Norwich bulletin., 1911-04-15
ORDER OF PROTECTION.

ORDER OF PROTECTION.
 The annual meeting of the grand lodge of Connecticut was held in Wa terbury on Wednesday, preceded on Tuesday evening with an informal re- ception. The principal feature of the evening was the fancy drill by the de- gree team of Elm Tree lodge, New Haven, a lodge whose membership is entirely male, and which stands third in size of membership in the whole order. The drill was beautifully given, the uniformed members of the team, twelve in number. executing the vari- ous manoeuvres with great skill and precision forming the letters of the words Elm Tree. N. E. O. F., and other designs to the music of their own pianist
 The convention was entertained by the seven lodges in Waterbury and had about 300 members of the order in at- tendance.
 The session opened at 10.45. The roll of officers and committees was called and all grand officers found to be present. The only past grand warden present was Frank J. Hill of Ansonia. The badges provided as souvenirs of the occasion were of dark blue ribbon. printed in gold, Con necticut Grand Lodge, N. E. o. F.. at Waterbury, April 12. 1911. with me- dalion in white bearing on one side the insignia of the order in black and on the other the arms of the city of Waterbury in blue. The medallion was suspended from a white ribbon. the badge being fastened with brass pin and buckle The badges of the voting members were of dark blue satin rib- bon. and those of non-voting members of light blue. both printed in gold.
 After a greeting and welcome to tue city from the mayor, the grand lodge went into business session, when Grand Warden P. E. Whalen read his report. He noted the good effect of public meetings held in various places and spoke of the excellent work done by the various degree teams of the state.
 The finances throughout the state were reported as in an excellent condi- tfon.
 The only new lodge of the year was Eclipse of Waterbury. One lodge char ter was suspended and g number of it's fin it's vicinity. .Aa
 This was followed by the report of the grand secretary. This showed that April i. 1911. there were 91 lodges; membcrship last of Dscember' 1909. net gain of 925. One hundred and for- ty-nine members died during the year.
 The treasurer's report showed, in addition to the above items, for the year ending March 31, 1911. that the
 
 s1o.55s.4o and had paid out s7,2S2.s7, with balance of over $1S,0 ,000 in banks at the present time.
 Resolutions drawn up by Grand Treasurer Drew on the death of Jerome B. weiant, past grand warden of Connecticut, who died October, 1910, were adopted.
 After the reading of these resolu- tions the lodge rose and stood silent for few moments in token of respect S den. After the reports came new business. The first was nominations and election of grand lodge officers. This resulted in the reelection of F. E. Whalen as grand warden; of J. l.. Christie as grand vice warden; of Jer. Frederick M. Drew as grand treas urer; of Mrs. Josephine T. Dawson as grand chaplain; of Fordyce B. Rey- ooids of Waterbury for grand guide; ef Mrs Lulu Rudolph as grand guar dian; of Henry J. Wilson as grand sentinel
 The other officers are: Grand chap lain. Mrs. Josephine T.. Dawson of Bridgeport; grand guide Fordyce B. Reynolds of Waterbury; grand guardi- an, Mrs. Lulu Rudolph; grand senti- nel. Henry J. Wilson: trustees, P. J. Mcdonald of Waterbury, F. M. Bedard of Danielson, F.. M. Crouch of Thomas tor: representatives to supreme lodge, ,. Wall of New Haven, J. l.. Christie of Bridgeport. F. Fl. Tolles of Windsor, Catherine T. Ward of New Haven, Edward J. Morgan of Waterbury. Jo- seph J. Watt of Jewett City, w. c. Coxeter of Hartford, o. Becker of An sonia. Jacob Egg of New Haven: alter mates. Hattie M. Stulis of Hartford. Joseph Byrnes of Waterbury, Henrietta Finch of New London, Thomas O'Laughlin of Naugatuck, Ida Payne of Waterbury. Chauncey Pronovoet of Stamford. Robert W. Robertson of Jewett City. J. l.. Wheeler of New Lon- don and Edwin D. Robbins of Ansonia.
 For the first time in the twenty-two years since it's organization the grand lodge Of the New England Order of Protection has showed a decrease in its membership from the previous wear the number of members in Connecticut this year being 73 less than last year. There are in all 15.632 members in the state. The treasury, however, is in better condition than ever. During the year S10,55s.40 was paid to the grand Icege. and of this amount $7,2S297 was paid out. the remainder swelling tha amount already in the treasury to over s1S,00O.
 The reason for this decrease" said Grand Secretary Jeremiah Wall to a reporter, Ifs because of a bill now be- fore the legislature at Hartford. knowr, as the Mobile bil1,' which if adopted will materially increase the insurance assessments of the members" Mr. Wall said that 1t was just during the last three months from Tan i tgyI