Norwich bulletin., 1910-05-19
STATE CONVENTION
 OF ODD FELLOWS
Annual Session Held at Waterbury, with Reports and Election of Officers.

| Annual Session Held at Waterbury, with Reports and Election of Officers.
 The annual session of the grand lodge of Independent Odd Fellows of | Connecticut was held at Odd Fellows | hall in Waterbury Wednesday, The meeting opened at 10 o'clock with | large number of delegates from the | ninety-two subordinate lodges of the state and with many past grand officers and istinguislled visitors present. Grand Master William F. Thoms of | Waterbury presided and the grand | lodge was opened in due form and the distinguished guests accorded honors.
 Grand Masters Report. Grand Master Thoms in his report reviewed the work of the year. He said in part:
 The odd Fellows of Waterbury are very glad to welcome you once more to their home city and trust that the year which has gone by since last the grand lodge met in annual session has been one of happiness and prosperity to each and every one of you. It has been one of routine work, no new sub ordinate and but one Rebekah lodge having been instituted in this turisdic- tion. Nevertheless. the order has pros pered greatly and the subordinate lodge membership has crossed the line of twenty thousand, certainly a cred itaIble showing for a comparatively small jurisdiction. And it has been a season of peace and harmony, few appeals having been taken and very little having occurred to mar the good feeling that should and does exist among the individual lodges and mem bers that make up our united whole
 The district deputies have been ex, ceedingly faithful and efficient and deserve the thanks of all of us for their careful and intelligent oversight of the lodges under their care. Upon the order throughout the state, and they have certainly discharged their duties well.
 Two new lodge halls have been dedicated during this year, one for Charter Oak lodge, No. 2, in Hartford. on March 25, 1910, and one for Relief lodge, No. S6, of New Haven, on April 5, 1910. Both are convenient and hand somely appointed halls and a credit to the lodges who possess them.
 Among those who passed away dur ing the year was Brother Frederick
 ossf9rd grand h +5e secrerary den1 enerituS nf She state assembly and by the grand sec retary, on June 25, 1909. I instituted Medora Rebekah lodge, No. 5s, of Deep River. This lodge started with a large charter list. among whom was the grand patriarch and has since been doing well.
 can add but little to the compre- hensive report of the home corpora tion, which is presented today. except to join with it my own personal testi- mony as to the good there accomplish ed. I have visited the home a number of times this year. as your representa- tive on the board of managers. It is, believe. well and economically run. It would be well worth the while of the especially on April 26 and Labor day of each year. when fitting exercises are held. and get some personal knowledge of the way is conducted
 Grand Seeretary's Report.
 Grand Secretary William s. Hutch port. It included the following figures: Total assets Jan. l, 1910. .S7s0, 9s0 21 Total funds Jan. l 1910.... 670,74465 Invested in regalia, para
 Phernaiia, etc -..--..---- 1l0'2S9.56 Total membership Jan. I. 1910 20. .sss Net gain 600 Total number of Rebekah
 lodges per last report; -;-;s.. sol
 RebeEah lodge. No. 53..-.... 1
 Total number of Rebekah Total funds Jan. 1. 1s1o.. ss7 .7ss74 Net gain in funds ...-..---. 1,015.01
 AS the successor of Brother Bots ford in the office of grand secretary, it is fitting that I should call attention to the condition of the order in this jur- duties of grand secretary. Brother Botsford was elected and installed into this important office at the annual ses- sion of this grand body held in New then twenty-four lodges reporting a membership of 2,292. He retired as grand secretary emeritus at the ses- sion held at Bridgeport May Is. 1s0e reporting ninety-one lodges with a membership of 1S,606; at the date of his death. July ', 1909 there were ninety-three lodges with member ship of 2O23o These figures speak u-Or plished by Brother Botsford and his contemporaries very few of the broth CTS who were present in the grand lodge at the session of 1869 are living today.
 twelve years ago Wednesday, May 1S 1898, we met in annual session in the city of Waterbury. when my prede- cessor reported eighty-three subordi nate lodges, 16,3S5 members, funds SPA 157; today. on our return to Wa terbury. we can report ninety three subordinate lodges, 20,399 members, funds $670,744 gain of ten lodges. 4,014 members, funds $246, ,5S7.65, and the Rebekaih lodges show a gain of six lodges, 1,195 members, funds sS,s00s4. This is record of which we can well feel proud I believe, however. that never in the history Of the order in this jurisdiction has there been such an awakening seems to be going on for years have been in q dormant con dttion are becoming active. and the year 1909 has been one Of the most prosperous in our history"
 Grand Treasurers Report.
 Grand Treasurer William II. Mari gold or Bridgeport presented q report. A summary.
 Receipts.
 May l. 1909, ba lance on hand. S1 ,002.21 Received from the grand sec
 retary .--.. .....--.-..-.- o.seSlz ss,ses.s5