The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-27
WORK OF THE ODD FELLOWS.
GRAND MASTER GRUZARD SAYS
THE ORDER is EXPANDING.

He Thinks There Will Be an In
crease This Year Over the $780,
G29 Paid Out for Benevolent Pur-
poses in 1S07-WiII Postpone His
Visit to Brunswick Until Later.
WaycrOss Lodges Will BE Visited
by the Grand Master Tomorrow
Night-His Impressions Thus Far
Convince Him That His Annual Re-
port VIII BE Gratifying to odd
Fellows Everywhere.
Grand Master Gruzard of the Independ-
ent Order of odd Fellows, who is on an
official visit to the Savannah lodges. did
not leave for Brunswick last night, as
he expected to do. The chances are that
the Brunswick lodges will not be visited
until later due to the absence of Deputy
Grand Master Porter of that jurisdiction.
Grand Master Gruzard said yesterday
that his visit to Brunswick depended upon
whether he received word from Deputy
Grand Porter that the lodges there were
ready for an official visit. A letter from
Mr.. Porter stated that he would be in Sa-
vannah Friday, and that he thought 1t
was the desire of the Brunswick lodges
that the official visit be paid them some
time in April, as they are anxious to give
the grand master warm reception. To
do this and to secure a large attendance,
the request has been made that the visit
be postponed. Mr.. Gruzard changed his
plans accordingly, and will remain over
in Savannah to-day, going to Waycross
tomorrow, where ne will be the guest of
lodges.
There being large membership in the
various Savannah lodges. Mr. Gruzard does
not feel that the overtime he spends
among them will be lost. The broad ac-
quaintance he enjoys, and the high es-
TEEN in which he is generally held, at once
commends him to the hospitality of every
odd Fellow in the city. He was enter
tanned yesterday by a number of brethren.
He was the guest at night of Mr.. and Mrs.
Leander Butler
THE annual report of the amount ex-
pended for charitable and other purposes
by the order In 1897 said Mr. Gruzard, lis
an index to the good it is doing in this
country For that year the expenditures
run up to SO, 1854, 629.4. This is an average
expenditure of 1924, 3S5.79 a month SO, O96 As
This money does not include the sums
paid out by Odd Fellows individually or
collectively but is the amount paid out of
the treasures of the lodges From private
contributions to widows, orphans, or for
the education of those who cannot help
themselves, the amount Is very large, but
it cannot be told just what it is.
I'm the United States the order has pro-
crossed wonderfully in the past few years,
having accumulated property, including
real estate stocks and bonds and other
property amounting to over $4,000 900. In
all parts of the country the membership
is growing, and the good the order is do
ing through the Individual efforts of its
members is far reaching, and is being
felt in many destitute homes
During my tour through the state I
have observed that the lodges are most all
in good financial condition, and their mem
bers enthusiastic over the progress they
are making" he continued. II have been
much encouraged everywhere 1 have Wis
tied, and feel sure the report I will be
able to make at the coming session of the
>grand lodge will be gratifying to members
everywhere"
MIR. Gruzard will visit several towns dur
ing the present week, and will return to
his home at Columbus Saturday He will
shortly thereafter map out another route
and continue his visits until he has called
upon all the lodges in the state.
While not engaged in his duties as grand
master, Mr.. Gruzard devotes his attention
to his contracting business at Columbus
AS member of a large contracting firm
he has done work all over the state, and
particularly along the line of the Central
Railroad, where he has built several de-
pots.