The Washington times., 1901-07-08
THE odd FELLOWS TO MEET
Their Semi-Annual Session TO Con-
yene Here on July II.
Eighty Delegates to BE Present
Spirited Contests for Election to
Positions in the Grand Lodge
Candidates for the other Offices.

The annual meeting and election of
officers of the grand lodge of the Dis
trict of Columbia odd Fellows will be
held Wednesday evening. July II, at 3
o'clock. in odd Fellows Hail on Seventh
Street Nearly 300 of the most prominent
members of the order in the National
Capital will cast votes FOR officers OF
the grand lodge for the ensuing year
Eighty delegates, representing twenty
three lodges and 1000 odd Fellows, viii
consider the routine business which al
ways accumulates at the annual meeting
which is held on the third Wedhesday~1p
July.
1t is expected that the reports of the
retiring officers of the grand lodge VIII
show that the year closing with the
annual meeting has been most success
full one. Rather a broader plan OF WORK
has been outlined for the work OF Ouu
Fellowship in Washington during the
coming year.
on Thursday, June IS, a mass meeting
of odd Fellows, under the auspices Oh
the committee of hfty-one," was held
at odd Fellows Hall The object of the
meeting was to perfect arrangements for
an elaborate series of social events during
the wear and to make provision whereby
the many odd Fellows living in WASH
ington. but who do not belong to WASH
ington lodges, may be brought INTO
closer contact with the members oil the
local lodges.
The committee has plans prepared, and
at the meeting next week these Will De
submitted for approval, which VIII ooupt-
less be granted The celebration OF the
anniversary of the birth of odd Fellow
shin next spring will probably be OBJ
served on q larger scale than ever before
The election of officers to NIL positions
in the grand lodge promises to be spirit
ed. There will probably be close com
petition for the positions below the RANK
of representative TO the sovereign graho
secretary and grand warden. Election 10
the position of grand warden is sup
posed to be the Arst stepping stone OF ac-
cession to the office of grand master.
The present grand master of the grand
lodge is ]. C. Burfey, who will be sue
ceeded by ]. d. Bradfield, now deputy
gran dmaster. The latter, will. in turn,
be succeeded by G. Il. Colison, the present
grand warden. Among the candidates
for the latter position are James crew
the present grand marshal, and w. u.
Mcneil. the present grand conductor.
William r. Hunt who has been the
grand secretary of the grand lodge, has
which he has acceptabiy filled for the
past ten years. There are 4 number OF
prominent candidates for the position III
the field. Press of other business matters
has forced Mr.. Hunt to withdraw from
the Office. The position of representative
to the sovereign grand lodge is one sought
by a number, of prominent members OF
the order in this city. Among them is f.
a. Stire. All positions below the ranks
named are filed By appointment by the
grand master
Grand Master c. J. Durfey will preside
at the meeting. The reports of the re-
tiring officers will be the first business
and il Will be followed by the election.
Mr.. Durfey viii then retire from the
chair and the new officers will be in
stalled with the usual ceremony
The election is not, however the only
important business that viii come up.
Several proposed amendments TO the
constitution are at present under dis
cussion. One of them provides for the
aboIishment of semI-annual meetings OF
the grand lodge. At the present time
there are two meetings. one is in jan
uary and the other. termed the annual
meeting on account of the election, is
held in July. Another amendment pro
vdes for the holding of the semi-annual
meetings In April and October instead of
in the present months.
Each Of the twenty-three lodges in the
Jurisdiction will send one delegate for
each twenty-five members. These dele
gates will vote On all questions All
past grand masters Of lodges viii be en-
titled TO vote for officers OF the grand
lodge but will not have voice regard
{re, tho affairs Of routine business.