Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-21
Maine Odd Fellows in Annual
Session at Portland.
A. N. }. lovejoy Of Augusta, Elected
Grand Master Of Grand Lodge.
Reports Of Grand Oiiicers-Meetinu Of the
Other Grand Bodies.


and members Grand Master Clarence
NJ Watson was in the chair. The fol-
lowing grand officers were i'm attend
ance:
Grand Master-Clarence NJ. Watson
Biddeford.
Deputy Grand Master-A. n. j. Love
joy. Augusta.
Grand Warden-~A. l.. f. Pike, Nor
way.
Grand Secretary-Joshua Davis. Port
land.
Grand Treasurer-Wm. f., Plummer.
Portland.
Grand Representative-Reue Robin
son. Camden.
Grand Representative Samuel
Adams. Belfast
Grand Chaplain-Rev. Eibridge Gerry.
Mt. Vernon
Grand Guardian--Wm. r. Littlefield.
North Berwick
Grand Herald--D. Page Perkins. Port
land.
The forenoon was occupied principal
ly by the reports and private business
of the order. This afternoon the follow
ing officers We're elected:
Grand Master-A. y. j. Lovejoy, Au-
gusta.
Deputy Grand Master-A. l.. f. Pike.
Norway.
Grand Warden-Albro E. Chase. Port
land
Grand Secretary-Joshua Davis, Port
land.
Grand Treasurer-W. f. Plummer
Portland.
Grand representatives,. NJ. Watson
Biddeford.
The following report was made by
Grand Master Clarence NJ. Watson:
The membership of both branches of
the order January l, 1896, as shown by
the reports of the several lodges in this
jurisdiction. was as follows:
SUBORDINATE LODGES
Number of members as per last re-
pott $500. ...--...: $500. .:...-.:. 2o'5l
Net increase of members during the
year ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2l6
Total subordinate membership -. o.47
REBEKAH LODGES.
Number of members as per last re-
port OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 500
Net increase of members during the
year Observation-Disclosures. 1889
Total Rebekah membership ........ 1891
Total amount paid for relief ~ S56 1856 10
Invested funds, real estate and
nan property OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Toy, .Z9W
Since January 1, one subordinate and
10 Rebekah lodges have been instituted.
and we feel confident that the member
ship in the subordinate branch up to
ta full
tanned. while the membership in the
Rebekah branch has been increased by
at least 1900 members.
At the present time there are 13S
subordinate and II Rebekah lodges.
With membership of over 20. 900. rep
resenting one-eight of the total num-
Der of polls in the State, and lodges
already instituted in nearly every town
large enough to successfully maintain
noe, ii cannot be expected that any
large gain will be made. as in so large
a membership the loss by death. sus-
pension and other causes must neces-
sariiy be quite large. The labors of the
grand officers in the near future must
be mainly directed towards the keep
ing up of lively interest in the work
of the order. Lodges should be i'm
pressed with the fact that to be sue
acssful and keep an interest alive in it's
members, only those fully qualified to
fill the official chairs should be elected
thereto. With competent and efficient
officers to preside the members will
take a more active interest. and the re-
suit is apparent in the report submitted
at the close of the year. No one cares
t. cit tt,r,, tr1, tbn Of t..Ie
and listen to officers who fill their posi-
tons merely as a matter of form, while |
it is a source of pleasure to visit one
where the duties have been memorized
and the business is conducted system
atically. There has been a great i'm |
nrovement in the ritualistic and I'M
written work under the system Of IN
struction furnished by means of the dis |
trict meetings
Peace and harmony has prevailed to |
an unusual extent as no questions of a |
serious nature have arisen between |
lodges and members. Only one appeal |
case will be presented for your con- !
and that is from the action |
of a trial committee.
At the last session of this grand body |
the trustees of an estate located in
Unity, rendered the same under certain
as an Odd Fellows home
That no action should be taken which
might hereafter be regretted, a COM
mittee was appointed to make an ex-
animation of the property and the con-
ditions under which it would be held
by the grand lodge if accepted. AS is
was necessary that the tender of the
should be either accepted or
rejected before the next session, full
power was given the committee to act
in the matter.
In body as large as this it cannot be
that every member will have
he same opinion or think alike while
Ill may have the best interests of the
order at heart and disposition to do
,nly that which will best advance work
IF Odd Fellowship in ministering to the
suffering and afflicted. While some
may have criticised the action of the
in declining the tender Of
his property, we believe that their re-