Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-19
ODD FELLOWS IN SESSION.
Assembling of the Sovereign Grand Lodge
at Atlantic CITY Addresses of Welcome
from state isodies--Grand sire's Report


Assembling of the Sovereign Grand Lods
at Atlantic CITY Addresses of Welcome
from state 5odies--Grand sire's Rerort
Read.
Atlantic City, NJ j., Sept. 16 The
Sovereign Grand Lodge, !. o. 0. f.,
assembled at 10 O'Clock this morning
on McShane's pier, this city. DIR. w.
II. Isard of Camden, N. D., acted as
master of ceremonies.
Gov. Werts was to have delivered
the address of welcome on behalf of the
State, but was prevented on account OF
his departure for Chattanooga.
Mayor Franklin II. Stoy delivered
the address of welcome on behalf of the
city, and John X. Griifiths ON behalf
of the l. o. 0. r. Of the State OF New
jersey.
The address OF welcome on behalf of
the Grand Encampment of New Jersey
was delivered by Grand Patriarch
James McIIahon.
Mrs. Sarah butcher, president oi
the RebelSah State Association, a
branch of the order, delivered the adj
dress of welcome on behalf of this
branch.
Grand Sire 9. W. Stebbins replied
to the addresses of welcome. He then
delivered his annual report.
At the conclusion of the reading OF
the report the lodge went into secret
session. The reports of the Grand
Secretary and Grand Treasurer will be
read at this afternoons session.
Atlantic City, N. j., Sept. II, The
Sovereign Grand Lodge, l. 0. o. F.,
met this morning at o o'clock.
The Grand Sire appointed the follow
ing special committee on buildings
and halls:
j. Otis Humphrey, illinois,; S. T.
Parsons Missouri; Alfred S. .Pinker-
ton, Massachusetts; A. G. Cable
Ohio, and Francis N. Rea, PenngyA-
vania. The duty of the committee is
to report the condition OF buildings
and halls.
Lewis Vannorden, representative
from Ohio, attempted to have q radical
change made in the secret work of the
order. He offered resolution that a
universal password and grip be adopted
for the initiatoTy degree in subordinate
and Rebekah lodges; that com nittee
| of Past Grand Sires be appointed TO
formulate the password and grip, OBJ
lection was made and the resolution
was referred to the proper COMMITTEES.
Resolutions bearing onthe same sub
iect were introduced by Pennsylvania
and Indiana representatives, but they,
too, were referred to the proper COM
mittee.
The Arkansas delegation is making
strong effort to secure the next session
of the Sovereign Grand Lodge for Hot
Springs. A resolution to this effect
was offered, but it was laid over until
Thursday morning at 8 O'Clock.
The Grand Sire appointed Col. M.
f. Dowd, editor of the "Odd Fellows
Souvenir" of st. Louis, official re-
porter of this session.
A number of appeals came up from
Grand Lodges in New York, Colorado,
California, Indiana, Massachusetts and
British Columbia, but in all cases the
were approved. There will be a big
parade this afternoon.
Atlantic City, Sept 49, AT this
mornings session of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge I. o. o. f., an invitation
was read from the Philadelphia lodges
asking the officers and representatives
to visit Philadelphia on their way
home from the convention and inspect
the new Odd Follows Hall in that city.
The invitation was accepted.
A resolution was introduced to re-
wise the ritual of the Patriarchs Mill
tant. This was referred to committee.
A resolution was also introduced TO
amend the insurance law of the order
This was also referred to qthe proper
committee.
Great surprise was occasioned by re-
ceiving the resignation of Sovereign
Grand Treasurer, Isaac A. Shepard of
Philadelphia. In his letter OF resigna-
tion, tie Grand Treasurer said that
''in consequence Of failing health,
am constrained to tender to you my
resignation of the office of Grand Treas
urer to take effect on the qualification
of my successor.
The Grand Sire said it was with
great sorrow that the resignation of
Brother Shepard had been received. He
appointed Gen. Gable, William M.
Morris and A. S. Pinkerton special
committee to consider the resignation
and report. The committee reported
that it was with unfeigned reluctance
that the valuable services of the Grand
Treasurer must be dispensed with. "a
brother who had so faithfully ldiacharg-
ed for 10 years the responsible trust
with that integrity that characterizes
the noblest work of God. an honest
man, and sincerely trust that he may
be speedily restored to health and that
his life may be prolonged for many
years. y
The report was received and the
resignation was accepted by standing
vote.
M. Richards Muckle Of Philadelphia,
was nominated for the vacancy. There
was no opposition and he was unani-
mously elected, He will be installed on
Friday.