Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-24

years at the time of examination and APP
! prevail. We find that while all members
! and officers had understood the age limit
to be so years, and even the grand med.-
cal examiner who was appointed for
awhile that year had so stated It in his
i report, that the minutes say the g limit
was IS years. and it stood that way until
after the meeting in Missoula tn 1895,
| though the grand chief of honor had de-
cided in her answers to questions during
the veal before hat meeting that the
g limit was SO years, and her answers
We're approved by the grand lodge at
Missoula. We also find in looking up
this case of Brother Trathen's that quite
a number Of the dates of some of our
first beneficiary members are somewhat
mixed OF the register and beneficiary
journal; we also find one other, ben. cert.
| issued to a brother whose age was pu
on the application as 40 ear at date of
examination, but who was over so years
before he received the B.. c. This B. c.
was also issued before it was required
! of grand recorders to enter the date of
birth, and some time before the classified
assessment went into effect. This latter
brother is alive, and I hope this grand
lodge will take some action that may cor
rect or legaliZe those certificates that
have been issued in good faith hereto
fore, and make the dates when B.. C.s
go INTO effect SO pain tIldl lICiC VII &
after be no trouble.
Our first few years as a beneficiary
order were somewhat of an experiment.
and there were so many dates to keep
track Of and the work was so entirely
new to all, that I think we have been
very fortunate that thus far we have
had nc trouble. and 1 believe it to be
| for the best interest of the members and
the order in general that some action be
| taken to make all beneficiary certificates
| issued up to this meeting of the grand
lodge. and whose holders have been pay
ing their regular assessments in good
faith. binding and in force, even if it
may be found that there are slight differ
ences in some of the dates.
Our expenses last year were several
hundred dollars more than our income,
and l believe that in order to help reduce
| expenses it would be advisable to AVE
our grand lodge meetings only once in
two years, and to be careful in what is
ordered paid out as our necessary Elk
penses seem to mount up quite fast any
way, and our membership has been de-
creasing for the last two years. We IAN
not go on meeting year after year and
spending more than our income for very
long, and It is better to meet this thing
right now than to wait until we find our
selves completely without funds.
My relations with grand and subor-
dinate lodge officers and members have
been very pleasant this year. and I
thank all who have kindly entertained
or helped me with my work. and hope I
will be able to show them my apprecia-
ton and good will at all times in the
future as I have tried to in the past
The morning session was devoted large
~. to the reading of the reports of the
grand lodge officers. Mrs. Mamie E.
Riley, grand chief of honor, gave an ac-
count of her administration of the affairs
of the order during the past year. She
congratulated the members Of the order
upon the bright outlook of the Degree of
Honor. She recommended certain changes
in the existing laws, one allowing the
grand medical examiner to appoint local
examiners. and another allowing the chief
of honor some compensation when travel
ing about in the interest Of the order.
The report was very thorough and
through it Mrs. Riley gave evidence OF
being a woman abundantly equipped
mentally for the position which she oc-
cupies.
The report Of Mrs. Flora McNulty,
grand receiver, was also very thorough,
although almost wholly statistical. The
report showed the balance in the treas
ury to be 81, 1876. "a.
The lodge re%cOnvened at 2 o'clock this
afternoon, n about 2:30 an adjourn
ment was taken. This afternoon the
delegates and their friends are picnicing
at Columbia Gardens.
The session will conclude tomorrow.