Evening journal., 1897-09-20
SOVEREIGN |. 0. 0. F.
May Decide to Take Boys
and Bartenders,
BY CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION
SOME BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
THAT WILL COME UP AT THE
GREAT GATHERING or ODD
FELLOWS TO-DAY.

/
FELLOWS TO-DAY.
The seventy-third annual communi-
cation OF the Sovereign Grand Lodge, I.
O. o. f., which convenes at Springfield,
Ohio. to-day at a. m, promises to be
one Of the most enthusiastic annual ses-
siOns of that body held since it's Organl-
cation in the city of Baltimore In 1925.
This was within two years of the
time when the first lodge of Odd Eel
lows in America, called Washington
Lodge, No. !, was instituted, at Balti-
more, which was on the Goth day OF
April. 1919.
Now there is one sovereign grand
lodge, four Independent grand lodges,
to wit: German Empire, Australasia,
Denmark and Switzerland, and fifty
four local grand encampments and six
ty-six local grand lodges in the various
states. territories and provinces. hav-
ing jurisdiction over 1851 subordinate
encampments and 1922 subordinate
lodges, with a combined membership
Of 959, $50, besides 41l7 Rebekah lodges,
with a membership OF males and fe-
males amounting to 253 ,439, as appears
, by the annual report for 1896. The re-
port for this year, which will be made
public to-day, will add considerably to
these figures.
There are, in addition to the grand
officers and past grand sires, 1859 repre-
sentahves from this country and the
Canadas accredited to the Sovereign
/, Grand Lodge at this communication.
The independent grand lodges of the
German Empire Australasia. Denmark,
and Switzerland are not privileged TO
take part in the legislation of the Sow
erelgn Grand Lodge, hence they are
e not representa- at the annual communi-
cations.
Il Resolutions will be submitted to im-
a prove or make more perfect the Patrl-
y arch Militant system. and to render the
e laws governing the Rebekah branch OF
9 the order less ambiguous and more dis
l. tinctive and binding In their character
= Not a few OF the most influential MEM
Q bers of both Of those branches OF the
Y order are outspoken in their belief that
y their success and prosperity would be
+ best subserved by conceding TO each
full legislative authority, so that they
n would not only enjoy quasi indepen-
dence from the Sovereign Grand Lodge,
but could also convene at stated periods
In convention and legislate for the can
p tons and lodges over which they would
,e then have jurisdiction, subject TO such
m restrictions as are imposed upon the
- independent grand lodges OF Odd Eel
he lows In foreign countries.
IN MUST HAVE LOTS OF DEGREES.
X Various amendments to the constitu-
,. ton, submitted at the last annual com
~ municalfon. held at Dallas, Texas, will
81 come up for consideration. The first
~ proposes to change the time OF holding
1; the communications from annually to
u, biennially This proposition is no nov,
N, city in the Grand Lodge, as It has fire.
quently been made, but when IL came
to- vote has found only a few support
ers: for this reason, Il Is generally be-
lieved. it will meet the same fate at this
a, session. Besides this, II was proposed
e I'm TINS instance as a means OF economy
a at a time when the Grand Lodge was
at short OF funds: but as that body has
he since recovered from its financial en-
n barrassment and has a large surplus in
he its treasury. the reasons which prompt
Id ed the submission Of that measure have
Mt ceased 10 exist The next amendment
be for consideration proposes to change
the qualifications for a grand represen-
tative so as TO require, in addition to
being a member of a local Grand Lodge
n. and having received the patriarchia'
he also be n member Of grand encamp.
be ment. a canton of Patriarchs Maitan
and Rebekah Lodge.
CAN BOYS BE ADMITTED?
AS this amendment was proposed b,
ea nineteen Of the mort influential repre-
m. sentatives who hold that, as the Soy
an ereign Grand Lodge legislates for al
lu those branches OF the order, its mem
bers should possess such additiOna
qualifications, there can be no doub
~ but that itsadoption will be strenuousl!
y urged, with the probabilities of success
in its favor. This is followed by
proposition to reduce the age for mem
bership in the order from twenty-on'
years TO eighteen, but as the Gran,
~ Lodge has always taken a decided
oi stand against the admission of minor
this amendment will doubtless be re
he jected by a decisive vote.
~ NO BARTENDERs OR GAMBLERS
Then comes a proposed amendmen
to strike out that clause in the consti
el tuition, adopted two years ago, whicl
"y prohibits saloon and bar-keepers an'
professional gamblers from being admit
I'm ted into the order, and several of lik
nus tenor, one OF which proposes to excep
Sh saloon ana Ddr-keepelS IlOm JhdJ uls
qualification. AS it requires a three
no fOurths vote to adopt an amendment Z
m the organic laws, and as there is n
perceptible change of sentiment anon
>. the representatives as regards the adOp
- tion OF the original, there is necessaril
scarcely a probability Of success in an
attempt to repeal or modify the sans
In Experience proves that it is nuc
me easier to propose amendments to th
10 constitution of the Sovereign Gran
Tx Lodgethan tits tohave them adopted, ,be
Oh cause IL is a conservative body an
ge- nearly always shows a disposition
adhere to the original landmarks of tn
.ist order, from which it will not swerve ur
es- less it be to endorse ,such aoVano
thoughts as may have become univel
sal throughOut the vast brotherhOo
ta- tu over which it eercises supreme legisls
us fiva outhOritV