Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-21

u. PERKINS, grand Score i.'fN OF MdSSd-
chusetts and Aust;., s t.sty, past
| grand master, Massachusetts.
Lodges should never allow any Of
their anniversaries, rally days or me-
mortal days to pass by unnoticed."
| This was one of the recommendations
| contained in the annual report of
Grand Master Ira G. Hersey of Houl-
ton in his annual report at the annual
session of the Grand Lodge of Odd Eel
lows of Maine today. He also recon-
monded that each lodge should endeav-
or to own or exclusively control its
hall or place of meeting and allow no
other society to occupy it's rooms.
Grand Master Hersey reported that
Ttebcllah lodges have made great pro-
gress the past year and that he has
been much pleased in his visits among
the Odd Fellows of Maine to find a
growing interest in the establishment
of an Odd Fellows home in this State
After stating that he had organized
but one new lodge. that being insti-
tuted at East Machias, he said: "rhe
field seems to be pretty well covered
and the idea is more and more i'm
pressed as we study the question that
it is our duty to make the present
lodges larger and more efficient rath-
CT than to institute new lodges that
must have a hard struggle for exist
trc".' New Rebckah lodges were in
stitutc at Swans Island and Lowell
Grand Secretary Russell G.. Dyer of
this city reported in part as follows:
When | entered upon the duties of
grand master one year ago I found the
lodges in a state of inaction, owing to
went into effect on the first of July. 1908
AS new officers We're to be chosen in
each subordinate lodge on the first of the
new year, the old officers as rule did not
learn the new ritual, leaving that work
|" the incoming board and it was not I'M
II! some time after the new year that
any degree work of Importance was at
tempted and then many lodges were
afraid to try without the instruction of
some other lodge for a guide. l am pleas
ed TO say, however that difficulties that
seemed insurmountable soon gave way to
feelings of satisfaction and great inter
est Wherever the new ritual was learned
and eNcmplitied, and as the winter went
by new and greater interest was manifest
ed in the work of the ritual throughout
the whole State, due to its sublime teach
ings and the order thereby has received
new life, and the new ritual has met with
the most popular favor among even the
smallest lodges.
The membership report of the grand
secretary is appended below:
No. of members as per last report 4,5O7
No. of limitations for the year end; lg
Dec. 81 1908 976
No. admitted by card 2l7
No. reinstated to membership Al
25.74
No. members deceased 32S
No. withdrawn by card 247
No. suspended 323
No. expelled
902
No. of members Jan 1. 1909 24.S39
Net gain of members during year 49,
No. of reflections &c
No. of past grands $3.50
The admissions to membership We're 800
less than the previous year Maine is
not alone in this shrinkage as the reports
of jurisdictions all over the country tell
the same story" commented the grand
secretary. Fraternity Lodge of Wood
fords is the banner lodge for the year in
the amount of work accomplished, having
made a net membership gain of 40 The
sum of $S2,9U was expended by subordi-
nate lodges for relief and sS6,21S for main
tenance. Subordinate lodge resources
We're increased $4,000, making the aggre-
cate $912,7S6.
Seventy members of Fraternity Lodge
of Woodfords before an audience num-
bering nearly 1000 men tonight eXemplified
the Third degree of the order
The District Deputies Association Gre
bekahs) of Maine elected these officers:
President, Sarah O. Cook of Brunswick;
vice president. Sarah Weymouth of Lew
iston: treasurer, Vesta Written of Tops
ham.