Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-19
Grand Secretary Dyer's Report.

The report Of Grand Secretary Dyer
follows:
1T IS a source Of satsfa ctiOn to the
grand st cretary to be able, year after
wear, to report steady advance in
Odd Fellowship in this jurisdiction.
AS the years come and pass into etcr-
nifty each advancing one finds US in
better condition than its predecessor.
AS the Grand Lodge assemblies. this
lay. We can with truthfuneSS say that
our order is greater and more prosper
GUS than at any previous time within
the g. years of its existence. in this
State In giving you d summary of
the condition of til" order the grand
secretary can do no better than to
quote from the circular letter issued To
subordinate lodges in February last,
Immediately after the tabulatiun of the
returns, ending Dec. 81. 1904:
1.-THE order is to be congratulated on
its excellent showing. On the first
day of the new year our standard was
farther to the front than ever before.
with the happy reflection of knowing
that our membership is greater, our
funds larger, and our ability TO push
the work stronger than at any time
state. Our membership is now 226S0,
which is a net gain Of 414 for the year.
In the past four years our net gain
has been respectively 2O3, 532, J23 and
474-a total of 1872. While not large,
it is healthful and steady. If the
same ratio Of gain continues we will
soon reach the $4,000 mark. The sus
pensions for non-payment of dues last
cent, which is 4 most gratifying show
ing. The limitations for 1904 We're
1887 against 1896 for 1908. The deaths
were larger. 800 against pa. The total
invested funds of the subordinate
lodges amount to sS24264 49, which is
| a gain for the year Of 81. 900 The
amount paid for the relief Of our men,
bcrs was very large, sS0,6S%.96, or So
GOO greater than the year previous.
| With the single exception Of 1892, this
| is tho largest surt ever expended in
| single year bv the order I'm this juriS-
diction. OF this amount the Portland
lodges alone expended $1S,113.S9. Uni
/ ty lodge, No 3. of Portland, paid out
| the largest amount for relief of any one
| Lodge i'll the State-3S96.32. The cur
| rent expenses of subordinate lodges
| separate from benefits is increasing at
| an alarming rate ana calls for the ut
most economy. Last year the sum Of
| $50. 6S59G was thus expended. To show
J this marked increase in expenses we
| give the sums in round numbers. paid
out in the nast four years: III 1901,
s64 900: 1902. 5000: 1909. $4,000; 1904.
| $50. 900. The annual receipts for the
| year We're $176.633.0O.
| 1.-THE lodge to make the largest gain
was Old Hickory, No 105 of Newport.
with SO admissions. Oriental LOdCr
| No. 60. of Bangor. and Lejok Lodge.
Ne. 90, of Ellsworth. followed with 33
each: Ridgely Lodge, No. 1OS. Of
Sprague's Mills, with 81; Island Lodge.
No 800 of Bar HarbOr, and Knox, Ne.
20. Of Rockland, with "A each; West
Paris Lodge. No. Is, Of West Paris.
and Penacook Lodge, No. 130. of Rum
ford Falls. with % each; Penobscot
| odge, No. Z. of Bangor. and Balm E
Lodge. No. 126. of Blaine. with 20 each.
| And what is most gratifying. We report
tie institution of two new subordinate
Lodge, No. SO. OF
Winter Harbor. with 81 members. am
Gov. Brooks Lodge, No. 142. Of West
Brooksville, with So members. with
united effort we can make the year
iS05. tho banner year in the history OF
our order
THE gain in the Rebekah branch
for the year 1904 was not so large as
il, the previous year. yet it is healthy
aad steady. We began the year with
NE members, which with the aces
SIMS from new lodges since instituted.
together with the natural increase in
the old ones. win carry the member
ship well towards $4,000 at the close of
the term. The placing of the Rebekah
Hedges virtually in the hands of the
assembly was a judcious movement.
The Repekah Assembly has been some