Daily inter mountain., 1899-09-19
Grand Lodge, Knights Of Pyth-
las Met This Morning.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS
Submitted at the Morning Session.
The Attendance is Very
General.

To-day is Pythian Day. The grand
lodge, Knights of Pythias convened at
Miners union hall this morning. The at
tendance was excellent, every lodge, with
but single exception being represented.
The grand lodge was opened by Grand
Chancellor John w. Stanton, assisted by
Grand Vice Chancellor S. A. Balliett,
Grand Prelate r. D. Steele, Grand Keep
er of Records and Seal Jacob Loeb, Grand
Master of Exchequer E. H. Talcott,
Grand Master at Arms G. S. Lomport
and Grand Outer Guard J. H. Owings.
Seated on the dias beside the grand
chancellor was the Hon. Thomas G.. Sam
pie of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, the
grand lodges honored guest, who holds
the exalted position of supreme grand
chancellor of the order, and who arrived
in the city yesterday for the purpose of
ascertaining how the great order, Of
which he is the head, is flourishing in
the west.
After the usual routine business, Grand
Chancellor Stanton, submitted his annual
report covering his administration of af
fairs of the Domain of Montana.
II am happy to report" said he, that
the order is growing in this grand juris-
diction. Dec. 81, 1897 there was a men,
bership of 2,0S3. During 1898 there was a
net loss of 62, leaving Dec 81, 1898. total
VI l,UAl lnc present. year Has Witnessed
a growth, for July 3d. 1899, there We're
2,334 members. Since that date members
have been added to the institution of Pine
Tree No. AZ, and Mt. Powell No. 43. From
recent reports l estimate the present
membership at 2,430. No strife or discord
has marred the peace and harmony pre-
vaiing throughout the domain. l have
renistated one lodge, consolidated two,
instituted four"
The md "a t1op 70
touch upon various matters which came
within his scope during the year just
ended, and the rulings he had made
The grand chancellor's recapitulation
of the condition of the endowment rank
was to the effect that there We're 81
members within the Domain of Montana,
and the total amount of endowment was
shown to be $667,500. He recommended
that the minimum fees for the three
ranks of knighthood be reduced from $35
to $25. saying that he believed the present
minimum fee to be excessive and tend to
operate as hindrance to the proper
growth of the order In concluding, he
said
1T is my ambition to be able to report
to you at this time very large increase
In our membership. and strong healthy
organization. In some respects l have
not attained my ideal along this plane.
True, in this grand domain the order is
growing stronger. it is hourshing, and
seems full of hope and promise The fu-
ture is bright. But the increase the past
year, If double what l have reported,
would please me better. We should en-
roll a membership of not less than 5000
in this great state within the near future
l have. endeavored to do my duty as
saw 1t. l have no apologies to tender for
any of my conduct We're it to do over,
would likely do no better. l have been
in earnest in my efforts toward upbuild-
ing the order and regret no time or abor
spent in that endeavor. Indeed the
labors have been laborous, but labors of
love-"
The report of the grand keeper of rec
ords and seal, Jacob Loeb, was a volum-
nous document, covering his work in de-
tail during the past year The report
showed that four new lodges had been
instituted during the year, Calanthe No.
40, Centerville: Silver Bow No. Al, South
Butte. Pine Tree No. A. East Helena, and
Mt. Powell No. 43, Anaconda while ST.
Mary's Lodge No 81 of Stevensville and
RaVallla Lodge No. 36 had been consoli-
dated adopting the name of the latter,
and Golden Fdle Lodge No. A. at White