The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-28
AMERICAN MECHANICS.
Convention Of the Junior Order
Elects State Ofieers-Shaw
Case Not Considered.
Especial to THE Jersey city News."1

TRENTON, Oct. %, 1S97.-The twenty
ninth annual session of the State Council.
Jr. Q. U. A. M, convened yesterday morn
ing in Masonic Temple, with more than
two hundred representatives present from
councils located in every section of the
State. The personnel of the State Council
is very interesting to note. Here you see
mechanics and artisans, professional men,
doctors, lawyers, clergymen and a few
politicians whose names are familiar all
over the State. They take a deep interest
in the proceedings and many keen and
spirited debates occur, conducted in a
chivalric and courteous way that is pleas
ing to witness.
State Councillor c. T. Fisher occupied
the chair and the other officers already
mentioned were in their places.
The morning session was consumed in
receiving and ~disposing of the officers re-
ports.
State Councillor FISHER, in his report.
| says
1.-THE year, with its heavy responsible
ties, has dragged Slowly along, and now,
as l near it's close, it becomes my duty,
according TO the laws and usages of our
beloved order, to submit a report of my
official acts; but nrst of all, permit me to
request every Junior Mechanic to render
thanks to the Supreme Councillor of us all
for His unceasing guidance and continued
blessings that have followed us since last
we met in annual session.
A number of councils have been insti-
tuted, and those previously organized
have been strengthened, possibly with but
one or two exceptions. One has surren-
dered its charter.
"Our order q think I can safely say) is
in better condition today than ever before.
The threatening storm that a year or so
ago seemed about to burst in all it's fury
upon us has been huShed by the soothing
The clouds have been kissed away by the
golden lips of peace of harmony, and from
today we hope that the now nearly 29,0O0
Juniors of New Jersey may continue to
add to their members and march with con-
quering tread onward to the successful
elimination of the objects for which we
are banded together.
while this year will go dow in the
history of our order as one of the most
successful, | want to say that not to me
belongs the praise so much as to the
grand, noble, stalwart men who have COM
posed the board of officers, and my other
advisers and assistants from the various
parts of the State. The record of the
emit is encouraging and inspiring. The
prospects for the future were never bet
ter"
Treasurer J. J. Reeds report showed
tina the receipts of the State Council for
the year has been s14, $50. 30; the ~disburse.
ments 81, S5o.77, leaving a balance of
The report of the board of officers,
which includes the past State Councillor,
State Councillor, State Vice Councillor, Sec
rotary and Treasurer, occupied the atten-'
ton of the State Council for nearly the
whole day. The board of officers is the
executive authority of the order during
49, 80 +I@ cA44~- NA,ro IL in 1nni6 -
ing points of law and usage, and hear ap-
peals and controversies hat may arise
between the members of the order and
their councils, and between different coun-
ellis. There were 81 decisions rendered,
and they were submitted to the State
Council for approval; Some OF them
caused considerable discussion, particu-
larly one that has been the subject of
much controversy in the councils, and
that is in regard to the payment of fu-
neral benefits. The laws of the order de-
to the widow or surviving rela-
tives. In some councils the members des-
ignate to whom the money shall be paid,
in some cases other than the wife. To
cover the point the board of officers for
mulated a decision to the effect that the
money should first be paid to the widow;
if there be none, then to the nearest rela-
tive as designated by the laws of New
Jersey. If no near relatives, then the
money to be paid to the councillor, to at
tend to the burial of the brother, as the
laws ulI6Cl.
The matter was discussed at consider
able length, and the ruling of the Board
was finally sustained.
The Board also recommended that the
councils bond their financial officers in
some approved surety company, and his
was also concurred in.
American Day, the third Thursday in
August, will be observed by a general
parade of the order at Asbury Park.
The remainder of the days session was
consumed in considering appeals. The
E1-Cr hrtc ~ aCc If tho Ax,a At -.-,
the election of officers. which resulted in
the choice of the following
State Councillor, Rev. ]. Morgan Read of
Camden; State Vice Councillor, Fergus A.
Dennis of Princeton; Junior Past State
Council Conductor, Maurice a. Rogers,
Camden; State Council Warden, Fred
Secretary, VIM. H. Miers, and State Coun-
election of State Council Inside and Out
side Sentinels, and representative to the
National Council, was deferred until this
morning, being the first order of business
after the opening of the session at $3.50.