The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-08-25
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
Ihs Convention Largely Attended by
Delegates in Cleveland.
RECEPTIONS AND BUSINESS
Address Of Supreme Chancelior
Ritohie-StatIstics a. d q Report
on General Standing Of tho
Order-The Lodges.

OF people are in town TO attend the
18th biennial session OF the supreme
lodge and national encampment OF the
Knights of Pythias. Receptions occu-
pied the forenoon. This afternoon
troops assembled In full uniforms In
front OF the headquarters Here the
dedica,tory exercises took place. The
address Of the centennial committee.
by Wilson NJ. Day. director general
OF the commission. presentation of
Camp Perry Payne by Major McKis-
son, acceptance OF same by Major
General Carnahan and the raising OF
the camp flag occupied the afternoon.
This evening the supreme council.
Uniformed Rank. will meet. The re-
port OF the officers OF the grand lodge
shows a remarkable growth OF the
order. The following Is an abstract
OF the report OF Supreme Chancellor
Walter Z. Ritchie:
Il feel that In the light Of the busi-
ness stagnation which has been gen.
eral throughout the world. the show
Ing made by our order is most re-
markable. The number OF members
Initiated Ii proof conclusive that the
subordinate lodges Of the country are
active and earnest. The Catholic
question has In some Of the domains
materially affected US. We have lost
some Tor another reason. In a great
many OF the domains the lodges have
set about the weeiing-out process,
and are permitting members who
have proved undesirable to quietly
drop out. In addition to this. II may
be said In many grand domains the
provision OF the old constitution as
TO arrearages. working n suspension,
was disregarded. but the mandatory
provision OF the supreme statutes has
resulted In the lodges complying
uherewitf, and has very materially
added to the suspensions, as there
were many members whose names
had been simply left on the books for
years after being In arrears. The en-
terprise In the erection OF castle halls.
In securing elegant working proper
ties, In the higher regard for the
membership. have all proved of un-
told benefit, and can safely say that
the order was never upon so safe q
basis as now.
The receipts for the year ending
December. 1894. were $4,020, ,2s5: and
for the year ending December, 1895.
N.Q32. sos. making q total for tln> -SD<,.
years OF $8,053.090 This shows a net
gain In the cash receipts of subordi-
nate lodges Of $9e.492. The subordf-
nate lode assets show an increase In
the past two years Of t9l2,e57. The ex-
penditures for relief show an Increase
during the past two years OF sil5.OOO
The number Of members, December
1898, was 4ls,6l5. and December, 1895.
l64.53S. making a net gain of 20,s24.
i have given much thought to the
proposition OF missionary work.
feel We have abundance to do at home
and In fertile field. with men who
ere In sympathy with every American
and who do not measure success as
necessarily found In the products Of
the old world. The habits, the GUS
toms. the fixedness upon old and long
established lines, so prevalent In 9TH
er lands. would not be conducive to
the growth and development OF this
institution. may even say that the
selflshness, the exclusiveness of the
people of other lands would not tend
TO promote the growth Of this Amert-
can order of ours. We are great
enough with enough to do ait home.
For a month or two after the propa-
ganda to the effect that the sacra-
ment should be refused by the Cath
olic churches TO all who retained
membership in this and certain other
orders. there was much agitation. II
In a question that does not need dis
cussion upon our part. Our position
In well defined. and II is q matter to
be disposed OF entirely by the In
diyidual members VINO belong to the
Catholic church. The result OF this.
no doubt. has been a considerable loss
OF membership.
During the two years ending Dec.
n. 1895. the suspensions. practically
all being for the non-payment OF dues.
amounted to 2,444 These figures are
startling. In my Judgment. the sug-
gest,on Of the payment to the master
OF finance Of a per cent. upon dues.
fines and assessments collected would
be beneficial The growth and pros
pertty Of the Uniform Rank In the
past mas been far beyond the expecta-
tfons OF the men who. In the supreme
lodge in 1877 aud 1878. advocated 30
earnestly ita establishment. It's
growth II due largely 10 the fostering
care given II by the supreme lodge.
The receipts from all sources were:
For the fiscal year ending March.
1895. s5.73s.05: ending March. 1896,
$40. .le7.03. The revenues have been
sufficient to meet the current ex-
penses.
The statement was made that our
order was opposed to foreigners. This
I resented with all the force at my
| command. II welcomes those who
comes TO US from foreign shores. de-
string to be Americans, knowing our
language. observing our laws and aid
ing In the prosperity Of our country.
| This order in t1is country desires no
| man for a member who does not wish
! TO know its tongue and does not care
! to familiarize himself with Its laws
1 and has not a proper regard for It's
customs and ITS institutions. Fully %
| per cent OF the foreign membership
| OF our order prior TO the adoption OF
| the new ritual are loyal to-day. Our
| order is better on. our country IL
better of, withou, those VINO care not
for Its tongue. Its laws and its Gus
toms. / feel sure that II we enter
upon the iabors with full realization
shat this organization Is second to
none; that Il should everywhere claim
for itself a place side by side with
the best fraternities, the results will
he mos. satisfactory Let there be no
step backward"
The report OF r. L. C. White. SUI
preme keeper OF records and seals,
showed that In 1864 there were three
subordinate lodges and rs members,
and In 1896. s.5Oi subordinate lodges
| and 464.53s members. There were