Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-15
WORKMEN ARE OUT IN FORCE
Session of Grand Lodge Opens with a Lsrg,
Number in Attendance.
CHANGES LIKELY IN THE ORGANIC LAW
Grand Master workman Narvis and
Grand Recorder RehkOn Unani-
mousIy Reelected for
Another Term.

Grand Master Workman Will NJ. Narvis
In his annual report read at the opening
session Tuesday morning OF the Twenty
sixth session OF the Iowa grand lodge OF
the Ancient Order of United Workmen
made three important recommendations:
That the sessions OF the grand lodge be
held biennially instead Of annually; that
subordinate lodges elect officers annually
instead Of every six months, as at present;
that the grand recorder be paid a common
surate salary and the question Of amount
Of clerical assistance be provided for by
a separate appropriation under the super
vieon Of the finance committee.
The adoption of biennial sessions was
recommended as an economical policy. The
annual sessions of the grand lodge since
1894 have cost the order for per diem and
mileage alone an average OF nearly SO, 900,
and with the other expenses the average
cost has been at least $4,000. After CIV
Ing figures TO prove this statement Grand
Master Workman Narvis said in his report:
II we, were to change from the annual to
biennial sessions we could advantageously
use this amount in the employment OF two
more field men, which ought to mean an
g~eneral-besides the great beneht in every
other way. Inc opportunities are now af-
avail ourselves of every chance to ADVANCE
the work of the order. The tendency. of all
fraternal Institutions of this character is
the reason that II afords the opportunity
to use the funds paid for expenses OF an
work, which to my mind is one Of the
most Important matters to be taken up at
this session. l therefore recommend that
the question of biennial sessions be care
fully considered at this session, and that
L be made the policy of this grand lodge.
work in this order than any other order
that l know OF. and / believe a change of
this kind can be made without any friction
whatever.
Advantage of Longer Terms.
Regarding his recommendation that
subordinate lodges elect their officers for
one year in place OF for six months, the
grand master workman said that IL officers
were elected For a year instead OF the
shorter term they would take pains to
commit the ritualistic work and would
show more interest and zeal In the lodge
meetings to the end that the lodges would
be greatly benefited as well as the order
at large.
While a number Of the delegates are IA
vorable to the annual sessions, which they
believe tend to revive interest and conduce
to fraternal feelings by the frequent re-
unions as the sessions are, 1t is apparent
that many indorse the recommendation of
the grand master workman and that ia
vorable action will be taken on 1t. There
also appears to be no doubt that the rec.
ommendation as to the subordinate lodges
electing officers annually instead Of half
yearly will be adopted.
Under the present system the grand re-
corder receives a salary Of $500 a year,
but out OF this he has to pay all the cler-
ical assistance In his once, which with the
increasing business of the order reduces
his personal compensation to a mere
nothing. The recommendation OF the grand
master as to the salary OF the grand re-
corder was received favorably and the
grand lodge is expected to take action In
accordance with his suggestion.
Increase in Membership.
His report showed that the membership
OF the order in Iowa on March /, 1902, was
1880. as against IL .6o4 on July /, 1901, a
gain in eight months of SIS.
Following a short parade through the
business streets, the grand lodge held its
opening session yesterday morning, DR.. ].
H.. Cleaver Of this city, grand medical ex.
aminer. making a few preliminary remarks
In introducing Mayor Morgan, who In a
short address extended a welcome and the
freedom OF the city to the visitors. which
was gracefully responded to by Grand
Master Workman Narvis. The morning
session was occupied with the reading OF
the annual report Of the grand master
workman and comforting the grand lodge
degree on the new members. The recon-
mendations in the grand master ~workman's
report we're referred to the several com.
mittees which will report this morning.
Narvis Gets Another Term.
At the afternoon session VIII NJ. NarvIs
OF Muscatine, who has held the once for
three consecutive years, was honored by
being renominated for the position Of grand
master workman without opposition. The
same compliment was accorded B. F. Reh-
kopf of Des Moines for grand recorder.
Other nominations made were:
Grand foreman, ]. w. Geiger OF Cedar
Rapids, J. H. Merckings Of Fairfield, G. A.
Newman of Waterloo. J. e. Harrison OF
Burlington.
Grand overseer. ]. E. Harrison Of Bur-
lington, ]. e. Stanton OF MarshaIltown, e.
]. Sharon OF Northwood.
Grand guide. E. Totman OF Creston, F.
f.. Gordon Of Sac City. R. NJ. Holt Of OF
tumwa.
Grand receiver. B, F. Carroll Of Bloom
field, z. Taylor OF Fort Dodge.
Grand inside Waterman, A ! Southland OF
Shenandoah, ]. r. Haines OF Marshalltown
- - " "a
Grand outside Waterman, r. N. Cresap OF
Bonaparte, Al Southland Of Shenandoah, @
A. Pitts OF ottumwa.
Grand trustee. /. P. Van else Of Mount
Pleasant.
Dubuque having withdrawn In favor OF
Sioux City. the latter was nominated alone
for the convention city In 1908 and next
years session OF the grand lodge will be
held there.
The Iowa grand lodge is entitled to three
representatives in the supreme lodge ant
they will be selected from the following pas
grand master workmen; w. r. Graham o.
Waterloo, l. L. HAmlin OF Des Moines. r
7. Tilton OF Des Moines, w. NJ. Naryis o.
Muscatlne and b. F. Rehkopf Of Des Moines
II was decided 10 adjourn the session o.
the grand lodge this afternoon for a SUN,
Client time to enable the grand onacers anC
delegates to attend in a body the funera
Of William z. HaveTstock. who Z. the tim,
} Of his death vas Z member OF one Of tn,
committees OF the grand lodge.
On the converting Of the grand lodge thl
afternoon regular business will be sus
pended and memorial exercises will b,
held. Past Grand Master Tilton. Deput,
Grand Master Gelger and Grand Recorder
| Dakk1AN wHNN IL. -