Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-20


the Grand Lodge of Maine. l. o. 0. F..
has issued the following circular show
ing the progress of the order in the
State during the year 1905.
Portland, Me, Feb. II, 1906.
Dear Brothers:
Herewith you will find a summary Of
the progress of odd Fellow ship III the
jurisdiction Of Maine for the year 1905.
In many respects it was the most PROM
Using for decade. Five subordinate
lodges were instituted, and the mem
bership crossed the 5000 mark. At the
close OF the year the prospects for new
lodges were most alluring, hut the i'll
coming grand master, Immediately
after the close Of the Grand Lodge sos
sion, left the State for California where
he still remains. hence that feature of
he work has been allowed to lapse for
the want of attention. The net gain in
membership vas 464. 1t would have
been greater but for an unusual in
crease in the deaths and for suSpcn-
sions for non-payment of dues. Deaths
cannot he avoided, but suspensions can
10 a great extent. A financial secretary
who viii allow large number of MEM
1tlS 10 DtCtDliie Ill arrears 1Of uupS ana
thereby liable for suspension, is not the
right man for the office. Before a
member is allowed to be dropped an
effort should be made to reclaim him.
There is always some brother in 10 lge
who is better adapted than others 70
see certain parties and they should al
ways be made a committee to wait
upon the delinqucnts before final
action. II is always a pleasure to add
new members, but it is a duty to make
an effort to save those we already have
AS the order increases in age the
liabilities also grow larger. The relief
for the past year was over $S., ,0On
against something over sS1 900 in 1904
This is unavoidable. but calls for the
utmost care in the payment Of sick
benefits. The expenses, separate from
relief and charity, were again over $780,
900. less by $500 than last year The
itemizing of expenses has revealed
many errors on the part Of secretaries
in making up the Grand Lodge reports,
i'll adding to the expense account mat
tcrs which do not belong there In
many cases where lodges have taken
up outstanding notes thereby increas-
ing their assets the secretaries have
charged the payment to the expense ac-
count. This should never be done.
lnaSmuch as the committee on state OF
th" order will take up this matter more
fully we will say no more on the sub
ject The total invested funds are
$S4I 143, which is Il substantial gain of
$4,000 for the year. notwithstanding
OK .rylJfI -
the largest amount ever paid out in a
single year i'll this jurisdiction. we have
been able to increase our assets all
along the line which Speaks we'll for the
general management Of our lodges.
Our lodges average nearly g.. 500 OF as
sets per lodge, which is a very hatter-
ing showing. The annual receipts for
the year were slSS176.4S. against sl76.-
6@3 last year. an increase Of $l1, 900
Among the older lodges to make the
largest additions 70 its membership was
Wildey Lodge, No. 1O3, of Brewer,
which admitted 80 members. with Abou
Ben Adhcm. No. %. of Auburn, a close
second. with As. Among others which
added twenty or moro, We're Penacook.
No. 130, of Rumford Falls, and Penob-
sect. No. 7. of Bangor, with 81 each:
Old Hickory, No 105, of Newport. with
IS; Friendship. No. So of Springyale.
with &c: Fellowship, No 81, of Calais.
with %: Harrison. No. Il. of Harrison
and Lej"k. No. 90. of Ellsworth. with
% each; Riverside. No. 70. Of Kittcrv.
and Minerva. No. 90. of Lincoln, with
u each. and Tarratinc. No 81. Of Old
Town. and Livermorc Falls, No. S3. of
Livrrnore Falls. with % each. Or the
new lodges made in 1905. EntUiSlc. No
1f6. of EanSclcy took in 80. Mountain
View. No. IA. Of Ashland. 50. GOV. King
No. 1i3 of Kingfied. 33. and Joshua
Davis. No. las. Of Stonington. 80.
Eternal hustle IS the price of an in
creased membership. and all lodges are
urged to put forth their utmost en-
dcavors to make the year 1906 better
than the year 1905. Among the meas
urcs used we recommend tho ON.
adopted by Wildcy Lodge. No 10a and
some others in observing what Is called
the ''roll CALI evening. A circular lot
ter is sent to each member of the lodge
requesting his presence at lodge meet
ing on a given evening. when a roll of
the members will be called. speeche,
made, banquet served. etc. A blank
application for membership is also scnt
each brother with a request that he
bring at least one candidate. Ar opo
such meeting last year the members of
Wildey Lodge. No. 1O3, brought in %
applications. This is the secret of their
large amount of work We resnectfu,,y,
and firmly request each and every lodge
in Maine to observe the roll call a,,ar-
ing during the year 1906, and if possible
outdo the efforts of the year past.
with this You will also find other
matter of interest. especially the offer
,f t;,,. Maine Central pa,;,,,-,, ,,...