Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-02-02

and the natural course OF events
have greatly reduced its roll OF mem.
bers. only four now remaining, all OF
whom are advanced in years.
The most important question to be
considered today will be as to wheth-
er the organization vii! revise the
constitution and take in the ninety
and nine that have been for years
clamoring for admission. or stand by
the original articles and let the soci-
ETY. die with the last mem.
Der as was originally stipulated.
Opening session ut sunrise.
The morning session is always con-
vened al sunrise and is secret. So
secret. in fact, that there hes never
yet been q word or syllable Of the
proceedings repeated without the
chamber walls. All other sessions
are free to every body. The last bus
mess done at each annual meeting Is
TO appoint o committee 20 assemble
at the grounding den at dawn on the
next grounding day, and there take
observations and report az soon as
possible to the meeting already in
secret session in the chamber at the
Ridge. The return of the committee
is ever q great attraction to the out
siders, and hundreds from all the
country around about are here TO
witness the scene. The meeting to-
day does not differ from It's prede.
cessors, save ID that the crowd Of
onlookers is greater than ever before.
During the secret session, which
usually lasts from four to i've hours,
the assembled crowd outside spends
the time in conjecturing upon the
report the committee will return.
This is q matter OF great Importance
to the farmer. as upon that report
he bases all his calculations for his
late winter and spring work. This
msy seem trifling TO some people.
but II any one is skepticsl on
this point. all that will be req uired
to convert him will be TO make an
inspection OF the farms srd farmers
families any where in this section,
and he will be Convinced tina: there
Is secret OF success here th1t can
not be accounted for upon any other
hypothesis.
Tssn Comes DInstr.
At the close OF the secret session
dinner il par,aken OF and there is a
general greeting OF the cd veterans
OF the society and many kind wishes
for their health ard long lie. At
O'Clock p m the general session con-
venes. 10 wbi b eli arc cordially in.
yited.
The president takes the chair. dec.
Grated with the jewels of his Office.
which are the scalp and tsil OF 8
grounding, and Is supposed TO a.
lude 10 the constitution OF the soci-
o:y-:he beginnirg and the end. The
dignity assumed by the president on
these occasions would cause the most
cignified United States senator to die
with envy were he to witness . seq
sion fth!s society.
As the president arose to deliver
mis- annual address the proverbial
pin, had IL fallen on the foor, q loud
report would have been the conse-
quence. The address was delivered
ia q most earnest and dignified man
ner. and showed the speaker to be q
thorough master OF his utject. He
went over the history OF the society
from its beginning, It's successes and
isilrres before the true theory was
established, and as he touched upon
the lives OF the brothers Of the soci.
ETY. who hsve upsssed over the dark
river and the individual sacrifices
they had made for the welfare OF
al mankind. there was scarcely q
dry eye In AL the great Assem- bly,.
The Oh H. o..
The rext and most interesting OF
III the proceedings was the address