The age-herald., 1899-05-03
GRAND LODGE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS The Session Opened With Full Attendance.
  NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
Annual Report Shows Order to Be in Flourishing Condition-Has Paid All Debts and Has Bal
 ance in Treasury,

SIaI9 OI AIdDaDld aSSeHDleQ Ill AlaBnOll1
 hall.
 All of the grand officers, together with about 15S representa- tives, were present.
 On the call of the roll 1t was found that
 the following Grand Lodge officers an- sWered to their names:
 Grand Chancellor-James Grey Thomas,
 of Mobile.
 Grand Vice Chancelor-Jesse B. Wads-
 worth, of Birmingham.
 Grand Prelate-Davis C. Cooper, of Ox-
 ford.
 Grand Keeper of Records and Seal-John
 H. Donahoo. of Talladega. Grand Master of Exchequer-Jacob Greil,
 of Montgomery.
 Grand Master at Arms-W. H. Wilder, of Birmingham.
 Grand Inner Guard-J. B. Ellis, of Orr ville
 Supreme Representatives-Ben. J. Schus- ter, of Selma; Tennent Lomax, of Mont gomery.
 Grand Tribunal-A. D. Pitts, chief tr- bune, of Selma; Samuel G. Wolff, of Ln- den; James B. Newman, of Talladega Ja- cob Pepperman, of Montgomery. A temporary organization was then formed and a committee on credentials appointed. Those who had not been given
 the degree had the honor conferred upon them, and after an address by Jesse B. Wadsworth, the convention proceeded to business. Mir. Wadsworth had been se- lected by the local lodges to deliver the
 welcoming address, and he said in sub stance:
 The Welcome Address Brethren of the Grand Lodge The very pleasant duty has been assigned me of bidding you welcome to a sojourn within our gates. In behalf of the committee rep
 resenting the six city lodges, composed of 800 Knights, and of Jefferson county witn her twenty-two lodges and 1,5o0 members, We extend to you a most cordial and chiv- alric welcome. It is fit and proper that this Grand Lodge should convene in this the greatest and most enterprisng city in our commonwealth. Its history for the last l few years and that of our order has been | almost synonymous. Not many years ago | an ominous cloud hung over the destiny of | our city and which seemed for while l would utterly destroy her prosperity. Fur | naces blew out, rolling mills shut down, | mines ceased operation, banks stopped pay ments and clearing house certificates were | the money of the people. Under these distressing conditions the 1 people naturally became discouraged and 1 disheartened and the "croak" of the | croaker was heard in the land from early morn till late at night. But there were a 1 few brave and loyal hearts who never lost | courage. With faith in God and confidence l in our matchless resources, they have | pressed forward with an energy and deter | imitation which knows no such words as | fail.
 Thank God, those conditions have gone and we believe forever We are now on a tide of prosperity and development which we firmly believe will make our city the greatest iron and steel producing center, not only in the south but in these United States.
 There. too, was time in the history of our beloved order when it seemed that nothing but financial disaster stared us in the face. A time when the expenditures of money were only equaled by our income, aye and more, and all we could borrow.
 Recklessness and extravaganza seemed so firmly entrenched that nothing less than supernatural power could dethrone it. Tho membership throughout the entire domain became discouraged and indifferent. Bur- dened with an unreasonable per capita tax which yielded an immense amount of rev enue, but which seemed inadequate to meet our obligations. This condition up to the last grand lodge session. But thank God, these conditions have also dis appeared never to return. We, therefore, take especial pleasure in welcoming you to our city today because you represent an OrQer WHICH ndS been tried in the purifying furnace of reform and retrenchment and you have emerg- ed with the dross entirely consumed. You have washed your soiled linen and come to us today in fresh attire. I tell you, my brethren, there is lots of saving grace in soap and water. I am quite sure that your grand chan cellor, grand keeper of record and seal and grand master of the exchequer will report conditions that will be gratifying to us all. May these purifying conditions continue until our Pythian temple shall be cleaned from pit to dome; until every member and officer shall respect and obey the man. dates of our laws until honesty, truth, peace and prosperity shall be the heritage of our glorious fraternity. Brethren, we welcome you to our city. We welcome you to our castle halls, we welcome you to our homes, we welcome you to our hearts Grand Chancellor Thomas responded in few appropriate words, thanking the Birmingham Pythians for their cordial welcome.
 He said: "On behalf of the grand lodge of Alabama thank you for the welcome so graciously and heartily extended. We are again in Birmingham, the great city whose sudden rise and rapid growth have excited wonder in all parts of the world the achievements of whose people have caused amazement and consternation and Jealousy in other centers Of production; whose various products are sent to all the marts of both hemspheres, and invite comparison and competition; where indus try and enterprise under intelligent direc- tion have so speedily developed the matchless resources provided by nature; where cultivation and refinement have kept pace with natural progress and the accumulation of wealth. Again, on behalf
 of the grand lodge of Alabama. I thank you"
 The Annual Reports At tho conclusion of this speech the re- port of the grand keeper of records and seals was read by John H. Donahue. The report was most encouraging and showed balance of S, ,0t9 4S now in the treasury. There has been an increase of over 500 in membership since the last session, and the lodge is fin a general fourishing condi- ton. During the past year SS,s37 was paid out Tn sick benefits and A.1S7 for funerals. Grand Chancellor Thomas then read his annual report. The document was quite lengthy and went thoroughly into every detail cnncerninC the nrogress of the cr-