The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-04-18
SESSION
Of GRAND
LODGE
Continued from First Page)

for our order, I would choose the
same old ones-Friendship. Love
and Truth. If l were called upon
TO make platform upon which We
could all stand, it. would be the
Father-hOod of Gcly and the Brother
hood of man. Salvation by character
the leadership of Him who said love
enc another and the progress of man
onward and upward forever.
We come to YOU to-day as a part
OF that wonderful institution the
seed of which was planted by
Thomas Wildey and four associates
in the City of Baltimore eighty-seven
years ago the 26th of the present
month. Few events in the history
Of our country have been frOught
with greater significance. for this
first lodge is now the parent of A.
l345 lodges, 6,S76 Rebekah lodges.
2,172 Encampments. and 571 Can.
tons. The Subordinate Lclges alone
now have a membership of 1,217,145,
while our sistens Of ths Rebekah
branch increase this membership to
1.52O,621. If this vast army OF fra
ternal workers would clasp hands
they would form an unbroken chain
fifteen miles long.
The amount expended for the re
lief of distress has been $105, 424,-
1880. If this vast sum was con-
verted into one dollar bills and these
bills pasted end TO end they would
make a ribbon of money ten thou
sand miles long. The relief for one
year ending January 1st, 1905 was
81. 63S, $4,000. or about nine dollars
per minute cay and night for the
year. 1t is to be remembered that
this vast sum of money is not paid
out in large sums, as life insurance,
but is paid out in small amounts to
relieve distress and as timely aid
during sickness and adversely, to
prevent distress. During the year
lust past mentioned relief was given
to 134.274 persons so that the aver
age amount to each person was
$4,000. This vast sum expended in
small amounts TO help so many peo-
ple in the time Of their extremity Is
very significant, and the more so
when it is remembered that Odd
Fellowship helps without humiliat-
ing and aids its members without IN
any way destroying their self re-
spect.
In addition to these millions OF
dollars paid out for relief in war
rants on lodge treasurens, there are
vast sums expended which comes as
SPONTANEOUS gifts from members to
those in need, and these sums do not
find expression in our financial Ia
hes. 1t is also to be remembered
that the order is maintaining homes
for the care of old and INDECENT
members and also homes and
= schools for orphan children. This
| IS a most important part of our be-
nevolent work and the amount an
nuaIlv expended in this direction can
only be estimated The tax paying
rublic il indebted to Odd Fellowship
for the care of these old people and
orphans many of whom would be
supported at public expense If the
order did not provide for them. II
We may take the accepted basis OF
| five people Of each male member
there are six million people so re
lated to this order that they can
never become dependent upon pub
! lie charity"
A vocal solo. well rendere1 by Miss
GLADDEN. followed Mr.. Whites ad-
dress. after which the Grand Lodge
went into executive session.
Grand Lodge Session.
Grand Master Binkley called the
Grand Lodge to order. The roll
call, showed all Grand ofhcers pres,
ent. except the late lamented Grand
HeralT George D. Pearce, who explr'
&C during the year.
Charles FredricksOn was appoint
ed to ill the office temporarily.
C. E. Shackleford was on motion
appointed press representative for
the Grand Lodge.
Committees Named.
The following committees were
appointed by the Grand Master
Discrimination A. Preston P.
G.. w H. CLANCY, A. A. Nielsen.
Judiciary. D. Rinehart, J. B..
Conrad. P. G., A. H. Padgett.
Legislation - ThOs. c. Watson,
Chas. Frsdrickson. II. H. Dryer.
7 Il