The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-08-25
Auspicious Opening OF the X. OF T..
National Encnmpmcnt.
THOUSANDS ON THE GROUND.
Reports OF Supreme Officers Show the Or
der TO DO In u I'iourisliing Condition.
Some Losses on Account ofthe German
Question and the Attitude or the Catho,
lie CiInrch-Tho Chancellor Treats OF
These Matters fn nfs Annual Address.

marched into town this morning 20 at
tend the eighteenth biennial session OF
the supreme lodge and the national en-
campmcnt OF the organizations.
Reception OF brigadcs, regiments and
visitors occupied the forenoon. In the
afternoon troops assembled In full dress
Informs In front OF tho headquarters.
There the dedlcatory exercises took
place. The address Of the centennial
committee by Wilson ". Day, director
general Of the commission; thc presen-
tatlon OF Camp Perry Payne by Mayor
McKisson: acceptance OF the Camp by
Major General Carnahan, and the RAILS
Ing OF the camp flag, occupied the
afternoon session.
This evening there was n band con-
cert. and at 8 o'clock the supreme couR-
cn OF the uniform rank met in special
assembly at the headquarters OF the
ma majOr-general.
The reports or the 6tlieerA OF the
grand lodge show remarkable growth
and development of the order
In his report Thomas G. Sample, Eu-
preme master of the cxchcquer. con-
graduated the order upon the healthy
condition Of Its finances. The receipts
for the biennial term ending March 81.
1896, including balance OF $29. .0j9, were
{lS3. 800 and the expenditures $l47103,
leaving n balance OF $35,S97.
The report OF Mntor-General James
r. Carnahan. commanding the uniform
rank, showed that the revenues had
ben sufficient to meet all the expenses
OF the management. The income for the
biennial term was SlS,93J and the out
lay S7,S93. The rank had made steady
and substantial growth. Some OF the
divisions had not been able to hold to-
gcther on account of the hard times,
but the new divisions organized dur
ing the financial depression was great
proof OF the strong hold the rank had
upon the Knights OF PythIaS In gener-
al. Warrants had been granted for 10i
nav divisions.
supreme Chancellor.
The following is an abstract OF the
report of Supreme Chancellor Walter u.
Richie:
feel that in the light OF business
stagnation which has been general
throughout the world. the showing
made by our order Is most remarkable.
The number OF members Initiated Is
proof conclusive that the subordinate
lodges Of the country are active and
earnest.
We have lost some membership by
reason Of legislation on the German
question. but It Is a pleasure TO say that
the loss thus accrued has not been
from the better class OF Germans-thcy
have been loyal and true.
The Catholic question has In some OF
the domains materially affected US. We
have lost some for another reason. In
n great many OF the domains the lodges
lSarc set about the wedding out pro-
cess, and are permitting members who
have proved undesirable to quietly drop
out. In addition to this. It may be said,
In many grand domains the provision
of the old constitution as 10 arrearaces
working a suspension was dIsregarded,
but the mandatory provision OF the su-
premc statues has resulted In the
lodges complying herewith and has
very materially added TO the suspen-
sions, az there were many members
whose names had simply been left on
the books for years after being in ar
rears
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 untold
benefit And can safely say that the
order was never upon 80 safe n basis as
now.
The receipts for the year ending De-.
cember 81, 1894, We're i,090,2S5 and for
the year ending December 81, 1895,
A.032SO5. making total for the two
years OF SS,0S3,O9o. This shows net
gain in the cash receipts OF the subor-
dinate lodges Of S9G.ig2
The subordinate lodge assets Deccm-
ber 81, 1893. were $7.06S.05! and Decem-
ber 81, 1895, SS,0l0.Tl1, showing an In
crease In the past two years OF s942, ,657.
The expenditures for relief In 1891,
were N,?i3,67S and In 1895, T,2j9 ,G96:
total s2.i9i374, an increase during the
past two years Of sll5.000.
Thc number of subordinate lodges on
December 81. 1893. was S5.g9S and De-
cenber 3l. 1895. G.l9i, an. increase in the
two years or 496.
The number OF members Desambcr
u. 1898. was 1855; December II. 1894,
4Gi,J39, making net gain OF 20,s2i.
as evidence that the subordinate
lodges are at work, the number OF in
ltIates during the year 1891 and 1895
was l03,1g2.
This would Indicate what the growth
Of the order would be II II was not for
that more serious question OF suSpcn-
sion for non-p1yment OF dues.
A Matter or Coincidence.
For month Or two after the propa-
ganda to the effect that the sacrament
should be refused by the Catholic church
to all who retained membership In this
and certain other orders. there wnS much
agitation. IT ia question that does not
need discussion upon our part. Our pO-
sition IL well defined. and It Is matter
to be disposed Of entirely by the mem
bers who belong to the Catholic church.
Tho result Of this. no doubt. hnS been n
considerable loss IN membership. I
have found In n number of states In
which the Catholic membership was =
large one, that We have been visibly ar
fcctcd by reason OF II. or this | do not
complain. No member OF the order
should be c1nsurcd for allowing the die
tatcS Of his own conscience 10 govern
him, but he should stand on one foot or
the other Under this cdlct Il Is impossi-
bio FOR him IN good faith to stand upon
both.
During the two years ending Deccm-
hcr n. 1895. the suspension. practically
all hclnE for n-paymCnt NJ dues,
amounted 10 32,+ii. These figures are
StnrlllllE' IN my Judgment the SuSECS-
tlon OF the payment or the master OF
finance q percentage upon dues, Nncs
and aEscssnrnts collected would be
beneficial. With a master Of finance
who would have n financial interest In
the payment 0f the dues, the prrscnta-
tlon OF the matter to n member would. as
Il rule. result In his dues being paid aud
the renewal OF thu feeling which Is ever
present with Il member who Is indebted
to his lodge, and the saving to our order
each year OF many thousand members.
The growth and prosperity Of the uni
form rl NIX In TIN nnui Inn. l.,n., L.. l.,