Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-08-29
KNIGHTS Of PiTH|AS
SUPREME LODGE MEETS IN IT'S
EIGHTEENTH BIENNIAL SESSION.
The Report of Supreme Chancellor
Ritchie Makes Il Remarkable
Showing for the Order.

Cleveland, Aug. 24.-Hundreds Of
, people are in town to attend the eight
| eenth biennial session Of the supreme
! knights Of Pythias. Receptions oc-
cupied the forenoon. This afternoon
troops assembled in full uniforms in
| front Of headquarters. Here deiica-
| tory exercises took place. Addresses
| of the centennial committee by Vii
| liam Day, director general Of lne com
mission, Camp Perry Payne by Mayor
McI<isson acceptance Of the same by
Major General Carnahan and the rails
ing of the camp flag, occupied the af-
| ternoon.
This evening the supreme council,
uniform rank, will meet. The report
| of the officers of the grand lodge shows
a remarka BILE growth of the order.
Report of Supreme Chancellor.
The following is an abstract Of the
| report of the supreme chancellor, Wal
, ter f. Ritchie: Il feel that in the light
| Of business stagnation, which has been
general throughout the world, the
| showing made by our 0rGcr is most re-
| narkable The number Of members
! initiated is proof conclusive that the
| subordinate lodges Of the country are
active and earnest.
"The Catholic question has il some
Of the domains materially affected tls.
We have lost some for another reason.
In a great many Of the domains, the
lodges have set about the wedding out
process, and are permitting members
who have proven undesirable to quiet
ly drop out. In addition to this, it may
be said that in many grand domains,
the provision Of the old constitution as
to arrearages working a suspenSionWs
disregarded, but the mandatory pr0El5-
| ion of the supreme statutes has result
ed in the lodges complying herewith,
and has very materially added to the
suspensions, as there Were many man-
bers, whose names nad been simply
left on the books for years after be-
ing in arrears.
The enterprise in the erection Of cas-
tie halls, in securing elegant working
properties, in the higher regard for the
membership, have all proven Of un
told benefit, and | can safely say that
the order was never upon 50 safe b1-
sis as now.
STATISTICS OF the UTuSr.
The receipts for the year ending De
cenlber, 1894, We're 81, ,02025 and for Tile
year ending December, 1895. 81 4,032603
making a total for the two years If
SS,053091. This shows a net gain iii
cash receipts of subordinate lodges of
500. .492.
"The subordinate lodge assets show
an increase in the past two years Of
S942 657. The expenditures for relief
show an increase during the past two
years of $115,0O
''The numbers Of members December,
1892 was 443615, and December, 1855,
464,593, making q net gain Of 20,92i. /
have given much thought to the propo-
stion Of missionary work. I feel we
have an abundance to do at home ana in
a fertile field, with men who are in
sympathy with every American idea
and who do not measure success as
necessarily found in the products II
the old world. The habits, the Gus
toms, the fxedness upon old and long
established lines 50 prevalent in other
lands. would not be conducive to thc
growth and development Of this insti-
tuition. l may even say that the salf-
lSili!tfo1, lllt' eaCluolStlleoS pl ti!e )IJl1i'
of other lands would not tend to pro-
mote the growth of this American or
der Of ours. We are great enough and
have enough to do at home.
After the Propaganda.
For a month or two after the prop
aganda to the effect that the sacrament
should be refused in Catholic churches
To all who retained membership in ;j3is
and certain other orders, there was
much agitation It is a question hat
does not need discussion upon our .,art
Our position is well Defined and it is q
matter to be disposed Of entirely by the
individual members who belong To tAe
Catholic church, The result Of this, 10
doubt has been q considerable loss of
membership.
During the two years ending De
cember q, 1898, the suspensions. prleti-
cally all being for the non-pavment Of
dues, amounted to 2444. THESE figures
are startling. IN my judgment. the
suggestion Of the payment to the mas
ter Of finance Of q per cent upon dues,
fines and assessments collected w0uId
hc beneficial
The growth and prosperity of the
Uniform Rank in the past has been far
beyond the expectations of the mon
who in the supreme lodge in 1877 and
1878, advocated so earnestly its esta5-
ishment. Its growth is due largely TO
the fostering care given it by the s1-
prcme lodge The receipts from all
sources We're: For the fiscal year end
ing March, 1895, $5738.O5; ending March,
1896 $10197.03. The revenues have b. n
sufficient to meet the current expenses.
Not Opposed to Foreigners.
The statement was made that COR
order was opposed to foreigners This
[ resented with all the force at ny
command. 1t welcomes those who come
to us from foreign shores desiring 10 De
Americans, knowing our language, OBJ
serving our laws and aiding in the
prosperity of our country. This order
in this country desires no man for q
member who does not wish to know IS
tongue and does not care to familiar
ize himself with its laws, and has not
i proper regard for its customs and its
Institutions. Fully 95 per cent Of the
foreign membership of our order, prior
TO the adoption of the new ritual, are
loyal today. Our order is better off,
our country is better off, without those
who care not for it's tongue, its laws
and it's customs.
II feel sure that il We enter upon the
labOrS with full realization that this
order is second to none; that it should
everywhere claim for itself a place side
by side with the best fraternities, TIE
results will be most satisfactory. Let
there be no step Backward
The report Of r. L. G. White, supreme
keeper of records and seals. showed
that in 1864 there were three subo~di-
nate lodges and IS members, and in
1896, 6504 subordinate lodges and 464,539
members There We're gains in 3S states
and territories, and a loss in 10. II
Idaho there are q subordinate lodges,
with 924 members; Montana, SO subor-
dinate lodges, with 2l32 members; Utah,
13 subordinate lodges, with 1853 mem
bers, and in Washington, 81 suborii-
nate lodges, with 1921 members.
| Supreme Lodge In Session.