Evening journal., 1900-11-21
ODD FELLOWSHIP
HAS Advanced
Membership and Relief Fig.
ureS Show Prosperity
Other Reports Of The Grand Lodge in
Session To-day Are Of Interest
ing Character

The grand lodge of Delaware, Inn
proved Order of Odd Fellows, is in
sixty-seventh annual communication
here to-day. is being presided over by
John NJ. Ross, grand master, Of Wy
.Oming, and one hundred delegates
from the lodges Of the jurisdiction are
In attendance.
This mornings session of the grand
lodge was devoted to the presentation
of officers report That of MIR. Ross
was first called for. In reviewing the
work OF the year Mr.. Ross said IL
regret that l am not able to report as
large an increase in membership as /
would have liked to do, yet feel sat
listed that we have accomplished some
thing. Though our gain may be small,
it is at the same time encouraging to
know that we are gaining slowly, but
sure. and the brothers generally seem
Ito be enthused with new life and vigor,
extending the right hand of fellowship
and abounding in good work. During
the year just closed I have visited
every lodge in the State, had a meet
ing in every one except Centreville,
No. 81. There was no quorum present
when l was there; and have exempli-
fed the unwritten work to all of them.
| find them all in good condition IL
nancially and some are gaining in
membership, and it affords me much
pleasure TO notice that the members
are waking up from their dormant
state"
In concluding the report Mr. Ross
thanked all the lodge officers who in
anyway assisted him in his duties.
Reports of the four deputy grand
masters, Lewis M. Stockwell, ID. W.
Brereton, J. r. Grimes and J. Il.
Sharpley, followed.
RELIEF REPORT OF MUCH INTER-
EST.
Isaac w. Hallam grand secretary, re-
ported as follows:
The progress made, compared with
few preceding years, is so fairly
commendable that we have amuch
cause to be thankful. The inertia
which seemed to have taken possession
of the membership appears to have
been overcome, and a new start has
been taken to increase our numerical
strength, the result of which enables
us to report gain Of twenty-one mem
bers for the year.
Attention is directed to the grand
story told by our relief report. AS
result Of the effort Of a little commun-
lity of thirty-four lodges we have ex-
pended during the year fifteen thou
sand dollars in the relief of the dis
tressed the burial of the dead and the
education of the orphan, in addition 10
eleven thousand dollars for other pur-
poses, making a grand aggregate of
twenty-six thousand dollars disbursed
| by the order in this jurisdiction during
the past twelve months. The figures
tell but half the story. They are cold
matters Of fact. Behind them stand in
grand array, unobtrusive, but sweetly
Sympathetic, the kindly attentive visi-
tations, the expression Of a loving,
brotherly affection. the development of
watchful care, the devotion of faith
ful friends, ever ready with warm
hearts and open hands to advise and
assist, to smooth the rough places, to
lessen and tighten the trials and ed
lversities incident to human life.
The physical, the mental and the
social needs are successfully minis
tered to by the practical application OF
the lessons which we learn at every
step of advance through the various
gradations of our noble order.
For other details you are referred tc
1.-THE following statistics;
MEMBERSHIP.
Number reported last year,. 2525
Initiated. d..... ..... 80. ........ l54
Admitted by card..... ...... -.
Reinstated. ...... .......... 1.
2s7'
Withdrawn by card.
Suspended.......... 81. h. ........ 3.
Died.. ...... 1900. '..'''.. 81
II
p Present membership. ...... 254
, Gain in membership. .... .. 2
Number of Lodges. ..... ...... 8
RELIEF
Number of Brothers relieved.... 81
e Number of weeks sickness...... 305
L Number of Brothers buried.... 3
= Number Of Brothers wives buried
T. Amount paid for RELIEF. S9,467.7
Amount paid for burial, males 3,750.O
Amount paid for burial, fe-
r males. -. -. -. .. S41.O
n Amount paid for widowed
u ldmllles- -......... ...... lJo.Z
Amount paid for outside pur-
poses ........... ........ 23l.l
h Amount paid for donations. 496.7
e Amount paid for education of
IS orphans..... -. ..... 80, 1871
n Total for relief ,094. 4
Total for other purposes. 1923;
n Total amount disbursed.... S26,0l7.i
Total amount of receipts. .S29, ,5l7..
"a FUNDS INVESTED AND OTHEI
'. WISE.
Personal property. ... Sl9,13S.'