The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-27
THE KNIGHTS Of PYTH|AS.
OF THE SUPREME LODGE
AT CLEVELAND.
SUPREME CHAvCELL0R'S REPORT
Remarkable Showing, Considering the
General Business Depression-The
Effect of the German and
Catholic Questions.

Cleveland O., Aug. 24.-Hundreds of
knights of Pythias marched into town
this morning to attend the eighteenth
biennial session of the supreme lodge
and national encampment of the organj-
cations. Receptions of brigades, regi-
ments and visitors occurred this after
noon Afterwards troops assembled i'll
full uniform in front of headquarters,
where dedication exercises took place.
The address of the centennial committee
was made by Wilson NJ. Day, director
general of the commission. The prcsen-
tation of Camp Perry commission by
Maj. Gen. Carnahan and The raising of
the camp flag occupied the afternoon
session.
Following is an abstract of the report
of Supreme Chancellor Walter q.
Richie of the knights of Pythias:
Il feel that in the light of business
stagnation which has been general
throughout the world, the showing made
by the order is most remarkable. The
number of new members is proof that
subordinate lodges are active and ear
nest. We have lost some members Oh
the German question, but it is Il pleasure
to see that the loss thus accrued has
not been from the better class of Ger
mans. They have been loyal and true,
The Catholic question has, in some of
our domains, materially affected us. We
have lost some for another reason. In
Il great many of our domains the lodges
have begun Il wedding out process and
have permitted members who have
proved undesirable to quietly drop out.
''The enterprise in the erection of
castle halls, in securing elegant working
properties, in the higher regard for mem
bership, have all proven of untold bene-
fit, and | can safely say the order was
never upon a safer basis than now.
Receipts for the year ending Decem-
Der 81, 1894, were S4,0202S5; for the
year ending December 81, 1895, were
S4,033,S0 making the total for the two
years $S,O53, 090 This shows net
gain in cash receipts of subordinate
lodges of S96,942.
Subordinate lodges assessed Decem-
Der 81. 1894 We're $7,06S,0 54; December
of $943,657 Expenditures for relief
in 1894, 81 ,243,67S; in 1895, $1,250,696;
total, $2,404,374, an increase of SLID
600. Number of subordinate lodges De
cember 81, 1893, 599S; December. 81,
1895, 6494; an increase of 496. Num-
Der of members December 81, 1893. was
443,615; December 81, 1894, AGA, $50; II
subordinate lodges are at work. the num-
Der of limitations during the years 1871
and 1895 was 1913, 1872. This would in
dictate what the growth of the order
would be if it were not for the more
serious question of suspensions for nom
payment of dues.
The report of Maj. Gen. James r. Car
Tnif ,nI
Rank, showed that the revenues had
been sufficient to meet all the expenses
of the management. The income for the
biennial term was S1S,935. and the out
lay, S7S93. The rank had made steady
and substantial growth. Some of the
divisions had not been able to hold to-
gethcr on account of the hard times, but
the new divisions organized during the
financial depression was Il great proof
of the strong hold the rank had upon
the knights of Pythias in general.
Warrants had been granted for 1O4 new
divisions.
The report of r. L. c. White, SUI
preme keeper of the records and seals,
follows:
The report of r. l. C. White, supreme
keeper of records and seals, showed that
lodges and seventy-eight members, and
in 1896. 6504 subordinate lodges and
AGA, $50 members. The states in which
the greatest gains were made were:
Ohio, 1868; Illinois, 1917; Indiana, 2157;
Iowa, 2265; Massachusetts, 1919: Mis-
souri,, 1912; North Carolina, 14O4 Maine,
1914; Texas. 1919. There was loss
of 2S07 in Kansas and 4l66 in Pennsyl-
vania. There were gains in thirty-eight
states and territories and loss in six
teen.
The following table shows the number
of subordinate lodges by states and the
membership December 81, 1895:
States Lodges Members