Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-08
ODD FELLOWS TO-DAY.
Grand Lodge Of Virginia To Con-
vene at Hot Springs.
The Meeting tho First Ono Hold Outside
or tho Cities = Great Intcrcat In the
Meeting OF tho Sovereign Grand Lodge
ut Richmond, In September.

Ihe SiXty-thIrd annual session OF the
Grand Lodge. I. o. o. T. Of Virginia,
will be called to order at Hot Springs
this morning at 10 o'clock by the Grand
Master, w. II. Bailey.
This will be the first time that this
body has held an annual meeting out
side OF one Of the cities, but the frater-
nifty decided to visit the famous sum-
mer resort this year. 1t is certain that
there will be a large gathering mas
much as there has been q decided In
crease in the membership. twenty three
new lodges having been organized with
a membership of more than 1000. There
has been a substantial increase in
nearly all OF the old lodges.
The General Committee on the En-
tertainment of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge. which meets in Richmond the
third week in September, has been call
ed to meet at Hot Springs tonight, and
as there are over 300 members of this
committee. their meeting will swell the
number. Then. too. the Rebekah AS
sembly. the head of the ladies' branch
of the order. will meet at the same
time.
The most important matter which
will claim the attention of the Grand
Lodge will be the report OF the Execu-
tive Board, having in charge the details
of arrangements of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge meeting. The members
OF the fraternity all over the State are
manifesting much interest in the great
gathering to be held in Richmond Mr..
Hill Montague, as chairman Of this Elk
ecutfve Board. has been in communica-
ton with every lodge in the jursdic-
tion, and an entertainment fund of ST.
500 is being raised by voluntary contri-
buttons 1t is proposed to have a great
parade Of the order here on September
10th. II is expected that the represent
atives of the Sovereign Grand Lodge
and their ladies will be taken on a spe-
cial train to Old Point on September
18th. and after n boat ride to the Capes
dinner will be served at the Chamber
hin Hotel. Enough requests for rooms
have already been received from other
States to show that our hotels will be
filled and ocerlowing. Besides these
visitors, the committee expects at least
5000 Virginia Odd Fellows to march in
the parade.
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS.
The present officers of the Grand
Lodge are W. II. Bailey Grand Master
Richmond; w. T. Baldwin, Deputy
Grand Master. East Radford: Rev. T..
e. Northen. Grand Warden Gwynn's
Island; T. Wiley Davis, Grand Secrc-
tary. Richmond; Rev. ]. J. Scherer,
Grand Chaplain. Marion; John w. Fer
gusson. Grand Treasurer, Richmond;
w. D. Hill, Grand Marshal, South Bos-
ton; Il. ]. Donnelly. Grand Conductor
Newport News; w. A. Pratt, Grand
Guardian. Staunton; J. T. Watkins
Grand Herald, Alexandria: r. V. Tur-
ney. Grand Representative, Old Point,
and Hill Montague. Grand Representa-
tive, Richmond
1t Is the custom for the Deputy Grand
Master to be advanced. and it may be
assumed that Mr.. Baldwin will be the
head OF the order in Virginia during
the coming year. The contest is US
ually over the office of Grand Warden.
and for that position w. D. HILL a
lawyer of South Boston, is prominent
y mentioned. The Grand Representa-
tives serve for two years. Mr.. Turney
holds the expiring term. He will prob
ably be nominated to succeed himself,
but Mr.. Charles D. Fox, of Roanoke,
has been prominently mentioned in
connection with this office, which is
really a very desirable one for those
who are interested In Odd Fellowship.
IS GROWING RAPIDLY.
The order in Virginia us growing rap
idly. having now more than 1000 men,
bers. The membership has doubled in
the past five years. Grand Master
Bailey has made a splendid officer, hav-
ing devoted nearly his whole time to
the work, with the result that he has
increased the membership beyond that
of the record OF any Of his predeces-
sors.
The affairs OF the Grand Lodge are
in excellent condition and everything is
moving nicely in Virginia for the
Three-Linll Fraternity. AS a result Of
the enthusiasm that is being manifest
ed in the coming session Of the Sow
nreign Grand Lodge. the new lodge
which has been named Abou Ben Adam
was organized in this city Friday night
with a charter membership of 6Ou
These are, for the most part, young
men. and it has been many years since
there was such a distinct boom in Odd
Fellowship IN Richmond.
Odd Fellows Anniversary.