Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-11
The THREE LINKS.
MEETING OF THE GRAND LODGE
OF VIRGINIA ODD-FEILOWs.
A Represent tive Body of Men
Grand Masters Report-An inter-
esting Dccument-stattstic oih-
mittees-A Public Reception.

PETERSBURG. VA. May lO.-(Spe-
cial)-The Grand Lodge of Virginia, In
dependent order Of Odd-Fenows met
here in sixtyfrst annual session THIS
morning at 10 o'clock with representa-
tives present from all Of the two hundred
LODGES in the State. Grand-Master
Charles ID. Fox. of Roanoke. presided.
The Grand Lodge is a body OF disun-
guished men, highly representative In IN
teihgence OF al the sections Of the State.
REPORT OF THE GRAND MASTER.
The report OF Grand-Master Fox Tor
the year just ending Is 4 document OF
considerable length, but OF great inte-
rest He begins by saying that the
order has grown until IL is matter OF
impossibility Tor the Grand Master 10 de-
vote much time 10 visiting, unless he
neglects other and more important duties
connected with the order. as well as his
Individual interests" de, therefore en-
deayured To give what time he could 70
the correspondence and routine work Oh
the Office. keeping in close touch and con-
slant communication with the workers
in odd Fellowship in all sections OF the
State, and he feels that the order is 10
be congratulated on the result. While
the number OF new lodges secured was
not so large as during the previous year,
the increase in membership was CORES
pOndlngly greater. lhfty-One new
lodges were organized. with an increase
in membership of l.2ee. And there Is q
probability OF four other lodges being
organized at an early date. Toe Grand
Master is impressed with the necessity
Of vigorous ana systematic work, and
urges the brethren 10 go FORWARD, not
being satisfied until the order in Virginia
Is SO firmly esta bllShed. 50 deeply I'M
planted and so sincerely beloved, that
IL will rank first among al tue grand
Jurisdictions OF our country w promoting
and furthering the principles which are
so dear 10 all.
The report gives the following statis-
tics: Number of members. December 81,
1896. aga: initiated last year, 1891; ad-
United by card. 100; re.nstated, III. Max
Ing total of II. ~
From which deduct: Withdrawn by
card 2a4, suspended for cause, 10, suS-
pended Tor noD-payment of dues 6Z;
expelled, IL: died. ~. Total Ya2 Le3V-
Ing total membership Of the order on
December 81. 1ss7. l05l0, gain OF l,265.
The report gives tut list OF the new
Of officers.
A detailed statement of all questions
asked and answered. and of all decisions
rendered during his term Is given by the
Grand Master Some of these answers
and decisions Involve very interesting
points.
The Grand Master also gives In detail
the reports OF the District Deputy Grand
masters. The subordinate lodges. With
very few exceptions. are reported as in
excellent condition financially, and show
ING great interest in the work OF the
order. In submitting these reports the
Grand Master says that the present sys-
tenn OF selecting and defining the scope
OF the operations OF tue district depu-
ties Is all that could be wished Ii is
certainly TAR superior 10 the former me
thods In vogue In promoting the work
Of the order. and Is. besides. from a finan-
cial standpoint. great saving 10 me
Grand Lodge. He trusts the present sys-
TEN Will be continued.
Much interest Is being manifested
throughout the State In the efforts mace
to organize Rebekah lodges. and II is ex-
peeted that many lodges will be orga-
nizsd during the present year
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BODY.
The Grand Lodge was opened In due
form. the following grand officers being
present: Charles ID. Fox OF Roanoke
Grand Master, w. A. Slater. of Harrison
!. burg. Deputy Grand Master; W. II.
BAILEY, OF Richmond. Grand Warden,
rev A. f. Owen. OF Portsmouth, Grand
chaplain, pro tenn; T. Wiley Davis OF
richmond, Grand Secretary; ]. w. Fer
guson, OF Richmond Grand Treasurer
Rev. l.. T.. Northern, OF Gwynn's Island
Grand Marshal. pro tenn; j. L. Mccoy