The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-17
ODD FELLOWS MEETING
The Three Days Annual Con-
vention Begins at Tren-
ton Today.

TRENTON, Nov. II, 18s6.-Prominent
members Of the Order of Odd Fellows
gathered here last night. preparing plans
for the annua meeting of the Grand En-
campment and Grand Lodge of Odd Fell
lows. These two bodies VIII be in ses-
sion here for three days, beginning this
morning. The committee and officers
held a conference last evening.
Today was devoted to the Grand En-
campment. The principal business was
the report Of Grand Patriarch Bum and
actions on the recommendations that he
made.
Grand Patriarch Bum occupied the
flying to report that there has been a
large advance in the membership. NOT
w-fthstanding the fact that no new en-
-calnpments ave been instituted during
the year. This shows that the present
-encampments are gradually growing
stronger, and, from my point of view, is
especially satisfactory, for l have always
been of the opinion that it is far better
to improve those already existing rather
than to divide our resources in new and
untrodden fields. / believe it more advis-
able to add strength to what we already
have than to make new encampInents that
may possibly continue weak themselves
and draw off material that ought to be
accumulated by those already established.
In tho department of relief we are about
where we stood last year and there is no
dimdnution In our operations" He also rec
commended that the Grand Encampment
adopt some plan whereby the subordi-
nate encampments may use their own
Judgment in fixing the price Of admis-
sion, dues and benefits, and thereby make
the encampment more Of a social feature
thai a benefit. This, he thinks, would
Increase the membership.
The report of Lewis Parker, the Grand
GaanAfa t~r xrrAa r@a1 49, -- -
tanned all the statistical information Of
the order in the State, it was of great
interest. His report of the condition Of
the Grand E-ncampment showed 50 sub
ordinate encampmentS. a total member
ship of 3.2S6 and SO, 793.03 paid out for
relief. The figures of the membership
and relief expenditures for the encamp-
ment are as follows
Number of members per last report,
3.04o; members, December 81, 1895, 3,2S6;
increase, 23l; number of patriarchs re-
lieved, AL; number Of weeks for which
the relief Of patriarchs, s., 454.s2: amount
paid for the relief of widowed families,
$40; amount paid for the burial of the
lief, aos.a. Total, SO. $500. Amount Of
annual receipts of subordinate encamp-
ments. S23, 556.21.
Lewis Parker is also Secretary Of the
three years. He is one Of the Oldest
Grand Lodge Secretaries in point of SER
vice In the United States.
The report for the Grand Lodge shows
2H subordinate lodges In the State, with
a total membership of 24,579, and $751;
1922 paid out during the year for sick
and death benefits and for other relief
details. Figures for the Grand Lodge
show
Number OF members at last report, a.
694; number Of active members, Janu-
airy ], 1896, 24.579; decrease, lis; number
of brothers relieved, 3,114; number of Wild
owed families relieved, 131; amount paid
for relief of brothers, SCI, 647.93; amount
paid for relief of widowed families. ST.
1854. 10; amount paid for the burial of the
dead, $32. 494.9 81. Total, s137, 1927. Amount
of annual receipts, s272. OBJ. "a.
There were at least 500 persons pres
ent at the Grand Lodge. Grand Master
Dennis, in his report, recommended legis-
iation by the Grand Lodge to better pro
hibit subordinate lodges from securing as
members, those who live nearer another
lodge; to more effectively deal with mem
bers who join for revenue only; to fix
q uniform o Of benefits to be paid
by all lodges in the State, and to make
changes in he mou of dues and bene-
fits, binding alike on all member Of a
lodge.
The Grand Masters report contained
some 200 decisions of the Grand Sire on
disputed questions.