Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-17
ODD FELLOWS INCREASING.
Reports Read to the Sovereign Grand
Lodge.


Lodge.
At yesterdays session of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, Independent Order Of Odd
Fellows. at Atlantic City Grand Sire Steb-
bins read his report. Every branch of the
order. he said. is fiourishing, exhibiting
an increase in the number of its subordi-
mates, as follows: Subordinate lodges, in
crease 297; subordinate encampments, in
crease. SO; Rebekah lodges, increase, 1885,
In the canton branch they are not re-
ported, but from information from depart
ment commanders unusual prosperity pre-
walls.
He said that the Rebekah branch has had
a marvellous growth in the past year. While
the increase In membership in the subordi-
nate lodge has been several thousand less
than last year and the encampments have
fallen 1.i72 below. the Rebekan lodges have
gained In membership 22747, exceeding the
relief by 81. 141.36.
The reports from the grand Jurisdictions
show that already, over and above all
loans, millions have been added to the
wealth in the increased valuation in real
estate alone The aggregate footing of
these tables shows an ownership in ISIS
pieces of real estate at a cost of ST.. 1851.
46S94 at present valuation of $751; =
I241l, making net increase of $4,114, IA 06
by investments. In addition to this not less
than 81 .0OOOo0 has been invested in homes,
with landed possession of not less than
$500 acres. neat and commodious and many
and helpless.
State of the Order.
Reports were also received from the
grand secretary and grand treasurer.
The grand secretary's report shows the
following state of the order for the past
year: Total number of grand lodges, So,
n Cya In IF <Ot
ments. so; total subordinate lodges, 1852,
gain of 2T; subordinate encampments. 2,610.
a gain of 53; Rebekah lodges 1927 a gain
of S35; lodge limitations, 63S45; encamp-
ment limitations, 9,407; total lodge members,
W,16; encampment members. 1874. $50; Re-
bekah members. 25,1S9; relief paid by
lodges in North America s., 993 457 go: re-
lieS paid by encampments sos4, 54O23; by
Rebekah lodges, $i5,313.N: total relief paid,
$'323.31l.96; revenue received by lodges in
North America, s7,474,32sO6: by encamp-
ments, $6l5.332O7; by Rebekah lodges $337 =
$40: total revenue, 1921, S7O.53.
The report then gives some interesting
statistics of the order from its Inauguration
In North America, in 1890 up to December
81, 1894, including Germany, Denmark,
Switzerland and Australia The limitations
in subordinate lodges were 2O12, S4S; mem
bers relieved, 1,9O2. So: widows and families
relieved. 2l61IS; members deceased in that
time, 1874, S94; total relief paid $67 S2S 60 Al
total receipts. s176. 1856, 2O26O.
The report of Isaac A. Sheppard, grand
treasurer. shows receipts of $40, COL IS; paid
out from certificate No. 6.26S to No. CESS,
$62.OS3; balance in treasury, S2s,6O1.O2.
The report shows that the assets of the
Sovereign Grand Lodge at this time con-
sists of cash in treasury, SIS, 6O1. O2; $4,000
In Lehigh Valley railroad bonds and $4,000
in Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
railroad bonds. The total available assets
as per his report of August 20, 1884, were
$tS.2o1.2o. showing a loss this year of
$4,65O.23