The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-19

OSer sixteen Hundred Were Suspended
From One Cause or Another and Death
Claimed Several Hundred More-Gr.nd
Chancellor Attributes Net Loss to the
Popularity of Fraternai Organizations
Twelve Districts Formed for Local
tiers Transact Temple Business.
The twenty-sixth annual convention
y TIE Pythian grand lodge of Kansas
opened III the Garfield hail In This city
yesterday morning al O'Clock. Ali the
forenoon was consumed by the reading
o. reports of grand officers and the ac-
don taken thereon. The reports were
complete in every detail but not inter
tsIing 70 anyone except students Of the
condition Of the order in Kansas. The
grand chancellor's report, which is as
follows, is practically a generalization
OF all the other reports:
GRAND CHANCELLOR'S REPORT.
Grand Chancellor p. NJ McGonigai
made the following report for the year
1886:
To the Officers and Members Of the
Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Do
main o. Kansas:
Brothers: In loyal conformity to the
laws OF the grand lodge, 1 submit here
with the following report OF my official
acts during the past year. The duties OF
the Office of grand chancellor. are in
some respects, very trying, but in others,
they tend 10 make the reflections OF the
past year very pleasant Although the
years work has been very laborious, it
has been fraught with many pleasant re-
membranes, SO that ] will ever cherish
II as one of the happy years OF my life.
In the discharge of my duties have re-
ceived the earnest support OF all grand
lodge officers, and I desire TO return my
heartfelt thanks for their advice and as
sistance, and especially do / wish 70
thank that noble man, our worthy and
efficient grand keeper Of records and
sal. Gus ]. Neubert. who has always
co-operated with me chearfully and
patiently. and been particularly kind
with his valuable advice and assistance.
So far as my observation has extended,
brotherly love and good fellowship have
prevailed throughout the grand domain,
except among the members Of three or
four loGges-and they, SC far as l know
have wneeled into line and are now
working tremendously.
1t will De my endeavor 10 make the
grand chancslior's report as brief as
possible, and al the same time give such
s--f s0r, -.
as will appear 70 me 70 be conducive 70
the welfare Of the order The cores
pondence OF the office of grand chancel-
Tor is enormous, and 1 presume it is not
pertinent at this time TO make mention
OF that fact complaningly, for the rea-
son that It is generally understood that
the work OF the office is exceedingly
laoorious. and Of sufficient magnitude 10
require the entire time of one person
Hundreds. and almost thousands Of let
ters are written, and must De answered.
that seem to the grand chancellor en-
tirely superiuous. and yet, each and
every one Of the writers are entitled TO
courteous reply. because the letters ara
written by brothers who think they have
some important question TO ask, or point
70 make, even though the grand chan
cellor IS unable 70 comprehend them.
STATE OF THE ORDER.
The annual report 10 the supreme
lodge made by the grand keeper Of rec
ords and seal for the calendar year 1896,
shows What the total membership Of the
order in this grand domain, December
81, 1895, was 1889. and the total MEM
bsrship On December 81. 1896. was II. 74o.
SHOWING a net loss 10 the order of 62e.
The reports received since from the
deputy grand cha acellors Of one hundred
and fifty hodges show that December 81.
1896. and up 70 April l. 1897. there has
been added to our mem bsrship by initia-
ton 544, by deposit Of card Il, by rein
statement IS. total 423: that los have
been suspended: AZ have withdrawn. and
2 have died, total 159. showing net in
crease since December 81, 1926. Of es4.
I; is impossible, at this time. to make
a complete showing OF the work done by
the lodges since December 81. 1896. ow-
ing - the delay on the part OF the dep
NY grand chancellors in making their
reports as required by section 40 Of the
grand statutes. Such a delay is mex
cusable, for The reason that proper
blanks for this report were mailed 20
each deputy With a request 10 forward
same promptly and a the required
time To make. this report, only a few
moments OF the valuable tine of the
deputy grand chancellor is needed. and |
there is no reasonable excuse for such
neglect Of duty.
The condition OF the order in this do /
main. a this time. is discouraging. %
say the least When W. were oalire5 >,