Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-19
GRAND COUNCIL HERE
THE SEVENTEENTH SESSION con-
vENED IN RICHMOND YESTERDAY
MAGNIFICENT BODY OF MEN
berg Highly Flat
Ercss Made d.

berg Highly FIattcring-Great FRO
grcss Made During the Past Year
Finance and Other Reports.
II was a fine body OF representative
Virginians that assembled at Lee Camp
ltHau yesterday afternoon In attendance
upon the seventeenth session OF the
Grand Council OF the Royal ArcaDum.
There was a joyful session Of greetings
and social amenities, and when the body
got down to work everything was indi-
cative OF the fact that the Virginia Jurls-
diction is in the front rank OF the ad-
vancing column Of Arcanumism.
In fact. il was shown that this juris-
diction is ahead Of all the others. except
possibly one. I'm numerical gains, and the
financial report proved that the past year
was one OF phenomenal success, there
being a larger sum by many hundreds In
the general fund than ever before. This
IS high testimonial to the administra-
ton Of Grand-Regent Bloomberg and to
the general zeal and loyalty Of the rank
and file.
The afternoon session was largely oc-
cupied with the reading Of reports from
the field. all Of which were encouraging
in the extreme.
Supreme Orator j. \. Langsplt OF
PENNSYLVANIA, was warmly greeted, ana
made a pleasing address. In which he
captivated his audience by referring to
r.. T.. Lee as probably the greatest sol
der and purest gentleman that ever
lived"
ture taken on the capitol steps this morn
ing at $3.50 o'clock, by invitation Of
prominent photographer, seconded by SUI
preme-Deputy Busby. who wishes to
have a stereopticon picture made for eX-
hibiton in other States.
The body viii assemble this morning at
10 o'clock.
THE GRAND REGENTS REPORT.
Following are extracts from the report
| of Grand-Regent $. J.. BlOOmberg:
| "fime. in its ceaseless, never-ending
| fight. has brought US again to the tnird
Tuesday in April, and with il We convene
| the seventeenth session Of our Grand
| Council. In doing 50, permit me 10 oHer
| our Supreme Regent OF the Universe, the
| everlasting i AM our grateful homage
| and humble thanks for the many mercies
| and blessings which lie mas grahted unto
! ting so many of us again 10 gather under
| the protective folds Of our emblemauc
banner OF Virtue Mercy, and Charity,
| and 10 extend to each OF you a nioSI
hearty welcome and cordial greeting
"In order to follow up the good Work
which 1 realized this circular and report
| was accomplishing, / determined 70 Visit
| and inspect the workings and dOlngs or
| each subordinate council. and but Tor the
| verv continued and critical illness OF my
son ] would have accomplished my Oh
| iect. As il was. | did accompanied by
one or more Of your grand oiheers' Vislt
| thirty-nine of our councils, ana the cor
| dial welcome and brOtherly attention win
| which / have everywhere been received
| make me feel fully compensated Tor me
| time and energy expended, espefl any
| when | examined the tables prepared by
| OUR Grand Secretary with his report. ana
| note the very efficient work done by the
subordinate councils. and the reaWaken-
| ing to life of some which have been quiet
~ slumbering for years.
STATE or THE ORDER.
oI feel that the state Of the order in
| virginia Is a subject Of congratulatlon
for never. do / believe, mas our banner
| noated more proudly or nave we had
| brighter prospects of success. Peace ana
| harmony prevail; our membership IS sat
| isfed with the ORDER our counclis are az
| work. and eviderces OF renewed acuVlly
| are seen all along the line. During the
| first eight months of my term, when !
know viii be conceded TO have been the
most trying ordeal through Whlch we
| have ever passed. there were suspended
! .W members the loss Of large majority
| OF whom / believe was beneficial 10 our
order for. from all the information l
! could receive from council olhcers, Inc
members thus suspended were NANNY
those who proved an incubus rather than
a benefit"
PER CAPITA TAX.
| saro l,ipe, advantape of the privileges
| given grand regents by the last supreme
! Council meeting l reduced our per capita
tax for this year from 81 10 40 cents ana
| as our returns demonstrate that our IN
| come at this rate is sufficient for our
necessities. / recommend the amending
of our laws so as 10 continue this reduc-
| ton i'm force
"Such universal peace and harmony ex-
| listed among our brethren thdt no appeal
| has been brought before me- nor nave
been called upon for any official decisions,
! the councils and brothers being in every
| instance satisfied with answers 10 their
| several inquiries, and as no new or VeXed
! questions were raised, II is not necessary
| for me 10 go into any detail.
After making proper inquiry and find
| ing no valid objections thereto, ! consent
| cd for Oriental Council, No. BIZ, Of Wash
| mgtOn, ID. c., TO act upon the applications
! Of Thomas j. De Lashmutt, George II.
| Fucker. and David l.. Rhodes, all of
Alexandria county.
OUR BANNER COUNCIL
From the very comprehensive tables
| prepared by our Grand Secretary with his
| report, one can readily see what has
been accomplished by our several councils
| for the year ending December 81, 1898.
| Quite a number Of them have done good
| work Lynchburg, No. 4OJ, initiated %
| members; ocean, No. 1863, of Portsmouth,
| Is: Union No. 81, Of Richmond, II; Roa-
| noke No. l22S. Of Roanoke, Z: jefferson,
| No. 7H. Of Charlottesville, Il; Mccarthy,
No 46S. of Richmond, 10, and so on down
| the list But the work Of Shockoe, No.
| $50 of Richmond, during the past year,
| like that of the preceding, stands out in
| such bold relief that l cannot refrain
| from commenting thereon, and returning
| NV thanks to this live and enthusiastic
| council for having Initiated 40 members,
| and showing a net gain Of 30 such work
4 l. entitled to recognition, ana l recon-
| mend that this Grand Council. in some
suitable manner give expression OK ITS
! appreciation Of the work vi this active
! council which did so much both during
| 1887 and 1898 towards maintaining the
! standard Of this grand jurisdiction.
ON addition TO the foregoing, quite II
| number of our councils have done splen-
| did work since January LIST, ana l regret
| that | have not at fand authentic infor-
! nation. so that / could make special men
| ton thereof.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
Noticing that some Of our sister grand
| Jurisdictions have inaugurated the custom
| Of having a report on foreign correspond
ence and feeling That IL was wise 10 iin1-
tate what seemed good IN others, / re-
ouested Brother W. NJ. Bckers. chairman
| 80 our Committee on Laws. 10 prepare
such a report. which ne has done, ana
| I present same herewith. If IL meets with
! ,eur approVal, ! would recommend that
49, ff,,ttn 4Y.I lta