The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-18
ODD FELLOWS MEET
Sixth-fourth Session of the
Grand Lodge of New Jer-
sey Convenes at sr
Trenton.
REPORTS OF THE GRAND OFFICERS
Several Important Decisions Effec-
ting the Order Rendered -One
Hundred and Twenty-seyen
Juniors Admitted.
REPORTS OF THE GRAND OFFICERS
Especial to soThe Jersey city News."1

TRENTON, Nov. is, 1887. There were
more than three hundred representative
Odd Fellows Of the State of New Jersey
In Masonic Hall yesterday morning when
Grand Master Peter w. Stages gavel
called the sixty-fourth session of the
Grand Lodge of New Jersey to order.
The chair of the Grand Treasurer, oc-
cupied for almost a generation by the late
Joseph [. Lamb, is heavily draped in
black, a mute but impressive witness that
one WHOM the brethren Of New Jersey
delighted to honor has gone, never to re-
turn.
The business of the session opened
shortly after IL o'clock, and the call of
the roll showed that representatives from
1873 lodges were in the room.
The Grand Chaplain, Rev. D. w. c.
McIRtire, offered the opening prayer. The
reading of the reports of the Grand Mas
ter, Grand Secretary and Grand Rep
resentatiye was dispensed with, as they
were printed, and We're in the hands of
the representatives. The Grand Master
submitted a supplemental report, embody-
ing a number of decisions, and recon-
mending the employment of assistance in
organizing new lodges in the State, the
expenses to be paid by the Grand Lodge.
He also referred to a custom that has pre-
vailed, to some extent, of sending cleo
pioneering circulars and the like by can
didates to their friends, which is calcu-
lated to work harm to the order and
compromise its dignity. He recommend
ed that some legislation be enacted on this
subject. The Grand Master spoke briefly,
reminding the representatives that they
are here to do business, and that they
should give strict attention to the bust
ness in hand.
Al series of resolutions was received
from the Rebecca State Assembly asking
tina the Grand Representatives be in
structed to seek legislation from the Sow
eign Grand Lodge to permit Rebecca
Lodges to pay sick and funeral benefits if
they so desired.
During the recess the committees had
been at work and many reports werc
heard at the afternoon session.
A request asking that District Deputies
be authorized to confer the Grand Lodge
degree was answered by the Judiciary
Committee tina the degree could only be
conferred by the Grand Lodge at a regu-
lar or special session. .
To the query, "Who is the nearest of
kin, the widow of a deceased brother, or
| the children by q former ma~rriage?' the
Judiciary Committee decided that the chill
dren sustained the nearest relationship.
The table being cleared of business, the
Grand Representatives exemplified the
unwritten work in their usual satisfactory
manner.
Grand Representative Iszard spoke of
the new official certificate by which a
member paying his dues in advance can
visit any lodge on the continent. He adj
ylsed the members to always have one Of
these certificates representing dues paid
ahead, as it would insure their always be-
ing in good standing.
A lively discussion was over
the report of the committee on the state
OF the order, on the recommendation of
the Grand Master in regard to electioneer-
ing circulars. The committee took strong
from the action of the Grand Lodge in
1872, and the Sovereign Grand Lodge in
1889, which were even stronger yet. The
subject was well ventilated, and the re-
port of the committee adopted by a large
vote. The committee on the state of the
order, however, did not see their way
clear to endorse the recommendation of
the Grand Master in egard to the EN-
ploy1nent of assistance in organizing new
lodges, and reported adversely. The re-
port was adopted. .
The appeal of Charles Ridgway against
Summit Lodge, in the matter of trial I'M
der the code, was sustained.
On q question whether a brother is en-
titledeto benefits for sickness of which he
failed to notify the lodge, when the. by
laws require such notice. even though he
sent a physicians certificate of the illness,
the judiciary mmit reported that the
bylaws must be obeyed; a physicians
certificate may not be sufficient, and the
report was sustained.
Some brother asked the question
whether a man with one leg could be
made an Odd Fellow, he being in sound
health. The answer was that that can
didate would be eligible.
Another question propounded was
whether a lodge could initiate a candidate
and confer the degrees for s.. The com
mittee answered IN the negative, that the
for the degrees so cents each.
The further decided tina a
lodge must receive dues from a member
suspended for cause, If he offered to pay
them, but that he would not be entitled
to benefits if taken sick during the period
of his suspension.
The decision of the Court of Errors and
Appeals of the State of New Jersey, in
the case of Hooking against Roxbury
Lodge, No. 1S4, was referred to the judi
ciaTy committee, with instructions to re-
| port for the guidance of lodges in such
cases, at this session of the Grand Lodge,
if practicable.
This was a case where the lodge paid
SO per week for an indefinite period at
the time Hooking Joined. Subsequently,
the bylaws of the lodge Were changed,
for twenty-six weeks and 81 per week
after that. Hocking's contention was that
he was entitled to receive SO per week
IOr lne WnOle time OF MS illness, as that
was the rate when he joined. He sued
the lodge in the Morris County Court and
secured Judgment. The case was appealed
and the Court of Errors and Appeals sus-
tanned the lower court.
The proper adjustment of the matter is
a knotty problem, as probably every lodge
in the State has at some time or another
changed its bylaws in the matter of pay
| ing benefits.
All resolutions and queries recurring
reference to a committee must be offered
at this mornings session. The installa-
ton of officers is scheduled to axe place
this afternoon at 2:30.
Today's session will be a busy one. The
Committee on Elections will report this
forenoon, when the election of those Off
cers not chosen by the lodges will be
proceeded with. They had not completed
the c~anvassing of the votes cast by the
lodges at a late hour last night.
Grand Master-elect c. Fleming Stanger
met the newly appointed District Depu-
ties at room 100, at the Trenton House,
last night, and conferred with them re-
garding the work of the coming year.
A large number of the members of the
Grand Lodge and Grand -Encampment at
tended the meeting of the South Trenton
-Encampment, No. 40, last night, and
witnessed the team work in the Patri-
archa1 and Royal Purple degrees. All
were delighted with the rendition of the
work.
ODD FELLOWS HOME