Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-09
STEP RITE P|AN GOOD
Iowa Order A. O. U. w. Shows
Record of Steady Gains
Since Its Adoption
CHANGE TO BIENNIAL SESSIONS
A Proposition to Abolish Annual ses-
sions Will be Brought Up at The
Grand Lodge Meeting Next Week at
Sioux city-other Matters involving
Policy of Order.
Special to Times-R publican.

grandmaster workman of the A. O. U.
W., for the state of Iowa, arrived in
the city last evening, from Muscatine,
and together with b. +. Rehkopf, grand
recorder and j. III. Campbell, of the
finance committee, went to Sioux City,
where they will attend the grand lodge
meeting next week. About 500 dele
gates will attend the grand lodge meet
ing, representing membership in the
state now of just about $4,000 men,
bers. The order In Iowa went from the
fiat to the step rate plan
about a year and hale
ago. and despite predictions to the con-
trary, it has made steady gains ever
since. During the past year there were
five new lodges organized and five dis
banded, gain of 1852 in the year. On
March l there We're 141 lodges and 49,
359 members, and since that time the
membership has been increased to a to-
tai OF $4,000. There are several mat
ters involving the policy OF the order
that will come before the grand lodge
meeting at Sioux City. The grand
medical examiner J. III. Cleaver. OF
Council Bluffs, made a recommendation
that there shall be an examination by
but one doctor. instead of two, ard
this change is likely to produce much
discussion. The order has long prided
itself on having a double examination
and thus getting a select membership,
but the sentiment is strong for a
10 ha 1l1,
vailing in other orders. Another mat
ter of great Importance to the order
Will be that of the proposed change
to the biennial sessions instead of an
nual. Recorder Rehkopf recommended
this change last year, and the sentiment
,uf members !,ais so changed that 1t Z
now believed by the grand officers the
change can be effected. Mr.. Rehkopf
also renews his Recommendation that
the grand lodge erect a building of its
own for permanent headquarters IN
Des Moines. 1t is proposed that the
grand lodge appropriate $4,000 and
erect for itself a building in Des Moines
for the grand officers and for the rec
ords of the order, and thus to estab-
lish itself on permanent and sub
stantial basis. The delegation from
Des Moines will urge this improvement
and show that it will be of great ad-
vantage to the order.
There were 1O6 deaths in the juris
diction in 1902. which is twelve more
than in the preceding year. The total
amount paid out on account of deaths
during the year was $229,071.64. which
was $210.43 less than in 1901. Since
January 1 tn have been twenty
three deaths, and the same number of
losses have been paid. The liability on
unpaid losses April l was $4,000, and
there was s15,213.3S in the hands of th,
grand receiver, with an assessment
coming amounting to $4,000 The total
amount paid into the beneficiary fund
by members dying in 1902 was SIS
602.55, and the total amount paid their
beneficiaries was $206,O0O
The Iowa lodges have not contributed
very generally to the Temple OF Fra
ternity fund at St Louis. The total
amount contributed came from thirty
two lodges and the amount was $23240
In regard to disappearance cases it
is reported that in one case, that OF
Charles Bigelow, the grand lodge has
Derby case at Sioux City. which last
wear caused much CONTROVERSY, the
grand lodge officers have located him
at a time in less than six years. They
do not regard a man as dead until he
has been lost for at least seven years.
Hence the Derby case will not be dis
posed of for some time.
y; fo
lodge will probably be again instructed
to use efforts to secure a settlement
with the supreme lodge on the long
standing claim Of the grand lodge
for $3,03S.31 for expense incurred IN
the legal fight over the seeding grand
lodge in Iowa. This claim has been
presented to the supreme lodge at flTe
sessions and has not been paid. Al
Portland last year the Iowa representa-
fatives felt they were not treated fair
ly.
The election of grand officers Will
result in few changes. w. M. NarVls'
of Muscatine, grand master workman,
and B. r. Rehkopt of Des Moines, re-
corder, are assured of re-electlon
again because of their efficiency. There
will be a warm contest on for grand
receiver, but Henry Michelstetter, aof
Sioux City. will be elected. j. y. Stan
ton formerly of this city but now OF
Marshalltown, was a candidate but has
withdrawn. Ackley Hubbard, OF Spen-
Ger, is a candidate, and there VIII be
others Michelstetter has been a mem
ber of the grand lodge several years
and is an active member OF the 1inance
committee The place is now heid by
b. f. Carroll, of Bloomfield, but since
his election as state auditor ne uoes
not care to continue in the place. Cam
didates for the other places nave not
been announced. John Fl. Merckens, OF
Fairfield, is grand foreman, ana VIII
probably be e-elected, tho there VIII
be other candidates for the place
j. r. Norman, chairman OF the Peo-
pies party state central committee,
who is incidentally editor OF the state
organ of the populist party IN this
state at Abba, reports that the party