The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-04-21
THE ROYAL ARCANUM.
GRATIFYING GROWTH OF THE
 ORDER REPORTED.

 Grand Regent Thomas H. Patterson, of Bristol, at 10 o'clock yesterday morn- ing called to order, in the odd Fellows building, Crown street, the eighteenth annual session of the Connecticut Grand council of the Royal Arcanum. The attendance of grand officers and past regents of subordinate councils was greater than on any previous oc- casion.
 The committee on credentials, com posed of W. H. Squire. L. L. Alcorn, of Greenwich, and s. Hewitt, of Derby. reported that every council in the state was represented.
 After reading of the reports of the grand officers the committee on the dis tribution reported that the reports were in excellent order. further making re- ports on the state of the order and also the finance laws.
 On this committee are A. H. Barclay, Charles Arnold and Charles Peterson. The committee on mileage reported that $647.50 is on hand to defray the ex- penses of the convention.
 The committee on necrology reported a set of sympathy resolutions on the death of Grand Regent John H. Mack Tille. 1t was voted to engross the reso- lutions and present them to the stricken family.
 Election of officers was completed be- fore adjournment for dinner was taken at 12:30 o'clock. The election resulted 2s follows:
 Grand regent-E. B. Boynton, of Hartford.
 Grand vice-regent - pr. Charles E. Brayton. of Stonington.
 Grand orator Walter F. Canfeld, of Norwich.
 Past grand regent-Thomas H. Pat terson, of Bristol.
 Grand secretary-Carleton D. Hoad- ley. of New Haven (re-elected)
 Grand treasurer-Burton G. Bryan, of Waterbury.
 Grand chaplain-Louis M. Young, of Grand guide-Granville H. Fuller, of Danbury.
 Grand warden-W. F. White, of South Norwallx.
 Grand sentry-Edward w Kneen, of Derby.
 Representative to Supreme council H. I. Matthewson, of Milford.
 Trustee for three years--W. H. Hall, of Rockville.
 These officers were installed at the afternoon session by Supreme Officers Jere Haldeman, of St. Louis, who was assisted by c. l.. Bayn, of Providence, R. I.
 Tn his report, Grand Regent T. H. Patterson of Bristol says that the pros perity of the jurisdiction is evidenced by the fact that the calendar year 1903 was the best in it's history, the net gain for the year being four hundred and two members, a total membership of 69S4. He indirectly pays compliment to Past Grand Regent Hatfield, of this city, where he says: While this gain is below the record of the last grand
 year. yet, considering such ad-
 conditions as that of dissension
 ster organization, depression in
 }, and natural reaction from
 vicious growth of last year, be-
 may be considered a good one, Ut it affords an occasion for con-
 ting ourselves on our continued
 Ety."
 finances of the grand council have
 excellent, for, besides meeting un-
 expenses, there is still an increase
 2.12 over the amount on hand at
 bse of last year.
 grand regent comments the
 6f the hospital fund association of
 order, and also the work of the dep NY grand regents.
 Among the winners of prizes for @ bringing in members are R. B. Linton and Arthur Meeker of Seaside Council, No 709, in the summer contest. In the winter contest J. H. Reeves and Wier Goldsborough, of Seaside Council, each brought in three new members Past Grand Regent Hatfield was next to the highest in the state with twelve mem- bers, W. H. Freyer of Willimantic, having thirteen members to his credit. No new councils have been organized, but several large classes have been ini- tiated into different councils which might have been formed into new coun- cils, but it was considered inadvisable. The Iiberality of the press in it's treat ment of Royal Arcanum matters is commended, and doubtless it is due in a large measure to the efficient press com nittee of the order The grand regent expresses his thanks to the officers of the grand council, the advisory com mittee, the grand secretary and Past Grand Regent Hatfield, whose advice and experience proved valuable to him. During the year Seaside council has made a good showing as compared with the councils of other cities. Only two councils have gained more members ny,n hox fo1 and the other thirty-seven new mem bers, while Seaside Council has thirty four new members to it's credit. The condition of it's general fund of S944.10 also compares favorably with other councils in the jurisdiction.
 The report of the committee on the state of the order, of which Past Re- gent Hatfield is chairman, makes the recommendation that the grand council again appoint press committee with a press correspondent from each subordi- nate council in the jurisdiction believ- ing that besides the social functions of the order and the reports of the pay ment of death claims the publication of the general progress of the order in different sections of the state would /prove advantageous.
 The resources of the grand council as reported are as follows: Cash in hand of grand treasurer, $3,757.89; due from