Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-19
NO REPRESENTATIVES MISSING
DELEGATES PRESENT FROM EVERY
STATE AND TERRITORY.
Grand Sire Pinkerton Tells of the
Great Growth of the Order and
Emphasizes the Need for
Cutting Down Ex-
penscs.

slstent ram has been the prominent out
ward feature of the opening day of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows dia-
mond jubilee. Adverse weather conditions,
however. failed 10 dampen the spirits Of
the Odd Fellows enough to keep them
away from the public welcomes extended
at the Detroit opera house by Mayor May
bury and Michigan odd Fellow officials.
Every representative entitled TO n seat on
the floor of the sovereign grand lodge was
In his place when the session oponed, $50
men, from every state and territory and
the Canadian provinces.
1t was necessary TO postpone a trolley
ride about the city planned for this after
noon, until Saturday, which had been left
open for individual sightseeing Tonight
the visiting ladies We're. entertained in
Light Infantry armory by the Union Re-
bekah Degree staff of this city. Fifty-siX
ladies. the largest degree team in the his
tory of Odd Fellowship, eXemplified the
Rebekah degree
Sovereign grand officers, grand lodge and
grand encampment officials and various
other Odd Fellow functionaries walked 20
the opening session this morning through n
drenching rain. They were escorted from
headquarters. the hotel Cadillac, TO the
Detroit opera house. where public recep-
tion exercises were held by the military
cantonments of the order present in the
city.
Arriving in front of the theater, the
patriarchs militant stood in line, with
swords at present, while 800 umbrela-bear-
ing sovereign and state officers. delegates
to the sovereign grand lodge and to the
Michigan grand iodge, fled past in pairs
and entered. The proceedings opened with
orchestral music. On the stage We're the
nd g nj
and those who were to voice the welcome.
Greetings Were extended by Colonel o. A.
james. chairman of the general local COM
mfttee; Mayor Maybury, for the city and
state; Colonel E, II. Sellers, grand master,
representing the Michigan grand lodge;
Robert Donovan. grand patriarch Of the
Michigan grand encampment; Brigadier c.
S. Martin, department commander of Mich
igan patriarchs militant, and Mrs, Emma
Hask;n. president of Rebekah assembly.
Governor Pingree was unable to appear.
owing to Illness, and Mayor Maybury
welcomed the visitors on behalf of the
city. and state. OF Odd Fellowship. the
mayor said:
1t was one of the first societies, If not
the first, TO make men brothers and to
make my neighbor the rsan who needs me
and is deserving of my help"
Alfred S. Pinkerton, grand sire, respond
ed TO the welcomes. after which the SOW
ereign grand lodge representatives proceed
ed TO Harmonic hall, where the first bus
fness session was held.
Grand Sire Pinkerton made his annual
report TO the sovereign grand lodge. show
ing that on December II last, the subordi-
nate lodge membership was S3O.S61, and the
number of sisters enrolled in the Rebekah
lodges numbered 19O,007.
Referring TO the finances Of the order,
Mr.. Pinkerton said:
THE great source of our financial life
is the income derived from the sale of
supplies. 1t has never been our policy TO
accumulate money. neither has intentional
extravaganza been indulged. Still, as a
rule. our expenditures exceed our revenues.
continuance of such condition can
have but one result l do not believe that
biennial sessions of the sovereign grand
lodge or fixed place of meeting will solve
the problem. The seeming remedy is q re-
duction in the sum paid for mileage"
The grand sire gave an epitome history
of the order, and its growth. referring 10
the relation existing between the Ameri-
can order and those of foreign countries
He reported that the affairs of the diversely
situated and widely separated brotherhood
were generally in prosperous condition
Appended to the report were reports on
the condition of the order in Europe, Japan
Hawaii, South America, Alaska and North
west Canada.
Grand Secretary Grant reported encour.
aging increase tor the year, in both the
subordinate and Rebekah branches, that ot
the former having been greater than in any
year since 1892 small decrease was re.
ported In the encampment branch, much
smaller, however, than in any other ol
several years past.
year. said the secretary "is found in thS
unusually long list OF warrants issued. lr
Hawaii. Newfoundland. the Netherland.
and Alaska, new charters have been asked
for. Favorable reports are coming in from
Cuba, and a new lodge is to be Instituted
at Buenos Ayres."
The whole increase In all branches ofth,
order for the year was 30,225
After committees had been appointe,
many resolutions We're offered. The mos
important one was introduced by Repre-
sentative Young, of MARYLAND and Il
aimed at the mileage paid representative
to the sovereign grand lodge. AT presen
10 cents per mile is allowed for delegate
living cast of the Rocky mountains. and i
cents west; 1t orders the figures reduce,
10 and 10 cents, respectively
resolution is pending from last -.car,
meeting reducing the mileage 10 and
cents Both these were. after an bonr,
discussion; referred TO u special COMMITTEE
as possible That the mileage 1lInwo1n
Will be reduced is believed certain as
cut must be made in the expenses. ana tb
.,eie G,eiiegateS, s., are almost unit in favorini
derinG the abolishing of Visiting cards
was referred to the resolutions commits
tees. The visiting card is now neressar
10 enable q member Of one lodge 10 yisi
another. 1t is proposed to make thA re-
CENT for dues sufficient
There will be no election of officers II
D. this convention. since the terms Of N
present tncumhents of the sovereign gran
chairs do rot expire for another -.aa,
The matter of admitting negroes 10 IN
- !. o. o. t. is expected to come JIn at mi
session, rs it has done for a number .
years RESOLUTIONS providing for admis
sion OF negroes have ALWAYS haret 1for
been voted down, and the sentimer