Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-11-22
ODD FELLOWS
ROUTINE WORK
Convention at Trenton Now in
Full Swing Reports of
Officers Heard.

TRENTON, Nov. 22:-The seven
ty-third annual session of the |. o.
o. F., of New Jersey, opened yester-
day morning in Masonic Temple hall,
with an attendance of more than 800,
representing 275 lodges in the state.
The first report considered was
that of Grand Master Stout. The ex-
ecutive suggested the formation of a
grand committee in each district, to
be composed of the district deputy
and the past grands. To consider APP
peals and trials, and to discuss i'm
portrait matters would be the bust
ness of these committees. In this
way, 1T is said, the burdens of the
grand master would be lightened and
the order would be benefited. An
other suggestion was:
Il believe that 1t would be a good
law that would compel each lodge to
fix their annual dues at a sum based
upon the amount of sick and funeral
benefits paid. This sum could be as
certained by competent a%ctuaries."
1t was the grand masters aim to
get information in regard to the mi
tiation fees charged by lodges. The
results of his Investigations was that
of 155 lodges reporting one charged
80, 10 SHdi5Su 80, Two CHdISSu
$3.50, Is charged Sc, four 81, one
SIS, nine $40 and one SIT. The min
imum fee is SIS.
The laws of the order forbid lodges
accepting saloonkeepers, bartenders
or gamblers as members, and pro-
vides that all members who engage
in any of these occupations must be
dropped from the rolls. 1t is also
i11ooo1 for loduoc ~ ,,en fo,n,e of -
ceipts for dues other than what is
called "the official receipt" Grand
Master Stout reported that during
the year he was forced to take decid-
ed steps In some lodges to cause COM
pliance with the requirements.
Referring to weak lodges, the
grand master said: THE spirit of
consolidation is abroad in this state.
| believe, generally, that there is
more inspiration in large member
ship and that more genuine work is
done than in small lodges. There is
also a large saving in expense. l
have consolidated seven lodges and
two Rebekah lodges into three
lodges"
The grand master took a stand in
favor of having a home for aged Odd
| Fellows, their wives and widows,
operated by the grand lodge. He
thought $3.50 from each member in
this state would make a fund with
which to purchase and equip a home,
and hat the annual cost of running
| the institution would not exceed Is
cents per member, and possibly ten.
He also reported that the estimated
cost per year for each inmate would
be about $155. This matter will be
reported on more fully by a special
committee appointed last year.
Acting Grand Secretary Jummell
submitted a statistical report of con-
siderable length. Some of the fig
ures are: Members, January /, 1905,
26,S76; initiated during 1905, 1888;
admitted by card, 659; reinstated,
81. The losses we're: Errors, AS;
withdrawn by card, 53S; suspended
for cause, seven; dropped for nom
| payment of dues, 952; expelled, four;
died, 425; leaving at the close of the
wear 27,542 members, and represent
ing a net increase of 666. Number
1 of brothers relieved, 800; number
of widowed families relieved, 70;
number of members buried, 409;
amount paid for relief of widowed
families, $66,155; amount paid for
education of orphans, $6S3.24;
amount paid as death benefits, $44,-
209.66; paid for special relief, $4,-
4SO.66; total relief, $142,191.91.
During 1906 the lodges received from
all sources $~317,071.22, and paid
I$5S,635.S4 for general expenses. At
the close of the year they had invest
ments valued at $573,471.54. The
lodges contributed ~$3,270.20 to re-
lieve San Francisco Odd Fellows.
Secretary Jummell closed his re-
port with a pointed reference to the
losses by suspension for n~on-payment
of dues. He said: ."It will be seen
that 36h per cent. of our gains are
thus nullified by suspensions. IL
seems to me the time has come when
something should be done looking to-
ward the elimination. or, at least,
modification of this continually grow
ing evil" 1a