Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-20
ODD FELLOWS
Still Busy With Their
Grand Body Meetings.
Growth and Work of Order Are
Most Gratifying.
Details of the Public Work at Bangor,
on Wednesday.

Bangor, Ne. oct. 19.-tirand Master
e. LitIlefeld Of North Ber-
wick. presided AZ the annual session of
the Grand Lodge Of Odd Fellows, to-
day Grand Secretary Russell G.
Dyer Of Portland. reported in regard to
the condition of the order in part as
follows:
Brothcrs-I congratulate the order on
this the 6lst annual session Of the
Grand Lodge in the beautiful city OF
Bangor. on the waters Of the majestic
Penobscot. This city is the center Of
a large number of live, progressive
lodges, constituting one of the strong
holds in this jurisdiction. At a meeting
last year. the Grand Lodge amended
its bylaws in regard 10 the place al
holding its annual sessions. Under the
law of 1903, the session of 1894 is hold
en- at Bangor. and every fourth year
thereafter in the same city; the inter-
Veiing three years the annual meet
inpe are to be held in Portland. This
is the fifth time the Grand Lodge Of
Main" has held its annual session i'll
If the Grand Lodge in 1874. up 10 lHi5,
every meeting was in Portland. but
during the year last named the Grand
Lodge for the first time left Portland
ana journtyed to Bangor. Again in
1871. 1881 and 1900. the sessions We're
held here The Bangor meeting Of 1900
in many RESPECTS was the most re-
markable i'll the history Of the order
III this state. as it WAS the largest
more than 400 members being present,
necessitating a removal from odd Eel
lows hail. bangor has many claims
upon the attention OF the Grand Lodge.
II Was three enttrprising subordinateS,
two Of which yearly perform an unus-
ually large amount Of degree work. No
section Of our State has held the cen
ter az the stage in odd Fellowship
more. than Bangor. 1t has given to
the order some of our most able and
progressive grand officers. 1t is also
the home of our present genial Grand
Warden Brother Albert F. smith. Long
live Bangor,
As was the case. last year. the grand
secretary carly in February. after the
returns had been received and tabu-
Iltcd, issued to the order in this juris-
di,tiOn a circular letter containing a
summary of the work of 1853. The fol-
loving is q cory.
"Brothers-The grand secretary here
by extends CONGRATULATIONS to the Odd
Fellows Of Maine for their excellent
record during the year 1903. In many
features the returns are an improve
ment over those of 1902. AT the close
Of the last year we numbered 22.2O6
members. which is Il gain of % for the
year. cur aggregate assets are $685.
O4S.S2 gain Of sd 900. The real work
of the order is better expressed in the
number of mutations. which for the
year. amounted to 1tG6. with other adj
missions Of IS. This is the best record
in a single year since 1892. The sus-
pensions for non payment of dues were
a3S, a",inst 2s1 for the year previous.
net gain i'm membership of 100 in two
years. and this without the instituting
Of lodge. must be considered salts
factory in "A jurisdiction so conserva-
tive rs is Maine.
one gratifying feature of the re-
turns is that the largest gains come
from The oldest lodges. The past year
has been emphatlcally a banner year
for the old lodge. The greatest gain
wac MADE by I.aconia Lodge. No. A, of
Riddrford, with Al limitations and one
reinstatement: PenobScot Lodge, No.
T. of Bangor. IS a close second, with
81 limitations and six other admissions.
The latter lodge Is 60 years old and the
former :. They exhibit an excellent
example of what can be accomplished
when the right spirit is shown. 1t was
stated. last year. these results are the
work of live. hustlng officers. with the
assistance Of the new members them
| selves.
other lodges entitled to honorable
| mention are Knox Lodge. No. 20. of
| Eockland. with 81 admissions: Island
| lodge. No. 12o. of Bar Harbor, with 80:
/ Oriental Lodge Nc. 60. of Bangor. with
-: Minerva Lodge, No. 96, of Lincoln,
! with %: Good Cheer Lodge, No. 81, of
Guilford. with 81; Fairfield Lodge, No.
6S. of Fairfield. with 20; Mausam Lodge.
No. &c. of kennebunk. Cumberland
Lodge. No. 80 Of Rridgton. and Old
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