Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-10

and the line was several blocks long,
Almost every merchant along the
right of way had decorated for the oc-
casion and Masonic banners and the
national colors were everywhere in ev-
idence.
In Secret Session.
AS soon as Past Grand Master
Eaton had concluded his address of
response the grand lodge went into
secret session and all except Master
Masons were excluded. All the re-
manning sessions of the grand lodge
will be secret.
Afternoon Session.
The Masonic grand lodge recon
yened at 3 o'clock in the afternoon at
Turner hall, and listened to the reports
of the grand secretary and the report
on charity fund. Both reports were
received with great deal of interest
and were listened to with deep atten-
ton.
Grand Secretary Newton r. Parvin
Of Cedar Rapids, after reporting the
usual routine matters concerning new
lodges formed, changes in membership
and similar matters, announced that
the lodges of the state are preparing
to celebrate the semi-centennial of the
order. He recommends the issuance
of permanent lodge records and COM
mends very highly the work of certain
lodges which have already started on
this work.
General improvement Of the Masonic
Library building and Offices at Cedar
Rapids, and the fitting out of the fire.
proofs vaults in the building so that
records can be kept in them, are both
recommended by the grand secretary
in his reports.
The matter Of c1andestine lodges is
touched upon and Masonic brethren
are cautioned to examine the pub
lished list Of fraudulent lodges and to
examine visiting Masons to be sure
that they do not hail from one or an
other of the clandestine organizations.
The grand secretary appends to his
report brief death notices of the fol
lowing deceased grand secretaries:
John Davis Vincil, Samuel Manning,
Todd, Olive A. Whittemore and Henry
F. Pickles. Following the secretar' 8
report the grand charity fund report
was given by the trustees of the fund.
Charity Fund Report.
The total charity fund is shown to
be $11, 687.4S, nearly all of which is in.
vested in gilt edged, interest bearing
securities. The sum of $500 is in.
vested In real estate security, worth
In each instance from two to three
times the amount of the loan, and
$4,000 is invested in Iowa city i'm
provement bonds.
The fund is being used continually
for the relief of 81 cases and the trus-
tees have paid out .$6,367 for relief dur.
ing the past year. The trustees also
| submit list of appropriations which
they deem necessary for the keeping
up of the relief work The trustees
add that although the demands upon
the grand charity fund are increasing
each year, through the liberal contri.
buttons of the various Masonic bodies
they have been able to meet each de,
| mand. The report was signed by
Thomas Lambert, James D. Gamble
and George W.. Ball, the three trustees
of the fund, /. $500
Concert at Park.
The grand lodge will end it's business
session late this afternoon. and this
evening the tine will be given over to
social features. All of the delegates
| will be entertained at Schuetzen park
where the Davenport Military band
will give concert, followed by dance
in the pavilion
Tomorrow the grand lodge will lis
ten to number of reports of grand
officers and the election of officers and
selection of the city for the next grand
lodge session will take place.