The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-17

of

seventy-three groves. scattered over Cali
fornia, Oregon, Washington and British
Columbia, with a membership of about
1000. Five circles of the women's annex
or branch of the order also exist, with a
membership aggregating nearly $50.
The grand officers of the order are:
o. H. Hoag OF No. AZ, noble grand arch; ].
A. Devote of No. 49, deputy grand arch; J. j.
Mollison of No. Is, grand secretary; L. Chas-
sagne of No. 10, grand treasurer; ]. II. l..
Gerckens of No. 3S, past noble grand arch
Henry Lange of No. Al, grand marshal; J. NJ.
Brand of No. 90, grand guardian; D. P. Brown
of No. 10, grand sentinel; P Rohrbacher OF
No. 9, E. L. Wagner OF No. 10, ]. c. Bernstein
of No. II, s. R. S. G. U. S.; F. Cavagnaro OF No.
| 81, J. J. Donnelley of No. Is, George A. Abel
of No. 10, alternates; Jacob Nickels of No 4,
H. B. Mehrmann OF No. "a, Henry A. Chase of
No. II, trustees.
For three days the grand body will be
in session, and in that time it is expected
that much work will be done, for the dele
gates have an eye to business.
At the morning session there were pres
ent ninety representatives, fifteen grand
officers and eight past noble grand arches
The reports of Noble Grand Arch O. H.
Hoag, Grand Secretary J. J. Mollison and
Grand Treasurer l.. Chassagne were read
and referred to the committee on distri-
button, which was appointed as follows:
E. L. Wagner, past noble grand arch, L..
Malpiede of No. IL and Frank Lewis of
No. 81.
In his report the noble grand arch
stated that at the beginning of his term
l. ! i l..
Indebtedness 1.-The initiate list" he said,
"shows an increase, but the loss by sus-
pension has been necessarily large. owing
to the financial panic which has swept the
jurisdiction.
LAS a rule peace and harmony exist
throughout the Jurisdiction. A few rul-
ings and decisions have been asked upon
questions of minor importance. No APP
peals have been taken to the Grand
Grove or suits commenced in the civil
courts for INSTRUMENTATION or otherwise
The peaceful submission to the constitu-
ton and bylaws has made the term a
reign of unity, peace and concord
A tribute was paid to the memory of ex-
Grand Secretary J. III. Knarston, who
was connected with the order for many
years.
1--WE have lost one of our most jealous,
devoted and efficient members" he de-
clared, ''and the noble grand arch a val
liable assistant"
The report also developed that, since the
report of the grand secretary had been
made fifty members have been initiated
in Washington, Frederick, Seig, Dante,
Ottavio, Guerneville and Calico groves.
The report further made known that one
new grove was instituted January 16, 1896,
Mendocino Grove No. los, at Fort Bragg,
which works IN the Italian language.
The number of dispensations granted
was given at SO, appoint ments 4, mum Der
expelled 3, and consultations 2.
The noble grand arch also made
pleasing reference to the Druids' Journal,
which, he stated, under the faithful man
agement of Messrs. Chase, Dunand and
Mollison, has been a very valuable as
sistant.
The grand secretary's report showed
that two groves surrendered their char
tiers; that the net loss in membership has
been III; that there have been 401 initia-
tions, AZ cards deposited, % reinstate-
ments, making a total of All; that the
pension 4S3. by death SO, by expulsion II
and by suspension of charter 81, making a
total of 648. The amount of cash on hand
June 1, 1896. was given at S120l II.
The report further stated that in most
of the colonies the order was in prosper
Gus condition, especially in the north
island of New Zealand, where a grand
lodge mas been instituted, with the Office
located at Wanganui.
The report of the grand treasurer con.
firmed the grand secretary's financial
statements and covered the ground some
what further.
At the afternoon session the committee
on credentials introduced and seated ten
new delegates not present at the morning
session.
The committee on distribution submit
ted report recommending the various
subjects mentioned IN the reports of the
grand officers to the regular committees.
Then the com mittee on the laws of SUBJ
ordinates submitted its report approving