The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-21
Great order Not 20 He Mis-
understood.
FURTHER MEETINGS TODAY
THE GRAND LODGE HAS NOT YET
COMPLETED ITS WORK.
Details of the Morning Session That
Are of Interest-Incidents
of the Convention.

a rule of the Sovereign Grand Lodge OF
Odd Fellows that has always been sup
posed TO be as unalterable as the laws OF
the Medes and the Persians was set aside
at the meeting yesterday morning. and as
a result the only copy OF the secret work
of the order i'm existence. engrossed on
parchment and guarded like a treasure OF
diamonds. will be brought forth and copied
a sufficient number OF times TO allow every
state jurisdiction to have a copy. For
twenty years past unsuccessful efforts have
been made TO break down the ironclad rule.
The opposition 10 the action of yesterday
was fierce. many powerful speeches being
made urging that if the secret work is du-
plicated so many times IL will soon become
generally known. Hitherto none but Of
ficers and grand representatives OF the
Sovereign Grand Lodge has been allowed TO
gaze upon the mysterious parchment roll
Those who favored the granting OF copies
of the secret work TO state jurisdictions
contended that in this way proficiency in
the higher work of the order would be en-
couraged. The ritualistic work has long
been in the hands of lodges, and this is
also secret. but the parchment roll men
toned contains many signs and other secret
matters not contained in the ritualistic
work.
RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
The body also decided to accept the resig-
nation of Hermann Block. special deputy
grand sire for Europe. stationed at Pinne-
berg, in Holstein. Germany, and TO dispense
with the office for the time being, allowing
the grand sire of Germany TO perform the
functions hitherto performed by Mr.. Block.
The committee report suggesting the re-
scinding Of the action of the grand body
last year providing for uniform charters
for all grand and subordinate bodies in
this country and Canada, also for sub
ordinate lodges throughout the world under
the immediate jurisdiction of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, was adopted. This gives
each grand jurisdiction once more the right
10 issue its own charter TO subordinate
lodges, as was the case prior 10 last years
meeting OF the Grand Lodge.
The report of the committee granting the
privilege of comforting the grand decoration
of chivalry upon certain members of the
order on recommendation Of the grand sire
and representatives pr sen tive, was adopted; The
printed i'm the Journal of Thursday morn
ing.
The special committee appointed to take
appropriate action on the death OF Past
Grand Sire Nicholson submitted its report,
which was adopted by a rising vote. The
committee was made up OF the past grand
sires that are attending the meeting this
week.
The special committee appointed to draft
resolutions of thanks TO the citizens OF In
dianapolis, its officials and others instru-
mental In bringing about the comfortable
and pleasant sojourn Of the Sovereign
also reported and the resolutions were
adopted by a rising vote amid much evil
dent enthusiasm.
WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD.
After the conclusion of the morning ses-
sion il became apparent that the Sovereign
Grand Lodge will have 20 work very hard
if il finishes by tonight all the business
before it. There was a desire TO have
special session last night but in view OF
the important public meetings in Tomlinson
Hall it was thought best TO depend upon
accelerated work to-day TO get through
with the weeks business.
1t would not surprise the grand repre-
sentatiVes il "A resolution We're 10 be in
trOduced commencing the admirable and
unremtting work that has been performed
by Grand Secretary Grant and his assist
ant, Mr.. Currie, in keeping up with the
great press Of business this week No mat
ter how big "A mass OF documents these
men have had I'm their possession al the
close Of each day, TO be Incorporated ia
the printed journal, IN some mysterious
manner they have succeeded i'm laying on
each grand representative desk every
morning a printed copy OF the complete
proceedings OF the preceding day. Messrs
Grant and Currie have. IL Is said burned
the midnight OIL every night this week
I'd
time. The document is printed In "A local
publishing house that has every facility
for such work and the proprietor OF the
establishment said Yesterday that the Sow
ereign Grand Lodge has kept hiss force OF
printers and binders quite busy as does
the Indiana Legislature during one OF its
busiest sessions.
TO WEED OUT ANARCHY.
The Independent Order OF ODD Fellows.
by its highest legislative tribunal. the Sow
ereign Grand Lodge yesterday took the
first step that has been taken by any secret
order towards wedding anarchy out OF this
country. \ resolution was introduced
recommending that the constitution Of the
order be amended 10 forbid any one
belonging 10 an anarchistic society or who
holds anarchistic views or who il a SYM
pathizer with any form OF anarchy from
becoming an Odd Fellow. Under the la~s
governing the order the constitution can
not be amended at the same meeting in
which resolution Il introduced. but there
is no doubt among the grand representa-
tives that the proposed amendment will be
adopted at the session Of the Soverefcn
Grand Lodge in Des Moines Ia next sep
tember without "A dissenting voice or vots
The resolution I'm question was introduced
at the meeting late yesterday afternoon
The Sovereign Grand Lodge took official
cOgnizance az the same meeting OF the fact
that in tropical or semi-tropicsl countries
people mature earlier than in those cOun-
tries living n the temperate OF frigid zones
\ resolution was adopted reiterating that
men must be twenty-une years old 10 h.
admitted as Odd Fellows IN countries A
CORES spOnding latitude with North America
but in other countries this age limit - dis
cretionary with the grand Jurisdictions
The grand sire announced committees
last night as follows.
ON Relation OF Inmates OF the Various
Homes of the order % Their Subordinate
Bodies Representative Rinehart OF Flor
ida GoudN or Colorado and Trautuaan Of
New York.
on Connecting Llnks-Representatixes
BullArd OF Montana, Rinehart OF FloridA