The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1896-05-15

This morning at 9 o'clock Grand
Master Crane assembled the grand
lodge in Odd Fellows hall and after q
short ceremony the lodge adjourned
until two o'clock pending the arrival of
delegates from the north. AT that
hour the grand lodge again went into
session and first listened to report of
Grand Mascer Crane, a portion of which
is reproduced as follows:
The year that is now drawing to a
close has been memorable one for our
Jurisdiction The levying Of only eight
assessments, which WAS sufficient to
discharge in full our obligations to the
widows and orphans of our deceased
brothers, has been the incentive to re-
newed efforts in building up our Juris-
diction. We have sown good seed in
fertile SOIL and we have reaped boun-
tiful harvest. We have seen as d.
rect result of our efforts, 1853 good
and true men enlarging the circle of
our fraternal brotherhood. We have
seen as many homes presided over by
loving wives and happy chi!dnen,
guarded by the shield, our emblem of
protection. We have planted in the
breasts OF thousands of our kinsmen
hope which is constantly urging us on
to better things We have practiced
the greatest of all virtues, charity
We nave ministered to the wants Of
the sick and the afflicted We have
borne TO the tomb, with sad hearts and
solemn tread. the remains of those Of
our brothers whose life work is ended
and in our ministrations we have com
fortcd the widows and orphans in the
saddest hours of human atflictiOn. We
have reason to be proud Of our iuris-
diction aud the magnificent work we
have accompli shed. And now at the
end of our years work, let us take a
review of the results of our labors, and,
like successful business man, take an
inventory of our work, and see what is
to placed to the credit side of our bal
ance sheet.
April 1st, 1895 our membership, in
cluding North Dakota, was 9,297.
South Dakota's portion Of this member
ship was 5,367. July 18th, 1895, North
Dakota withdrew from this jurisdic-
tion and organized the Grand Lodge of
North Dakota, leaving the membership
of South Dakota SAL. We issued
!. during the year LES new certificates,
and after deducting losses by deaths,
l suspensions anu "ltHuidWdls, BLOW d
net increase OF l,2S5. We have organ
lied twelve new lodges, with total
mem bership of 252, showing net gain
among old lodges of l,O32. We have
increased our membership from 5,44l
April lst 1895, to 6,726, April 1st, 1896.
When YOU take into consideration the
hard times and in many localities,
moor crops and the competition of
several similar organizations, this is,
indeed years work that should be a
source of great qualification to US all.
It is interesting to know that nearly
every lodge in this Jurisdiction has
contributed to these results, showing
the most flourshing condition of the
entire Jurisdiction. 1t is a gratifying
fact that some of the weakest lodges
have done some of the best work. The
credit for this good showing does
not belong to any one man. Neither
does it belong to the Grand Lodge Off.
GERS alone, for much of the work has
been accomplished by the activity OF
the officers and members OF local lodges
and | hereby express my gratitude te
all who have contributed to the sun
total of our success.
The balance OF the afternoon WA
spent in listening to the report of othe
officers and the appointment ct com
mites.
Following is list of delegates to tn
A. O. U. W. grand lodge:
Brookings, A. w. Williams; Parker
IL, G. Beck; Watertown, NJ. G. Masor