The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-07
ODD FELLOWS COMING.
The Grand Lodge Will Meet
Here Next Week.
Will Be an Effort to Establish
Another Orphans Home.
a Number of Cities have Entered the
Field in Composition for
the Location.

Complications which have arisen con-
cerning the De Boissere Odd Fellows Or
phans home at Ottawa and which have
threatened for some years past to cause
a break in the grand lodge sessions be-
tween the faction supporting that home
and those who are opposed to contrib
Uting to an institution over which the
grand lodge does not exercise control, are
mainly responsible for the effort being
made to establish another home in the
state and over which the grand lodge of
the odd Fellows and the Rebekahs will
exercise absolute and complete control
Final action upon the proposition to
establish a home of this character is ex-
pected at the next annual session of the
grand lodges of the two bodies in this
city October Is. Although the scheme
mas been quietly pushed for some time,
1t has been kept from the public.
A desire to secure the home is respon-
sible for lively competition on the part
of the various cities which are seeking
the honor. They are, up to date, Wichita,
SaIina, Hutchinson, Wamego and To-
peka.
Each city is maintaining silence as to
the amount of money and other induce
ments which will be offered for the home.
but the officers of the grand lodge antici-
pate that the competition will be lively
and they are glad of it, as the home will
be located where the best inducements
are offered, consequently they are highly
pleased with the prospect.
That this home will be established this
year admits of little doubt. The contro-
versies over the Ottawa home have been
waging for years because a large percent
age of the membership of the grand lodge
IS opposed to supporting an institution
over which it has no control.
Up to this time the lodge and the indi-
vidual members have contributed to the
De BOissere home SS4 900. Yet they have
had nothing to say to the purposes for
which the money is applied.
on the other hand the heirs of the es-
tate OF De Boissere are making an eff
fort to gain possession of the property
themselves and the litigation which has
followed has been very embarrassing to
all parties concerned.
Out of these conditions has grown the
desire to establish a home over which
the grand lodge of the Rebekahs shall
exercise absolute authority.
u. W. Kent. grand secretary of the
grand lodge. has issued a circular letter
70 the Kansas members of the organiza-
ton, representatives and visiting mem
bers, calling their attention to the annual
session in this city next Wednesday.
There will be held next Tuesday even
ing, on the day preceding the session of
the grand lodge, d special session for the
purpose OF comforting the past grand, and
grand lodge degrees upon all qualified
members presenting legal certificates, and
for the examination of the credentials of
representa- tives. No mileage or per diem
viii be allowed for such special session.
The committee on credentials will have
the metal badges to deliver to all repre-
sentatives, which they will wear in place
OF the collar insignia and keep them until
the grand treasurer pays them their mile
age and per diem, at which time they
must surrender their badges. A member
losing his badge will thereby lose his
mileage and per diem.
The meetings of the grand lodge will be
held at Representative hall, while the Re
bekah state assembly will meet at the
Senate chamber. The latter organiza-
tion has selected the Hotel Throop as Of
fetal headquarters.
As the railroads have made reduced
rates, tickets good for the entire week.
the meeting will bring large number of
visitors to Topeka