The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-16
ODD FELLOWS ADJOURN
WILL MEET NEXT YEAR IN
 MOBILE.
Much Business of Interest to the Members of the Order Tran sacted at the Meeting
 in Tuscaloosa.

Birmingham, May 15.-(Special.)-AI special to The News from Tuscaloosa Ala., says:
 The slxty-third annual convention of the Grand Lodge of Alabama, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, came to close shortly after 6 o'clock last evening after one of the most successful sessions in it's history.
 The last thing on the program yester- day afternoon was the installation or the new officers. Retiring Grand Master John Ellis of Anniston, and his committeeman installed Jacob Burger of Birmingham. as Grand Master and Mir. Burger then in turn installed the other Grand Lodge officers-elcct.
 Much interest was manifested in the nomination of officers who arc to be voted for to serve, beginning next year Tn l this connection he Grand Lodge made an important change in the law. Ine | tima when the subordinate lodges shall I hold elections for Grand Lodge officers was changed from the last meeting in | November to the first meeting Ill octoper because weather conditions are more 1a- yorable to a good attendance on this lat- | ter date than on the former. None but
 past grands in good standing are enu- | tied to vote.
 For Grand Master-A. E. Meadow Of | Birmingham.
 l For Deputy Grand Master-Dr; w. '. | Wheeler of Huntsville.
 | For Grand Warden fifteen names were placed in nomination, including George | Huddleston and l. J. Rittenberry or BIT
 mingham, Herman Vogel of Mobile, John
 Mckay of Mobile, W. J. Parkes or Bes-
 semer |. O. Adams of Troy, MT. hick-
 aby of Mobile. Messrs. Lewis, Jones' Blackmore, wyche, Bradley Mandy Rich- | ards and husky.
 l For Grand Secretary H. c. Weaver or Huntsville, was named, and for Grand Treasurer, J. c. Bowie of Talladega. was nominated. Both are without opposition. | Mir. Meadow is the present Deputy Grand Master. while Dr. Wheeler is now filling the office of Grand Warden. Messrs | Weaver and Bowie are secretary anu | Treasurer, respectively.
 l The question of establishing a widows | and orphans home come up and was the | subject of an animated discussion. George Huddlcston of Birmingham and others | spoke in favor of it, MT. Huddleston lead
 ing the fight. It was proposed by the l advocates of the home to set aside 10
 per cent of the gross receipts each year. l amounting to about s1. 800 annually for | defeated but it's advocates gave notice
 that they would renew tn eir fight at the
 next grand lodge meeting
 | On the matter of club rates the grand | lodge decided that at the end of the | present term, July l, the club rate or | s each, accorded to applicants Of clubs
 of ten or more, shall be discontinued.
 Effective that date the regular rate will | apply to all applicants.
 Among the other important business 1 transacted was consideration of the prop ostion that the Grand Master appoint
 no one on committees except regularly | elected delegates. This motion prevailed,
 but 1t was reconsldered, and the law was
 finally left as it has all along stood.
 The salary of the Grand Secretary was 1 increased from $9OO to $1 200 per year.
 and that of the Grand Treasurer from
 $10o to SIPS per year. These increases | were made because of the enlarged busi-
 ness in those offices due to the rapid
 growth of the order.
 | A uniform constitution and set of by
 laws for subordinate lodges was adopted. l They make few changes, but conform the
 regulations of the subordinate lodges to
 those of the Grand Lodge. 1 An interesting contest came up on the
 question of selecting the next place of 1 meeting. Invitations were received from |
 Mobile. However. Mobile won on the
 first ballot by good margin, and the Grand Lodge will meet in that city next year. The Mobile delegates promise good time on that occasion. The name of O. J. Semmes of Mobile
 and Jacob Pepperman of Montgomery
 were placed in nomination for next rep
 rese entatives to the Sovereign Grand
 Lodge.
 l Tho Grand TTnca p,nu1apt aIecfad Iohu
 Ellis of Ann'ston and J. c. Jones of | Huntsville as representatives to the Sov-
 ereign Grand Encampment. The visiting Odd Fellows were highly pleased with the cordial reception which | they received while here. On the open | ing day Mayor Cochrane delivered a well l come address on behalf of the city, while
 NJ. T. Ormond spoke on behalf of the
 local memb; rs of the order. Past Grand l Master o. J. Semmes of Mobile, respond
 ed in most eloquent terms.
 On Monday evening the home ledge gave
 an exemplifcation of the initiatory degree | in the opera house in the presence of
 the grand lodge members. The work | was beautifully done.
 On Tuesday evsning the two Selma { lodges exempllhed the floor work of the
 first and second degrees while on We'd
 nesday night Past Grand Master H l..
 Mckee exemplhed the work of opening
 and conducting model Odd Fellows
 Lodge. This took place at the city hall | and excited much interest. | Tuscaloosa enjoys the distinction of
 having the first Odd Fellows canton in
 the State. This is a semi-miitary faa-
 ture of the order and the Tuscaloosa can 1 ton has ben named for the late Dr. Meek of the State University. It is called 1 Meek Canton No. 1 and has twenty-five
 members. It's members took part Tn the
 welcome exercises and presented q fine 1 showing in their new regalia.
 The State assembly of the Reoeklhs
 was a decided success. About lift" mem | hers of this branch of Odd Fellowship
 were in attendance and splendid ports
 were received from the officers. A Re
 bekah lodge was instituted in this city | during the session.
 The State Assembly of the Rebekahs, | e,fetod officers as follows
 | President-Mrs A. A Kirk of Gordo