellor Walter F. Hayhurst of Lambert
the year was full of discouragements. There
was a general business depression that inter-
fered with membership, there was opposition
to the Supreme Court legislation, dissatisfac-
ton among the Germans because of the
taking away of the German ritual, and
ondition that required a revival of interest.
This work has been accomplished and shows
itself in the general condition of the order
today.
The report of the Grand Keeper of Rec
ords and Seal showed that there were 900
candidates initiated; 274 were initiated by
new lodges; 7 new lodges instituted and two
collapsed. The members suspended amounted
to go, and 126 died; ~ lodges nave a de-
C1C0oO VI JILL IouiP, aiIo ~ oil I'LL StSSC
THE GERMAN LODGES.
The Grand Chancellor stated that he
records with much satisfaction that every
German Lodge in the jurisdiction has been
loyal to its obligations and Immediately
complied with the requirements of the circu-
lars issued to them in reference to change of
ritual. Many of the German brethren OBJ
jected to parting with their German ritual,
but some of them now see the wisdom of it,
and conclude that the abolition of the Ger
mar ritual was a good thing.
The endowment rank of the Knights of
Pythias in the jurisdiction of New Jersey is
doing well. There are 80 sections, with a
membership OF 952, and the amount of en-
dowment is S1,551, 600. The Board of Con-
troll during the year has paid tine benefc-
iaries of deceased members the sum of
$31, 900, making the total amount paid to
beneficiaries since the establishment of the
endowment rank in New Jersey, $685., 600.
II FINANCES.
The finances of the Grand Lodge are in
a healthy condition: They will have ON
hand at the close of the present session, after
payment of all expenses, about 1000. The
Finance Committee announced that the re-
ceipts from per capita tax sale of supplies
were SC, 497. 81, and the expenses were So, 907,
leaving a balance of S3,590.9 81. 1t is esti-
mated that it will take about "a, 112 for the
expenses of the Grand Lodge this year.
Inc SldllSLlCS VI LucIlDcIoulp SuOW uldU
the number of members at last report was
12,S10; initiated during the year, S7S; rein
stated, 81; admitted by card, SO; total, 49,
S51. Deductions by withdrawal, suspensions
and the like, 1.011, making the present
membership 12,s40; net increase for the
year, 80.
The relief given this year amounted to
$55, 1893. 10, against S62, 408.2 s last year. The
total receipts of the relief fund from all
sources was $134, S91, against $134.1S1 last
year. The number of member relieved
were l, 70S; number of subordinate lodges
assisted, 145. Various funds, paraphernalia
and real estate is estimated to be worth
S275,2 S3, an increase of about $1,000 over
last year.
AMI
The brigade OF the Uniformed Rank met
last night, with General George Rhodes of
Elizabeth presiding. Resolutions were
adopted which today will be commu-
nicated to the Grand Lodge. These
resolutions urge changes in the organic
law of the Uniformed Rank; the Supreme
Representative of the Grand Lodge of New
Jersey g requested to cooperate with the
brigade; they request representation on the
floor of the Supreme Lodge; that Major
Generals be elected by the Supreme Lodge;
each brigade to nave charge of its own
officers, Just as each Grand Lodge; that the
Uniformed Rank be recognized by the Grand
Lodge as a higher rank of the order.
They also want the ritual revised and
simplified, and that the cost of supplies be