The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-23

had never before received the honor.
1t was supposed that by this he meant
Buffalo, which is the only large city
that has never been visited by the an
nual session of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge of the odd Fellows. There was
also some suggestion that Montreal
should be selected, as many of the
Grand Lodge wished to visit that city
which has likewise never received
convention of odd Fellows.
One note of sadness was struck
yesterday morning when it was an
nounced that Grand Representative @.
r. Sumner of Massachusetts had died
at his home. Representative Sumner
had started for this city with the
Massachusetts party, but on the way
was stricken with apOplexy and re-
turned to his home, where he lin
gered for few days. The grand sec
retary was directed to send a tele-
gram of sympathy to the bereaved
family.
The next important business before
the meeting was the submitting of
several amendments to the constitu
ton of the order. These were all in
the line of radical changes in the
policy of the Odd Fellows and ALL
after much exciting discussion, met
with defeat.
The first amendment that came up
IOT GOUSlucIdOOn Was the ClldIlSlHS VI
the length Of a grand representatives.
term. 1t was proposed to adopt a ro-
tary system, so that the representative
could be elected each year instead Of
every two years and thus enable him
to attend every session of the order.
After hard fight it was defeated, the
Sovereign Grand Lodge deciding to
retain the old arrangement
The amendment to the constitution
70 oh ho aliOihiIify
to Is was defeated by a big majority.
A fight was expected on this question,
but when it came to voting the party
| favoring the introduction of young
| blood into the order was found to be
a small minority.
The next amendment to receive de-
feat at the hands of the voting rep
resentatives was the proposition to al
low one representative from the Rebe-
kah degree to be present at the annual
session of the Sovereign Grand Lodge.
This was ungallantly defeated by an
overwhelming majority and the sis
terhood must wait another year be-
fore endeavoring to secure legislative
recognition in the sovereign body.
Another amendment that caused a
fight was the proposal to change the
constitution so as to admit the wine
growers of California to membership in
the order. 1t stands now that no one
engaged in the liquor business shall be
eligible to membership. The amend
ment was not considered by the Grand
Lodge because it was not presented in
the proper form. 1t is very likely that
this amendment will be proposed again
before the session adjourns.
AS predicted in The Call Of yesterday,
the big fight of the afternoon was the
proposab by representative from In
dian Territory to amend the constitu-
ton so as to admit the half-breed In
dams, sons of early Odd Fellow settlers
in that part of the country. The repre-
sentatives of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory argued long and earnestly for
recognition for the white sons of In
dian mothers, but the amendment was
resolutely defeated, the Northern and
Eastern States voting solidly against
the proposition.
| There were several minor events of
interest that helped to vary the monot-
ony of routine business. First was the
appropriation Of $500 to the daughter of
former past grand sire of the order