The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-12

ana convened this afternoon again ~
$3.50 o'clock. No session OF the lodge
was held tonight.
The feature question OF the present
session Of the Grand Lodge came up
In the session this afternoon and after
Grand Master Urquhart had delivered
his annual address. This question
dwelt with the reduction Of repre-
sentation to the annual Grand Lodge
meetings and during the session this
afternoon II was discussed at some
length.
Report Of Grand Master.
In his address to the Grand Lodge
Grand Master Urquhart reported In
part as follows:
The enormous growth of our order
Tor the past few years has present.
co Tor our unselfish and devoted con-
sideration problems of great moment.
TO all thoughtful minds our present
basis OF representation and our policy
OF annual migration from town to
town are the opposite of economical.
administration. They impose a burd-
ensome and greatly unnecessary ex-
penA upon-the subordinate lodges.
Iime and again your attention has
been directed to this evil and the idea
is growing.
Now II seems to me, dear broth
eIs. speaking as one who loves the
order with unselfish devotion that in
view OF the urgent need for more
iunds and the great desirabiiity OF
bearing as lightly as possible unon
the subordinates and individual mem
Ders that we SHOULD greatly reduce
our representation and locate the
grand lodge: Many thousand dollars
able us to meet our respons,hiI,,ia.
without taxing too heavily the nock
cts OF those we represent"
rms question Of decreasing tho -.
.esehtatfon OF the Grand Lodge ~.
oeen brought up at previous sess,ons
OF tne Grand Lodge, and with each
meeting 1t has grown In favor.
New phases in this question wera
brought forth by Grand Master iron
hart in HIS annual report toda, ~ NJ
perhaps later during the session SOME
matter. .he
There are at least 600 delegate. bar.
attehoing the convention and with
reouction OF representation the trans
action of the bushes of the Grand
Lodge would be facilitated and there
wouid De great saving each year by
the saving of the per capita and tray.
enng expenses of two or three hun
dred delegates each year who atfena
the annual conventions.
Little business was transacted during
the first session of the Grand Lodge
when it convened this morning.
the perfecting and the organization
the business that was undertaken and
after this was disposed Of the session
adjourned until this afternoon.
During the session this morning the
matter OF the serious Hines of Past
Grand Master H. l.. Mckee was brought
to the attention Of the meeting. This
resulted In the following resolution
passed by the meeting.
Resolved, arst, That this Grand Lodge
has heard with deep regret of the Sc
rious illness of Past Grand Master
Brother H. l.. Mckee, who Is confined
In an inflrmary in this city and we Of
fer our thoughtful petitions to the
Grand Master of the Universe for his
speedy restoration to health.
Resolved further, That this Grand
Lodge hereby recognizes the faithful
and efficient work OF Brother Mckee
for the Order of Odd Fellowship and
we express our appreciation of his long
and efficient services heretofore and
sincerely regret that his enforced alb
sence will deprive us Of his counsel at
this time"
(signed.) A. F.. McGhee, P. q. NJ;
Jacob Pepperman, P. g. NJ; I. W.
Holt. John Ellis. p. G. M; andSH. III.
Turner, p. G. NJ.
Some of the important matters which
will arise during the meeting OF the
Grand Lodge. so officers stated today,
will be the question OF getting a new
the dedication of the widows and or
phans' home at Cullman. 1t is ciaffr-
ed by some of the members of the
Grand Lodge that the present charter
Is inadequate and for that reason a
move for a new charter will be made.
A lively debate upon this question
is promised.
The Board of Trustees OF the widows
and orphans home in their report will
ask that a date be fixed for the dedi-
cation OF the home. The home has
inst been completed at a cost of about
$50, 900. A superintendent and matron
have already been selected by the
board and the Grand lodge will prob
ably ratify the selection Of these ON
cials.
The indications are that the sixty
ninth annual meeting of the grand
lodge will be a very busy one This
was shown from the amount OF bust
ness which was transacted at the ses-
sion this afternoon. The program for
the sessions of the lodge on Wednes-
day and Thursday also indicate that
they will also be busy days
Meeting of Rebekahs.
The first session of the Rebekahs
was held in the Odd Fellows hall in
the Gilman building this afternoon.
There are present in the city about 100
delegates to this branch of Odd Fell
lOwship and who represent every Re
hekah lodge in the State.
The session of the Rebekahs this.a
ternoon was merely for the purpose of
organization and the actual business
before that branch of the order will be
taken up during the sessions which
will begin when they convene tomor-
row morning
There are at present in Selma about
800 delegates to the annual meeting of
the Grand Lodge. Every train which
reached the city Monday night was
crowded with delegates. A great many
more arrived this morning and others
are expected to reach here tomorrow
morning.
The officers of the Grand Lodge are
greatly pleased at the place where the
sessions OF the Grand Lodge are being
held at Elkdale Park. The pavilion
there is large with ample aceommoda-
tions and with good weather the ses-
sions will be most pleasant
1t is very likely that when the Com
mittee on Time and Place will report
as to the place for the holding OF the
next session of the Grand Lodge that
Mobile will be recommended.
Mobile is a strong bidder for the
next meeting, and as 1t has been some
years since the lodge met in that city
it is thought now that the Gulf City
will get the next meeting.
Afternoon md Night.
The greater portion of the time OF
the grand lodge at the session this al