The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-16
ODD FELLOWS
Meeting Of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge.

| ATLANTIC City, N. j., Sept. 16.-The
Sovereign Grand Lodge Independent Or
| der OF Odd Fellows assembled AT 10
| O'Clock this morning on McShea's pier.
this city. DIR. W. ii. lizard OF Camden
scted as master OF ceremonies. Governor
werts was TO have delivered the address
OF welcome on behalf of the State, but
| was prevented on account of his depart
| ure for Chattanooga.
Mayor Franklin IL. Stoyd delivered the
address OF welcome on behalf OF the city,
ana John II. Griffith on behalf OF the l..
u. q. r., of the State of New Jersey.
The address OF welcome on behaI. OF
Grand Encampment OF New Jersey was
delivered by Grand Patriarch James Me
Mahon.
Mrs. Sarah Dutscher, president of Re-
becca State Association, branch of the
order, delivered the address of welcome
on behalf OF the branch. grand sire G. w.
Steebins replied TO the address OF well
come. The Grand Sire then delivered his
annual a., ahatp report OF which the following is
every branch of the order is flourish
ing, exhibiting an increase in the num-
Der OF its subordinates, as follows: Sub
ordinate lodges, increase, 297; subordi-
nate encampment, increase, SO; ~Rebekah
Lodge, increase, 335. In the Canton
Dranch they are not reported, but from
information from department command
ers, usual prosperity prevails. The Chew
sners are taking new activity; many
dormant Cantons have been revived, and
new ones organized and mustered in.
In THIS connection, most earnestly be-
speak for the military branch, the earnest
and cordial cooperation OF the entire en-
campment branch. Every patriarch, as he
desires the prosperity Of the order,
support TO the Cantons He should be al
lied TO them either as an active or honor
ary member.
1.-The Rebekah branch has had marvel
ors growth in the past year. While the in
crease In membership in the subordinate
lodges has been several thousand less than
last year and the encampments have fallen
lII2 below, the Rebekah lodges have
gained in membership, 22. 747, exceeding
the gain OF the preceding year by ll74.
and the relief by 81, 14l. 36.
THAT the growth of this branch had
been still greater, but for an i'll advised
agitation and opposition to the new term
of mem bership, adopted at the last COM
munication, to which much OF this in
creased prosperity Is attributable. there
can be no intelligent question.
" The foregoing relates TO the condition
OF the order on the North American con-
tinent only. Its growth in the other ID
nations, on the other continents, has
peen equally Marked in some of them re-
latively greater, the details of which,
also those of this continent, will appear
In full in the grand secretary's report"
Grand Sire Stebbins next referred at
length to the Rebekah code, which he
claimed was in many respects defective.
DE also asserted that the same causes that
have led TO doubt and uncertainty under
The Rebekah code, exists In the code for |
the military branch. His report showed |
an ownership in 1888 pieces of real estate |
II cost OF 80, S57, 46s. "a, at present VAL |
1ation OF $40, 521. 724. IL, making net in
crease of "a, ia, Ala. 06 by the investments.
In addition to this, while invested in
homes net less y, 900, 600, with a landed
of not less than $500 acres.
heat and commodious, many OF them even
oalatlal for the unfortunate and helpless.
AT the conclusion of the reading OF the
eport,s the lodge went into secret ses-
ion.
The reports of the grand secretary and
rand treasurer were read at this after
loon's session.