Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-23
ODD FELLOWS NEW OFFICERS
Election Held at the Session Of the Grand
Lodge Yesterday. 'o,
NORRIS OF BEAVER CITY IS ADVANCED
Chosen Grand Master for the order I'm
the Stnte-Hnrry HotchLtss'
Memory Alive with
His brethren. 90 .,t.

LINCOLN, Oct. 22.-(Special.)-Th chief
features OF today's sessions of the grand
lodge of the Independent Order Of Odd Fell
lows, in session at the state house. were the
election of officers and adoption OF resolu-
tions of respect and sympathy in memory Of
Harry Hotchkiss, deceased past grand mas
ter The newly elected officers are as fol-
lows: Grand master, G. w. Norris. Beaver
City; deputy grand master, Charles Patter-
son, Omaha warden. ]. E. Arnold, Schuyler;
grand secretary, reelected l. p. Gage. Fre-
mont treasurer. reelected, Samuel McClay.
Lincoln; one representative, George l..
Loomis, Fremont. reelected
In his report Acting Grand Master Norris
said:
THE general condition of the order in
this jurisdiction is not as prosperous as could
be desired. The past year has not been as
successful as most of those which have pre-
ceded. The terrible financial strlngency
that has pervaded the entire civilized world
has had a very noticeable effect upon our
order. The season of the year has arrived
when revival of the work in subordinate
lodges should begin but the present exciting
political contest is overshadowing lodge
work as well as other things, and, with the
business of the country, 1t must wait until
election is over and all things have resumed
their normal condition. The report of the
grand secretary will show a small loss in
membership This is not due to lack of
interest on the part of our members nor to
any instability in the principles of our order
but upon the return OF prosperity and bounti-
full harvests we will prosper and advance as
we have in the years that are past. Indeed,
| believe that, taking all things and condi-
tions into consideration, we have. during the
last year, done remarkably we'll"
Grand Secretary l. p. Gage reported that
c Io1 ri ha
for relief. During the year 302 were re-
ceived by initiation and S32 were dropped for
nonpayment of dues. The total membership
on June 30 was $50, loss OF 4S0 for the
year.
REBEKAHS ELECT OFFICERS.
The assembly OF Rebekahs also elected the
following officers: President, Mrs. Cora A.
Beels. Lincoln; vice president, Mrs. Belle
Balshaw, Lincoln; secretary (re-elected),
Miss Mary C. Sperry, Beatrice; treasurer,
Mrs. Mary STUNT Omaha; warden, Mrs.
Emma Talbot, South Omaha.
The assembly decided to do away with
the executive boaid this year and the newly
elected officers will act as such board ex-
officio. There are today assembled 1872
Daughters of Rebekah and aside from the
election OF officers this afternoon and me-
mortal services held at O'Clock there was
little OF interest to give out The order
as is well known, is a benevolent one and
one Of the most important actions Of this
assembly wss the passage OF resolution
authorizing the appointment OF board of
trustees TO be composed OF three past presi-
dents. whose duty it shall be to associate
with the regular treasurer IN handling the
fund now in process of collection for the
erection of a benevolent home for INDECENT
Odd Fellows, their wives and daughters
This plan for a home has been in existence
for three years past but owing to the hard
times the fund has increased but slowly
and chiefly through the medium OF small
penny boxes in the lodge rooms of the state
in which sums ranging from / cent to s.
are deposited. The total membership of the
order in Nebraska, as reported at the end
of June last. was 2i1. Tho increase In
membership for the year 1S95-96 in the ma
tlon was 27,S54. The years gain in sisters
in the United States was 20,027, and the
gain in brothers was 1921
There are also some important legal ques-
tons under discussion. which will be an
nounced later when finally settled upon.
Tho Daughters of Rebekah will ad-
journ tomorrow The next grand lodge
will meet in Lincoln.