The San Francisco call., 1896-05-13
Grand Lodges Forty-Fourth An
nual SesSion-Sixth of
Rebekahs.
MRS. D0NOHo FOR "THE CALL"
Gilroy Town Wants the Orphans
Home, Now Situated in
Thermalito.

amusement. His presence was manifestly
felt
The wearing of badges was in no wise
monopolized by men; the ladies with
their gay decorations seemed as numerous
as the sands of the sea, and their beatific
smiles conclusively demonstrated that,
though their sojourn was for the transac-
ton of business, the amount of pleasure
they were deriving from it was not closely
hedged about with limitations.
And the cause of all this excitement and
hustle was the meeting of the State bodies
of both organizations, the Odd Fellows
and the Daughters of Rebekah. In fra
ternal parlance the State body Of the
former is called the Grand Lodge of the
l. o. o. f. of California, and the latter the
State Assembly of the Daughters of Re-
bekah.
This annual session of the Grand Lodge
marks the forty-fourth milestone of its
progress. The Rebekahs are vounger-this
being their sixth annual communication
which would seem eminentIy proper, as
the sister organization is supposed to be
under the protecting wing of the older and
Sterner body.
At o'clock the Grand Lodge convened
in assembly hall of Odd Fellows building,
corner of Market and Seventh streets
About 800 delegates were to be present
and most OF them were. None of the
ofnceTs were absent, and full quorum was
ready to take up business.
The meeting was formally called to Or
der by Grand Master P. F. Gosbey, and
everything was got in order for embarkjng
upon the sea of technicaIities incident to
such gathering, after which a short re-
cess was taken.
During the recess everything was con-
fusion. Congratulations and handshaking
were witnessed in every part of the large
hall. Many OF the delegates have acted in
this capacity before and thereby became
acquainted with many of their brethren
from other lodges, and they all beamed
with friendliness and satisfaction at meet
ing again In the same spot halloWed by
past associations.
Many of the delegates from the interior
had arrived Monday, and several of the
oncers and prominent lay members were
entertained at dinner the same evening by
ex-Justice OF the Supreme Court G. n.
Fox at his home in Oakland.
After recess the committee on creden-
tials rendered its report.
The next item was to confer the Grand
Lodge degree on 275 members.
Then the grand master rendered his re-
port. The document was of great length
and dealt with all the subordinate lodges,
new lodges of both the Odd Fellows and
the Rebekahs, dispensations granted and
refused, and handed down many de-
cisions The report lead off as follows:
Through the providentiaI care of our
supreme Grand Master we have been per-
milted again to assemble in deliberative
body to learn of the good done, results
accomplished and blessings given and re-
ceived by our beloved order during the
year last passed.
''The results OF my stewardship will
soon become known to You. [ am aware
that everything which has been done and
said by me will not meet with universal
approval, yet | expect from you your
kindest brotkerly indulgence and consid-
Grafton"
The body of the report showed that two
subordinate lodges have been instituted
during the past year, Farnsworth Lodge i
No. 80 at San Francisco with twenty-five |
charter mem bers, and Bridgeport Lodge !
No. 1856 at Bridgeport, Mono County, with /
twelve charter members. In addition /
twelve Rebekah lodges were instituted
Six lodges were duly consolidated with |
three, this course being desired by the |
lodges themselves. The number of dis
pensations granted was 215; refused 3
There followed a long list of decisions,
Visitations and recommendations None
of the decisions make any startling de-
parture from the laws laid down by prece-
dent, and it is believed by members that
they will pass unquestioned.
Following the rule of rotation in office. a
long-establlshed custom, the grand master
TOOK occasion to refer to the one who Will
in all likelihood be his successor to the i'm
portent Office of the headship of the
l. Q: o. f. in this State. He said:
My successor, Brother J. w. Warboys,
is well qualified TO take up the work where
1t has been left off. l ask for him the
same knd consideration and support
which have received, and our beloved
order will move on in its great work of
brotherly love and kindness, fulfill its
great mission of fraternizing the world,
ever looking to the supreme grand master
ton IN our great work of humanity"
The report was referred to the commit
tee on distribution.
The reports of the other grand officers
were then given in succession. At II N.
an adjourn ment was taken till P. NJ.
The grand secretary's report, the first of |
the afternoon session, show that the as
sets of the order had increased during the
year by $4,000, though there was de-
crease of tifty-six in membership. Out of |
the relief fund the sum of $27S,0C0 had |
been paid.
The grand treasurer's report showed |
that the balance on hand is SIS, ,521 So; |
81. .669 20 has been received during the |
year, and $46,6 55 paid out. The balance |
al the time the forty-third annual report |
was made amounted to SIS, 800 93. Ali the |
reports were referred to the proper COM
mittees.
Next in line of business was the reports |
of the various committees. The only time |
for this during the afternoon was taken up |
by the committee on appeals. They were
accepted to the unit.
Tomorrow other reports will be handed |
in and all will be duly considered. as well |
as the decisions rendered by the grand
master, which were referred to the COM |
mittee on legislation.
Among other matters touched upon
lightly during the day was the home at
Thermalito, which is in temporary loca-
ton and has been in existence for only a
year. 1t was learned that the results
achieved by the home during the year
were very encouraging.
The hours of meeting were fixed from 10
to u in the forenoon, from to in the |
afternoon ard in the evenings as ordered. |
There was no evening session, owing to