The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-16

morning at 10 o'clock, IN the conVehtioii
hall OF the Jefferson. Already represen-
tatives from all parts of the United
States and Canada have arrived in the
city, and the session promises to be one
OF the most largely attended and sue
cessful the Sovereign Grand Lodge has
ever held. The body will be pre-
sided over by Grand Sire and Common
der=in-Chief Alfred s. Pinkerton, and
Grand Secretary J. Frank Grant will oc-
cupy his place as secretary.
In speaking of the meeting Secretary
Grant says:
For the first time since It's organization,
the Sovereign Grand Lodge meets in vir-
ginia: and when 1t is remembered that
Maryland. the birthplace and the cradle
of American Odd-Fe fellowship. is an ad-
joining State. it seems more remarkable
still that this should be our first session
In the -Oid Dominion
Our order was planted on Virginia S
soil sixty-seyen years ago. The first re-
port from lodge OF this order in Vir-
ginia to the Grand Lodge Of the United
States appears in the Journal Of that
body. Of the session held in New York
IT, n. \
report shows the receipt by him of the
charter fees from Virginia Lodge. No. 1.
at Harper's Ferry. and Washington
Lodge, No. 2. Norfolk, and on the next
page the report appears. 1t is that Oh
Virginia Lodge. No. I, at Harper's Ferry,
and shows nineteen limitations, no sus-
pensions, no expulsions. $1,000 revenue,
and twenty-four contributing members:
The charter for that Lodge was granted
at a specia1 session of the Grand Lodge
of the United States. called for the pur-
pose. by Thomas Wildey. Grand Sire, IN
Baltimore, May 4.h, 1888.
VIRGINIA LODGES.
Virginia has now over two hundred
Lodges. and more than ten thousand
Fellows. notwithstanding she mas
lost more than one third of her area IN
giving another State to the Union The
number of Lodges and members is nearly
: double the tigurS given above if the old
ana new States are considered as one
1t must be remembered. too, that this
State was the great arena in which the
most terrible scenes of the war We're en-
acted. when this: fair and beautiful CITY
which now so cordially welcomes US,
rested beneath the black clouds OF many
bloody battles: when fire and sword and
death were her dreaded and most dread
ful visitors; when to hold her as their
greatest treasure was the ambition which
fired the hearts and cost the lives OF thou
sands of her noblest. bravest friends; anu
when the effort to wrest her from th0nl
cast dark clouds of sorrow and death
oyer the homes OF those who died in the
attempt
IF our visit to Richmond results in
arousinE our hrethren in Virginia to
greater zeal for Odd-Fellowship. such as
shall add many desirable names 10 t'@
long roster of her membership. our cont
tn fSroiT n 6
hoped that pleasant memories of our visit
will live long in the warm hearts OF our
entertainers. and that each visitor. Will
carry away the most delightful recoiiec-
lions of the nennle and the Capital City
OF the dear ..Old Dominion
IN RICHMOND.
In Richmond there are eleven lodges
Richmond. No. 1; Jefferson, No. 4; Union'
No. z. Friendship. No. 10: Fitzhugh, NO.
a3: Aurora. No. 1l6, Schiller, No. 139; Unity.
No Sc, Abou Ben Adhem. and Patrick
Henry, No 12S
There are three mpments-Excetsior'
Concordia and Neilson-and one Rebehah
lodge-Friendship No. IL
The number of Odd-Fellows in the city
is about 1000 With the exception. pro-
1.sbiv of the Masons, this Is The largest
n,l1-1er IN an.slsecret organization IN the
city, and in the membership are many Oh
Richmond's most progressive and suos!dh-
tial citizens.
AS >. body the Odd Fellows arc q power.
full organizatior, and individually some OF
its members are powers in the govern
mental and political formation of the city
The organization was formed IN Rai1i-
more In 1876, and its growth since then Is
shown from the following statistics:
THE WORK DONE.
Statistics of the Order throughout the
world. from 1880 to December 81, 1888,
including Australasia, Germany, Denmark,
Netherlands, Sweden and Switzeriand: =. 80
limitations in subordinate lodges. ,S1o, ,ooo oo
Members .ooe ,o .sp
Widowed families relieved.......-- s.zo 40
Members deceased. a'ooos
Total relief 81, ,545,oos ~
Total lis 1880 %
Condition Of the Order December 81. 1889:
Sovereign Grand Lodge-..-.--...--
Quasi-independent grand lodges
(Australasia, Denmark, Germany.
Netherlands. Sweden and SWitzer-
iandl "
Sra,,5 ay,r. ,,,r,,, a., ts 55
Snhnrafnate lo5yes yes7i.... i, ,944
Subordinate encampments......... ,eoo
,n;7r,a ,,,e,n,,ars $50, ,965
Encampment members. l5o, ,ool
Rehel,af n lodges 5,s47
Rebekah lodge members. 3326, ,a93
GREAT INCREASE.
The various reports given above closed
pn December Slst last. and the increase
in membership since that date has been
very large, although there are no hgures
available TO show Just what the increase
e.
In his annual report Grand Sire Pln-
kerton Gays.
..The present year has been one OF
great activity. and nearly every jur.s-
S3olr ft1El q