The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-21
THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
THE GRAND LODGE CLOSES ITS
SESSION.
Next Convention Will oe Held in
Fayetteville Next June-The Original
North Carolina Pythian Introduced
An Orphan Asylum. Committees APP
pointed for This Year-Wilmington's
Hospitality Appreciated.

pointed for This Hear-WflmingtOn's
Hospitality Appreciated.
The Grand Lodge, knights OF Pythias,
in accordance with it's adjournment
Wednesday afternoon, assembled at Cas-
tie Hall yesterday morning at $50 O'Clock.
Grand Chancellor r. H. Rickeart was in
the chair and the efficient minutes takers,
Grand Keeper Of Records and Seals w.
Il. Holloway and Assistant Grand Keep
er of Records and Seals c. Ct. Smith,
were on hand as usual.
Before proceeding to business the Grand
Lodge rank was conferred on some Past
Chancellors in waiting.
The business was then taken up and
the morning was consumed in the dis
cussion of reports from the different COM
%Tittees and in considering and discussing
amendments to existing Pythian statutes.
Among the committee reports was one
by the Rev. p. r. Law, of Lumber
Bridge, chairman Of the committee on
widows and orphans. He reports that he
has in hand a fund Of A,Gs5. which has
been deposited at an interest of 4 per
cent. per annum. He recommends that
the Grand Lodge make arrangements
with any of the orphan asylums in the
state with a view to securing wards that
may be necessary from time to time to
provide for the care of orphans dependent
upon the order. The report, with its rec
concentrations, was adopted. Chairman
Law states that he will go up to the next
convention of the Grand Lodge with a
full hedged proposition to establish an or
phan asylum under the auspices Of the
Grand Lodge.
DR.. j. w. Byers. of Charlotte, chair
man of the committee on the state Of
the order. submitted a full report. 1t
shows that from May 1897, to May 1898,
the amount of sick benefits paid by the
various lodges amounted to $3,1J6.34. and
that the number Of sick benefits paid was
2@. Out of the 78 lodges in the state,
only 40 were called upon to pay sick ben
Gifts. During the year there We're p
daths.
cred was the question Of benefits. 1t was
decided to leave all such matters and 9TH
er financial questions to the discretion of
the various lodges.
Another important matter considered
was the support of the Carolina Pythian,
an excellent paper published at Charlotte
in the interest of the order, with DR.. j.
w. Byers as editor. On motion, the
Grand Lodge made an appropriation of
$500 to the paper.
One of the happy incidents of the morn
ing session was the Introduction by Su-
preme Master of .Exchequer T. D. Meares
of Past Chancellor J. w. Zimmerman, of
Stonewall Lodge No. !. of Wilmington,
who is the only original charter member
of the first lodge to be organized in the
state, still an active member of the Or
der. After the few words of introduce
tion by Captain Mearcs, Mr.. Zimmerman
made a brief talk to the lodge and gave
something of the history of the organi-
Zation of Stonewan lodge, which was the
first lodge to be organized in North Car
DINA. 1t was organized on November IA.
1871, at Mr.. Zimmerman's residence, and
he is the only member who has kept up
a continuous membership during these
tWenty-SeVen years.
Mr.. Zimmerman was applauded by the
Grand Lodge, and on motion of Supreme
Representative F.. A. Ebert, of Winston,
he was requested to write a historical
sketch of the organization Of the first
lodge of the Pythian order to be organic
ed in North Carolina.
After the pleasant incident referred to
the secret work of the order was exem-
plified by Supreme Representative e. A.
Ebert. of Winston, for the benefit of the
Grand Lodge.
At 1:15 p. m. the Grand Lodge took a
recess till $3.50 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
AT $3.50 p. m. the Grand Lodge re-as-
The session was mainly consumed in
the transaction OF the regular business
and such matters as were left over from
the morning session.
The following resolution was offered by
Supreme Representative c. "A. Webb, OF
Asheville. and was unanimously adopted:
Resolved. That the thanks of the
Grand Lodge be rendered to the knights
of the city of Wilmington for their cOur-
teous and %knightly entertainment of the
Grand Lodge during it short but pleas
ant stay in this city: that our pleasure
and enjoyment while attending this con
vention of the Grand Lodge has been ir
a great measure due to the courtesies OF
the Atlantic. Carolina and Sedgeley Hal
Yacht Clubs. the Wilmington SeacoaSt
Railroad Company. the Wilmington Gas
light Company. and the Wilmington
Steamboat Company, and We hereby take
this means of expressing our apprecia-
tion thereof"
been completed at SIS p. m, Supreme
Representative c. A. Webb. OF ASheville
took the chair and installed the Crane
Lodge officers who were elected on Wed.
nesday and whose names were published
in yesterday mornings Messenger.
The following committees were an
nounced, to serve for the year: .
Grand Tribuna1-L. d. Robinson. Of
'Wadesboro; c.. r. Barker, of Salisbury
M. A. Allen, of Reidsvi1le.
Judiciary Committee. G. Hall, OF
Hickory: Walker Taylor, of Wilmington
"A. H. Alderman. of Greensboro
Committee on State of the Order-J. w
Byers. of Charlotte: II. A. London. Of
-Pittsboro; Samuel Kramer, Of Durham.
Finance Committee-L. p. Loud, o.
Asheville: w. w. Wilson. of Raleigh; ]
II. Hoffman. of Statesvifle.
Credentials Comnittee-R. f. l.. Cook
Of ~Tarboro; p. r. Darlington, of Mt
Holly: E. w. Smith. OF Rocky Mount.
Committee on Orphans-Rev. p. r
Law, of Lumber Bridge; w. c. Crist, O
Salem: G. w. Montcastle. of Lexington.
Committee on Foreign Correspondence
George A. Page, of Charlotte.
The Grand Lodge being ready to ad
journ. the next business in order was Il
select a place to hold the next convention
which -convenes on the third Tuesday IL
June. 1899. Past Chancellor JAS. M. NC
Gowan, of Wilmington, placed Fayette
vile in nomination as the next meeting
place and Raleigh was placed in nomina
ton by Past Chancellor 7. r. Sales, ~
Raleigh. Fayetteville WAS selected by al
ove-w heimfIg majority.
AT $50 p. RI. the Grand Lodge adjourn
ed to meet next June in Fayetteville.
The visiting Pythians speak in highes
terms of the treatment Wilmington has
bestowed upon them and they have great
1y enjoyed their stay in our city. Many OF
them left yesterday afternoon and las
evening asad others will take their depart
ure today. A large number. however
stayed over last night and many Wen