The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-10-26
Lead the World.
Maine Odd Fellows Stand First Saws
Grand Master

(
Grand Master.
Maine Odd Fellows lead the world
That is the declaration made by Crane
Master Frank B. Miller in his annual re
port to the grand lodge of the State O,
Maine. He declares that in an elaborate
table prepared by the Hon. William H
Leady, grand secretary of Indiana
Maine in 1910 was at the head of al
/ jurisdictions of the world in ratio Of
membership to the population, having
one to every twenty-nine and two-tenths
Not only should Maine Odd Fellows be
proud of this fact, but they should also be
interested in the announcement that the
membership of the order has now reach.
ed Is, 2O2 in the subordinate lodges on
the first day of last January; and q, BAG
members in the Rebekah branch. During
the past year the total amount paid fol-
relief by the subordinate lodges in the
State of Maine was $50, 921. 70.
In speaking of the past year Grand
Master Miller says that the lodges in
Bangor, Brewer, Arlington, Presque Isle
and WATERFORD have lost their halls by
fire. The hall in Norway was slightly
damaged by smoke from a fire which
partly destroyed an adjoining building.
In nearly every instance the loss was
practically total one with only partial
the near future.
sECRETARY's REPORT.
In his annual report Herbert w. Sears,
grand secretary, says in part:
cit is a source of much qualification
that your grand secretary is able to re-
port that the past year has been one of
prosperity in this jurisdiction. On the
first day of January we numbered 25, POP,
being net gain of 279. Our limitations
were greater than the preceding year by
nearly hundred, while our suspensions
for non-payment of dues were but two
thirds as many. 1t speaks volumes for
the faithfulness of our financial secre-
tarles that our suspensions are so few,
being only one and one-ffth per cent of
our entire membership, and places Maine
at the head of all the jurisdictions on the
North American continent The invest
ed funds of our lodges have reached the
immense sum of S941, OLA 96 being nearly
$4,000 greater than last report. The
sum of s89, 92l.7S has been expended for
relief, while our current expenses have
been $50, $50. 80 or Sc, sos. 4s less than the
previous year, showing that our lodges
are being conducted in business-like
manner.
After paying tribute to the late Rus
sell Dyer, for several years grand secre-
tary of the order, and announcing the
appointment of the present secretary,
Herbert w. Sears, the grand master
concludes with his recommendations.
Most important of all he recommends
that grand instructor be elected with
such salary as will enable him to give
his entire attention to the duties the of
flee embraces. He suggests that the
grand lodge petition the sovereign grand
lodge for the enactment of law permit
ting the Rebekah lodges if they so vote
WORK OF YEAR.
Summary of the work of the year:
Number of lodges per last report, ISL;
instituted during the year, l. this date,
152; number of members per last report,
"a, 923; number of Invitations for the
year, 1880; admitted by card. p; rein
stated to membership, 26; total, 26, O51.
Number of members deceased, 4OS:
withdrawn by card, l35; suspended. 3Ol;
expelled, 5: total, $40; number of mem
bers, January l, 1911, 25, POP; net gain
during the year, 279; number of rejec-
tons, so: past grands, 3, 7SS.
FINANCES.
Total amount paid for relief SS9, 921. 10;
amount of annual receipts, 1894, 1863. 81;
current expenses, $50, sos 80; invested
funds, S941, OLA. &C.
In his report as grand treasurer Will
liam E. Plummer says that the available
assets of the grand lodge now amount to
SIS, 435. 50. In his report as treasurer of
the Odd Fellows home fund he says the
cash deposited in the Maine Savings
bank totals 81, 20, the amount re-
ceived to date for this new institution.
Leon S. Snow and Herbert w. Sears,
grand representatives, presented some in
teresting reports in regard to the con-
dition of the order in North America.