The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-18
SOVEREIGN
GRAND BODY
IN SESSION

Philadelphia, Pa. Sept. 1s.-Disa greeable
weather conditions marked the formal
opening today OF the S1st annual COM
munication OF the Sovereign Grand lodge
Of the Independent order OF odd Fellows.
A fine rain was falling and the atmc5-
phere was warm and humid. The initial
exercises were held in Lulu Temple.
which was entirely inadequate TO accom-
modate the crowds. Every Jurisdiction II
the order in the United States is repre-
sented at the conclave.
Grand Sire Robert +. Wright 4 Allen
town will preside at all OF the business
sessions Of the Grand lodge and will lie
present at all public meetings. The opcn-
Ing exercises consisted OF an address Of
welcome by Mayor Weaver and addresses
bv Melville r. Churbuck, grad master:
Olpan Gicquelais. grand patriarch; Mrs.
Anaa Morrow. president of Rebekan as
sembly, and Major General Balm An
drews. department commander.
simultaneously with this were
held the prize drills or the Patriarch
Militont I'm the Second Regiment armory.
Colonel j. s. Batron Of this city, assistant
Inspector general and secretary OF the Pa
triarch Militant, was in command.
The competition was keen and prizes
were awarded at the conclusion Of tho
drills. Later in the day competitive de-
gree work OF lodges, encampments and
Resokah lodges took place in Lula Tenn
pie.
According 10 Grand Sire Wright, among
the specially important matters 20 be
considered during the conclave Is tho sub
iect ~ the Patriach Militant branch Of
III" order. The test OF eligibility to that
branch is membership I'm the ampme
which has $4,000 members. about y per
cent OF whom are in the Patriarch Mill
tant. The proposition Is 20 make member
snip In the subordinate orders the basis OF
admission TO the Militant.
The total number OF lodge nemebrs is
10000. II the change be made ana the
same percentage of lodge members go
into the Militant as now go I'm from tie
ercampmcnt, the Militant branch will
reach a membership OF goa. 100. T. now mas
1900. II would then be the strongest UNI
formed fraternal organization in The
world.
The Grand lodge will consider the oJes-
ton of extending the order IN porto Rico,
San Domingo and Scotland.
The report OF Grand Sire Wrigh shows
the total subordinate lodge membership
TO be LII, las; -encampment membership.
III, $50; Rebekah membership, 474. 059; num-
Der Of subordinate lodges. 1876. expendi-
lures for relief, s4.633. 6i9; total revenue.
~ ,63S, '9l, total resources. S31. 64j, OIL.
Continuing, the report states:
The increase i'm membership OF our sub
ordinate lodges was G5. IA. I'm the encamp-
ment branch, 1890; I'm the Rebekah branch.
26.S9l, making a total increase OF 100. los.
patriarcn militant will show a de-
crease in membership. but that decrease
Is only nominal and doubtless results
from thee learing out OF names that did
not represent active members OF that
The Increase in receipts for the
was Si3l.QO. The increase in re-
sources, S~2.s74,95l. and an increase in re-
lief $307. 1879.
The militant branch alone In our organ
"a tion fails 10 show substantial progress.
There has been n loss I'm membership
turing the year Of a little over 300. This
~ affairs in my judgment do
hands immediate attention and perhaps
'adical measures.