Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-18
FROM ALL SECTIONS.
Sovereign Grand Lodge Of Odd Fellows in
Annual Session.

| ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. Todd Fellows
of high degree from every quarter OF the
United States and from Canada and Mex
i leo have filled up Atlantic City. They are
here by the thousands, with relatives and
friends, to enjoy the festivities surround
| ing the list annual session of the SOW
ereign grand lodge, which rules Odd Eel
lowship on this side of the world.
Mayor Franklin B. Stoy delivered the
| address of welcome on behalf OF the city
| and John H. Griffith on behalf of the Odd
Fellows 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 Mcmahon.
Grand Sire G. w. Stebbins replied to the
addresses of welcome. The grand sire
then delivered his annual report. He said
in part:
We have reached that period in our his
tory when no adverse criticisms, no I'M
friendly assaults, no bigotcd anathemas,
can have any effect, and when we can
afford to pass them by in silence, naught
disturbed or harmed by their utterance,
looking forward with hope to the day
dawn of their enlightenment. Every
DTduCll VI tilC olNCI 10 S-A'"
iting an increase in the number of its sub
ordinates, as follows: Subordinate lodges
increase 297; subordinate encampments
increase 63; Rebckuh lodges increase, $50.
While the increase in the membership
in the subordinate lodges has been several
thousand less than last year. and the en-
campments have fallen 1879 below, tho
Rcbekah lodges have gained in member
ship q, TAT, exceeding the gain of the pre-
ceding year by liza, and the relief by 49,,
141.35.
That the growth of this branch had been
still greater but for an ill-advised agita-
ton and opposition to the new term MEM
bershp, adopted at the last communica-
ton, to which much of the increased pros
perity is attributable, there can be no in
telligent question.
Interesting Statistics.
The grand secrctary's report shows the
following state of the order for the past
year: Total number of grand lodges, So, a
gain of one; total number of grand en-
campments, so; total subordinate lodges,
O,592, gain Of 297; subordinate encamp-
ments 26l0, gain of SO; Rebekah lodges,
1927, a gain of 1885, lodge limitations, 3d.
lodge members, 100, 795; encampment
members, 1874, $50; Rebekah members, 225,-
1S9; relief paid by lodges in North Amer
lea, 1898, 45769; relief paid by encamp-
ments 1924, 540.23 by Rebckah lodges,
s45,373.9i; total relief paid, S3,323, 81 96;
revenue received by lodges in North
America, $7,474, 32S06; by encampments,
s6l5, 932.07; by Rebekah lodges, S337, $40;
total revenue, IS, 427, S7053.
The report then gives some interesting
statistics of the order from its reorganiza.
ton in North America in 1880 up to Dec.
81, 1894, including Germany, Denmark,
Switzerland and Australia. The initia.
tons in the subordinate lodges were q
0l2S4S; members relieved, 1862, 562;
widows and families relieved, 2l6,17S;
members deceased in that time, 1884, 94:
total relief paid, $67, S2S 670.47; total re-
ceipts, $176, 7S6, 2026O.
The report of Isaac A. Sheppard, grand
treasurer, shows receipts of 500 COL. So; paid
ont from certificate No. 1888, So, Os3;
balance in treasury, S2S,60l.02 The re-
port shows that the assets of the sovereign
grand lodge at this time consists of cash
in treasury, $2S, 0102, $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 Aug. 20, 1894,
were $63,2,i.,5, showing loss this year
of $4650.23.
A special session of the grand lodge of
New Jersey was held in the afternoon, and
was visited by the members of the grand
lodge of Connecticut, who witnessed the
ali ftna ~ Il