Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-18
Sovereign Grand Lodge in
Philadelphia.
WEAVER'S WELCOME
MAYOR MAKES ADDRESS &c
DELEGATES.
Prize Drills of the Patriarchs Militant
Competitive Degree Work
of Lodges.

PHILADELPHIA. September 1S.-Dis-
agreeable weather conditions marked the
formal opening today of the eighty-first an
nual communication of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge OF the Independent Order of Odd Fell
lows A fine rain was falling and the at
mosphere was warm and humid. The ini-
tial exercises were held In Lulu Temple
which was entirely inadequate to accommo-
date the crowds
Every Jurisdiction of the order In the
United States Is represented at the con-
clave.
In the absence OF Grand Sire Robert e.
Wright of Allentown. Pa. who W as 1ndis-
posed, E. S. Conway of Chicago, vice
grand sire. replied TO the mayors address
of welcome. The opening exercises, ETC.
simultaneously with this ceremony were
held the prize drills of the Patr4archs Mill
tant in the I'd Regiment armory. Col. J.
8. Batroff of this city, assistant Inspector
general and secretary of the Patriarchs
Militant. was in command The competi-
ton was keen and prizes were awarded at
the conclusion of the drills.
Later in the day competitive degree work
of lodges. encampment and Rebekah lodges
took place in Lulu Temple.
According to Grand Sire Wright. among
the especially important matters to be con-
sidered during the conclave is the subject
der. The test of eligibility to that branch
Is membership in the encampment branch.
which was about 10000 members, about IL
per cent of whom are in the PatriarchS
Militant. The proposition Is to make men,
bership in the subordinate lodges the basis
of admission to the militant. The total
number OF lodge members is 100000. II
the change be made. and the same percent.
age of lodge members go into the militant
as now go In from the epcampment. the
militant branch will reach membership
OF 300 90. 1t now has 1900 1t would then
be the strongest uniformed fraternal Or
ganiZation In the world
The Grand Lodge Will also consider the
question of extending the order in Porto
Rico, San Domingo and Scotland
Report of Grand Sire.
The report of Grand Sire Wright shows
the total subordinate lodge membership to
be LII. 145; encampment membership, IT,
$50; Rebekah membership. 74.0J9: number
of subordinate lodges, 14315; expenditures
for relief. 81. 6S3. 649 total revenue. s13u:SS.
7D1: total resources S37, 645 on.
Continuing. the report states:
THE increase in membership of our sub
ordinate lodges was 6J724; in the encamp-
ment branch. $3.50; in the Rebekah branch.
26.30l, making a total increase of 1U2 100.
The Patriarch Militant will show decrease
in membership, but that decrease is only
Ing out of names that really did not repre-
sent active members of that branch. The
increase in receipts for the year was SI5l.
OFT, the increase in resources $29T4 .05l,
and the increase in relief 1901, 139.
THE militant branch alone in our organi-
cation fails to show substantial progress.
There has been loss in membership during
the year of little over 300. This condi-
ton of affairs. in my judgment, demands
immediate attention. and perhaps radical
measures.