The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-22
ERIE MEDICAL CO.. Buffalo. MY.

There was not dry eye among the
thousands of spectators.
The first session of the Grand Lodge
was held this afternoon. Tomorrow
there viii be a reunion Of past grand
Representatives and many other special
features viii mark the week Two
Thousand distinguished visitors from
outside the state are here and every
train brings fresh arrivals.
The grand lodge was called to order
promptly at o'clock by Grand Sire
J. w. Stebbins. The roll was called and
showed thirty-nine grand lodges and
| thirty grand encampments and repre-
senrtatives on the floor. Proceedings
were then formally opened with prayer
by the grand chaplain, Rev. j. ". Ven
able Of Hopkfnsvilie, KY.
After the appointment of the stand
ing committees. the grond sire deliver
ed his annual communication
The report of Grand Sire c. E. w.
SteGiJins contained the following: The
condition Of business in the last few
years and the prospective disturbances
in this and other countries, have had
their effect upon the order Yet. under
the surrounding CONDITIONS, our growth
has not been seriously retarded. Our
losses in membership through inability
60 meet obligations have been unusual
ly large, though when the stringency of
the times shall have passed, many of
them Will return. The additions TO the
order have been fairly good, and in all
branches prosperity has prevailed 90
an unlocked for extent. In the suborM-
nate lodges, the net gain has been $3.50.
In the Patriarch Militant branch. there
has been a large increase In the Re
bekah branch the growth has been p1e-
numenal there being a net increase in
| membership of q ,854. This IS in no in
considerable degree attributed and
traceabEe TO the opening of the doors TO
| all unmarried ladies Of good moral
character. This branch IS rapidly QUIT
stripping all of the others, and the pre-
dictfon that not far in the future it will
lead them all in membership, in labor
and efficiency, seems probable of real
| ization 1t lis to be hoped that the two
things now most needed for its greater
efficiency-tEhe opening of the doors so
as to admit all of good moral character
and benevolent impulses, and the Civ
ing of a universal password and sign,
50 that they may everywhere seek a
brothers aid when required, will be
provided before long. The foreign j1Ir-
isdictioris are prosperous in the depart
ments of homes for the ged. the widow
and the orphan, that grandest field of
all our faloors> Reports were received
of homes eSta blished, or in process of
| esta blIShment, in seventeen grand prIr-
| isdictiOnS. When we recall the brief
period of time since the first move was
made in establishing them, we can but
! feel encouraged at their great success.
Their growth and increase, both in num-
Der and residents, have been phenom-
entail
Il have gathered from unofficial
sources, the following which, if not ex-
act, as may appear IN the official will
give something of an idea of the pro-
gress of our order in this regard:
Last year there were reported II
grand jurisdiction; this year 20; in
crease 9. Last years average 3,73S14;
this years average $4,000; increase
1885. Last years. value $6S2, 727. OF; this
years value ssIs, 900; increase $15,272. 80.
I'm addition to the foregoing, Wash
fngton, Oregon, South Dakota, Ne
braska, Georgia, and North Dakota
have the sub ect of homes under con-
sideration and VIII doubtless soon be
added to the list This growth in this
branch of our great benevolent work is
most gratifying, for a large part of
which the order is indebted to the Re
bekah branch, which has given il Spe-
cial atten ton.
Our financial condition, which has
always been of the best, cannot be too
carefully guarded against encrda'ohr
ment. If the question of supplies. the
chef source of our revenue, she'll be
clearly defined, and the order informed.
and other suggestions be carried out,
DO direct action to sustain The imcreas-
ing expenses of our rapidly developing
order need be feared.
The increase of the Patriarch Mill
tant branch was: Cantons III; bat tad
ions 3S; regiments IL; brigades 4: di-
visions L: members 1925: funds s2,72SS5.
And this does not embrace reports
from Delaware. Denmark, Kansas,
Louisiana, the maritime provinces, Ne
vada, North Dakota, South Dakota and
Virginia. With no reports from nine
Jurisdictions, the increase in member
ship Is more that double that of the sub
ordinate lodges and nearly equal to the
marvellous growth of the Rebekah
branch
In conclusion me says:
'"The past two years, loaded as they
have been with the hnperfections of the
Rebekah and the Patriarch Militant
codes. the Fargo difficulty, the new
amendments TO the constitution, the
checking Of the roads upon the list of
supplies, and the new digest, have been
years Of Tabor, and responsibility. With
such counsel and advice as was at hand,
20 the best of my ability. 1 have en-
deavored TO meet and dispose of them
all as to my Judgment seemed the best
tending TO keep within the spirit, rather
than the letter OF the law, when doubt
existed"