The Portland daily press., 1896-05-21

Elected Presiding Officer OF Portland Lodge.s
of the grand lodge rank, the reports of
the grand officers were in order.
Grand Chancellor William A. Taylor,
in his annual report, made the following
suggestions:
'tIt will be conceded I trust by those
who are familiar with our history and the
work of the Order, that to have a more
perfect understanding of what is mecca
sary to Pythian progress than ever BE-
fore, uniformity and better exeInplifi-
cation OF the Secret Work must be adopt
ed and practiced.
In accepting the Office of Grand Chan
cellor it was my pleasure to conceive
plan of action having for its main object
the dissemination OF as much Pythian
information as possible through such
channels as would convey the best re-
suits to the greatest number. do believe
that an effort should be made in the in
uerost Of more perfect understanding g
and exempiification of the Secret Work.
and above all TO lot the rank and file Of
the distant Lodges, many of whom have
never had Grand Officer inside Of their
doors Except at their institution) feel
that they have not been entirely over
locked, and who are equally entitled to
the advice, personal attention and in
srructions of the executive departments:
knowing as do that it will be impos-
sible for Grand Chancellor to attend to
all Of this duty, and personally visit each
of our present list of l06 Lodges To do
So would take at least six months of his
time from his business; ndd to this the
ever increasing duties, and new Lodges,
and no successful business man can
afford to accept the Office of Grand Chan
c'ilo, unless the duties can be iightened
This is a question which this Grand
Body should consider very carefully.
l would recommend that committee
be appointed to take into consideration
the question of providing funds to pay a
competent instructor (for the Grand
Chancellor to appoint) to visit and ex-
emplify the work. and be so doing create
q proficiency in the work in this Grand
Domain, that will surprise us in the ben-
eft to the subordinate Lodges and the
Order.
would also recommend that the pres
ent Deputy System be abolished and a
Special Deputy he appointed in each Lodge
and apply funds that it now costs, to the
instruction of the Lodges in this Grand
Domain, by employing competent in
structor and organizer to do this work.
and that this instructor and organizer
to be under the charge and supervision of
the Grand Chancellor at all times and to
report and keep in touch with him week
every subordinate Lodge in the Grand
Domain of Maine once a year for the
purpose of exemplifcation OF the work,
and for such other supervision as may
be found necessary, particularly in weak
Lodges, and to work up new Lodges and
organize them ready for the proper Off
GERS to institute, and thereby create a
perfect system in the work of organiza-
tion of Lodges in this Grand Domain
he to pay his expenses and to receive
such compensation as may be agreed
upon hereafter by the Grand Lodge.
The expenses of visitation per Lodge is
six dollars for travel and hotel acoommo-
oations or about that on an average.
PROPAGATION OF THE ORDER.
The great question of today which has
received careful thought, involving many
suggestions, is the organization of new
Lodges and the best method to adopt in
working them up. We ara today In com
petition with host of fratornities who
offer compensation In some form fol
working up new Lodges. yet while sue
cess perches upon our banner we must
GeVlse some method to maintain it. limo.
vatlons must be carefully Investigated
before adopted.
In view Of the fact that under our pres
ent regulations new Lodges are not re-
CURED to pay any per capita tag for the