The Portland daily press., 1898-05-19


tive Of Portland.
AT the conclusion of the grand chancel-
lor's remarks there was reception IN
which the mayor was personally presented
to the members present.
The grand lodge then opened In regular
form and the routine b usiness was pro-
ceeded with. The annual reports Of the
grand chancellor and grand keeper OF
records and seals were read and adopted.
They were substantially as follows:
GRAND CHANOELLOR'S REPORT.
After tho transaction of preliminary
business, Grand Chancellor Edward u
Reynolds of Portland read his annual
report. in which he reviewed the work OF
the year, discussed numerous matters OF
interest to the lodges and offered recon-
mendations in certain departments OF
the work. His correspondence during
ths'year, he said. had been yoluminous,
quite portion of it being inquiries rela-
tive to the provisions of Pythian law.
From among the many questions submit
ted to him by subordinate lodges, he Sc.
lected the following, his answers to which
are herewith given:
Question: Have the Grand lodge Off
GERS at the time of the institution of a
subordinate lodge, authority to confer
special rights of jurisdiction upon such
lodge? Answer: No. PEA
Question: Is it necessary for a lodge
dldate. when reported favorably on by the
investigating committee. or can the mat
ter be laid on the table for future action?
answer: While the language OF the SUI
prelne statute may not leave the matter
free from doubt, my construction of it is
that there should be immediate action,
the word "upon'' having the force in
that connection, of forth WITH or sat
once.'
Question: Can a trustee be elected
chancellor commander without first re-
signing his Office as trustee? Answer:
Vas. 1t would be necessary, however, for
him to resign the Office of trustee before
being installed as chancellor commander.
Question: Can lodge give supper
and pay for the same from the funds of
the lodgep Answer: A subordinate
lodge may legally pay the expense of a
supper from it's special fund, provision
for which is made by the grand statutes.
A subordinate lodge cannot legally pay
the expenses of q supper from its gem
eral fund, under the provision of our
grand statutes. 1t is competent for the
grand lodge to provide for the payment
of such expense from the general fund.
Question: If brother allows others to
see how he votes on an application for
mem Dership, does that make such ballot
Illegal? Answer: No. The object of the
secret ballot is to make it possible for ev-
cry member to cast such ballot as he
may choose. without the knowledge of or
interferenoe by others. Should he waive
that right, by communicating his &C.
ton to others, 1t is only waiver Of his
personal privilege, and does not render
void ballot otherwise legal.
The grand chancellor favored the gen.
eral tendency among officers Of the order
to obtain their surety bonds through
guaranty companies, instead Of following
the old custom of getting fellow mem
bers to indorse them. He gave notice
that except in q single instance he had
denied all requests from outside parties
for permission to circulate among the
subordinate lodges appeals for aid for va
rious purposes. In the case of the move
ment for Rathbone monument fund,
he had given 1t his Endorsement, and
the Maine lodges had raised toward that
object $175. IS. He referred with approval
to the observation of Pythian Sunday,
every year. He heartily praised the Maine
celebration of the silver anniversary of
Pythians last year.
Chief among his special recommends
tions were these: That positive enact
ment on the SUBJECT of lodge jurislio-
ton be made by the Grand Lodge; that
all lodges be exempted from the payment
Of the per capita tax for the term in
which they were instituted; provision
for an installing officer in every subordi-
nate lodge; that lodges be empowered to
expend stated percentage Of their re-
csipts for suppers and entertainments.
These statistics of the endowment rank
were given: Number OF secrions in
Maine, 81; members, 1928; amount of en-
dowment Sa44, 800; total death benefits paid
in Mains, $104, 100; total membership,
52,551; insurance in force, sos, 00l, 900; as
sets. s46s. 1000; paid to benefciaries of de-
| ceased members, Sl2, 1872. 000; sections in
operation, 5000.
In summing up the standing of the
order in Maine, Grand Chancellor Rey-
nolds said:
sit has been very successful year in
our grand domain, marked by a large
accession to our membership roll and to
our roster of subordinate lodges, and, as I
believe, a growing sentiment among the
citizens of our State that our order is a
| conservator Of good in q community and
is entitled to the respect and confidence
OF people representing, as do ours. a
high conception of what an advanced
civilization demands Of men. This cue.
cess cannot be attributed to the efforts or
influence Of any man Or coterie of men,
nor to the discovery of any new means
for the securing of it. It is the result of
the united efforts Of our loyal Pythians,
earnest in their purpose of advancing the
best interests of our ORDER"
GRAND KEEPER OF RECORDS.
Grand Keeper of Records and Seals
Wesley q. Smith reports that the past
year has been the banner one of the or
der. It has been an expensive year, ow-
ing to the celebration Of the silver ami