Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-22
ON interesting report Of the last session
of the Sovereign Grand Lodge.
GRAND ENCAMPMtNI, l. 0. OF.
Fifty-first Annual Communication Held Mt
Odd Fellows Hall.


Odd Fellows Hall.
The 5lst annual communication of
the Grand Encampment of Delaware,
l. o. o. r., was held ct Odd Fellows
Hall Tuesday. Grand Patriarch Ed
ward b. Henze of this city presided.
In his annual address he said:
"Patriarchs - With expressions Of
friendship and brotherly love, l greet
you on this. the 5lst annual communi-
cation Of this grand body. The Grand
Patriarch of the universe, in His infin-
lite mercy and goodness, has again per-
mitted US to come together to review
our work Of the past year, and to pre-
pare for the future welfare and good OF
our order. Whatever may be done let
IL be done with open hands and pure
thoughts In our hearts.
1.-THE year Just passed has been
quiet one, inasmucn as | have not
been called upon to give any decisions,
so have had little work to do. In the
matter OF membership, there have been
quite number OF acquisitions to the
ranks of the enoampment branch OF
the order, but not enough TO overcome
our losses OF the past. Should the
general era Of prosperity continue
throughout the country | see no reason
why we should not make most sub
stantial increase in numbers during the
term of the incoming grand patriarch
and hope and trust that the membars
of the subordinate enoampments will
Eut forth every laudable effort to at
tain this end. | wish to extend my
sincere thanks to all the grand officers
who have assisted me in my work dur
ing my term of Office, and to the grand
\ 4
heartfelt thanks In comforting upon mo
the high honor Of eleoting me the
grand patriarch of this grand body"
The report of Grand Scribe Edwin
| Hirst showed that at the last meeting
there was balance of Sl59. so. During
the year the expenditures amounted to
| Si69. 10, leaving q balance of Sl97. 10.
| In the nine encampments there were
263 members at the last report and
| during the year 10 were initiated %
| suspended and one died, making the
present membership 253. The follow
ing interesting statistics we're given:
| Number of patriarcha relieved, 16;
number Of weeks benefits paid. 1859 I;
number of patriarchs buried, 1 num-
Ger OF patriarchs' wives buried, @;
amount paid for relief of Iatriarch,,
S2ll; amount paid for burying patri-
archs. S75: amount paid for buryine
patriarchs' wives $3.50; amount paid
for other charitable purposes, s43. 90 ;
total amount paid for relief, S409. SO |;
amount paid for her purposes,
81, 992.4 40; total expenses, 50, 1905. OF !;
| total receipts from all sources,
81, 60i. 10: total assets of subordinate
encampments. S6,2l1. 46.
Mr.. Hirst's report concluded as fol-
lows: "ln the early part of the present
year, on account Vt rapidly failing
health, it became necessary for me to
temporarily retire from all official
duties, expecting, at this session, to
retire permanently from your services
as grand scribe, and SO informed the
grand secretary of the s. g. L. when
forwarded to him what then be-
lievcd was the last annual report that
should ever be able to prepare. Pa
triarch j. H. Appleby, p. g. R.,
kindly consented to act as grand
scribe pro tenn, for me, SO that the
business Of the Office might not suffer,
and that might be able, without the
official cares weighing upon me, "a
take trip to the West with the hope
Of Incorporating my health, which hope
has been realized beyond Nv most san
guine expectations, and | which re-
alization l feel that / cannot be toe
profoundly grateful to the Grand Pa.
triarch above for having youchsafed &c
much for me.
my relations with all have always
been OF the most pleasant character,
and | reiterate my most profound and
grateful thanks for the many courtesies
and kininesses received from you.
With the fervent prayer that your de
libeIat for the hest interests of tht
order may be guided by the Crane
Patriarch above, who doeth all things
we'll, and that you may all at las
: receive the reward of the faithful,
remain, fraternally yours in F., Fl
and O., Edwin Hirst, grand scribe"
The report of Grand Treasurer
Hubert A. Roor was as follows
Amount in bank at beginning of term
+ s15S. 20; amount fecsiyed from CRANE
| scribe, S20S.5O total. s367. 40; expen
{ ditures, sl69.70; balance in bank
Sl97. 10.
The report of Grand Secretary Georg
H. Taylor concerning the annual ses
sion Of the Sovereign Grand Lodg
contained the following:
t During the year ending Decembe
r 31st, 1899, in the territory under tn
!; immediate supervision Of the Sovereig
Grand Lodge, the net gain in mem
bership was 42,669. and in said terri
I tory at CLOSE OF said year our tota
r membership was 1,063, 572. Add t
this the number Of brothers owing al
!. legiance to quasi independent gran
4 lodges, and this order had, on aboy
i. date, a world mem Iership of 1,093, SO!
/ exclusive of SAT brothers and sisters
l. the returns do not indicats tue tru
: division of RebeKah lodge
a in asi-independent jurisdictions
q the above net gain, at home, 81. 1927 wa
a in subordinate lodge membership, an
q 10,S42 in female membership of RI
4 belsah lodges. Our foreign member
!. ship, so far as returned, exhibits q M
a. gain of 1859 in subordinate lodg
~ membership. 1t affords me great pleal
i. ure to report net gain 10 suburdinai
/. encamIment membership OF 2,665. I'll
number Of suboidinate lodges und,
u the immediate jurisdiction OF the So,
"a ereign Grand Lodge has been increase
II by ITO. and now number II, $50. o.
Il Rebekah lodges have been increased
M 274, and now numbers 5,327, while
It the 2,616 encampments exhibited
ia the last report have been added 8
al making total of 1852 as the end
IA oember 3lst last was enrolled in II, 81
te subordinate lodges. $3.50 subordina
to encampments, and 5,3i7 Rebelta
"a lodges. Since the last report 70, 4
NJ persons were initiated in subordina
l. lodges, Is, 143 more than we're initial,
err in the next preceding correspondent
L L - EtE1H M a