The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-15
Odd Fellows Name Two Bridgeporters For Grand Lodge Judge Stevenson and s. w. Challenger Unanimously
 Elected to High
 Offices
Special to The Farmer.l

| c. Stevenson of Bridgeport was elect ed grand warden in the annual elec- tion of officers of the Grand lodge oi l. O. o. F. of Connecticut, meeting
 here today. He withdrew from a race for this office last year and this veal l was the unanimous choice of the Grand lodge. S. w. Challenger o1 Bridgeport was unanimous choice for grand treasurer, a reelection.
 1 The officers elected follow: Grand Master, Fred C.-BurrOws. New Lon- don; deputy grand master. Frank E. Rogers, Torrington; grand warden
 Judge Henry c. Stevenson. Bridgeport grand secretary, William E. Hutchin- son; grand treasurer, Sidney w.. Chal- lenger, Bridgeport.
 The annual report showed 172 new members for the State and the adop- tion of three members from other States. Delegates from throughout lConnecticut and many other members families. fiocked to the city today fol the annual meeting of the grand lodge.
 The following appointive offices will be made for one year: Grand Marshal. R. F. Adams, Nau- New, Haven; chaplain. Rev. C. H Smith, Barre. Mass. and guardian. George M Chapman.
 There were several hundred delegates
 in attendance here today when the
 annual session of the Grand lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, formally opened for business. The reports and the election of officers. Grand Master Arthur F. Woodford
 in his report said that the order was In most prosperous condition. both
 financially and numerically. Tn the
 subordinate branch he reported a gain
 of 759 members during the past year,
 which while not quite as large as last
 year, showed a strong. healthy growth.
 The Rebekah branch of the order. he oays, Is in most .dourishing c0ndi-
 ton and had gain of 28O in mem
 bership during the. last year, the
 greatest in fifteen years. One. lodge
 was established. that at Stafford
 in the appeals committee was made.
 Past Grand Master William E. Thoms of Waterbury being appointed to fill the vacancy cansed by the resignation
 of Past Grand Aaster Philip Pond of
 New Asvs9; s. .,o,,,,,,, .,,,, [. .,on r,.a.
 by the Grand Master was tho holding
 o1 the aNniverseFy service and tho State picnic be held on Grand Nas-
 ters' DaT the frst Saturday in. Aus
 griSt. HA alA0 rec61nmAnded that the day be made a Ga6eraE donA tipn day and a, point of vl4iting the Odd Fsl- lows Home be made.
 The report of Grand Secretary Will liam s. Hutchinson showed the num- Der of lodges in the State to, be 9S with a. membership of 22,097. The net sHin for the year was 7b9. The total auqets January 1. 1912, were $s44. .196.s1, a. net gain for the year of $38, 492. S8. The total number of brothers relieved was 2. .653 and the number of weeks for which benefits were paid 24,O76 There are 63. Rebekah lodges with total membership of 7,040. 2,458 men and A. 562 women, a net gain of 380 The total funds January l, 1912, were $SS,- 650.21. a net gain of $494.07 Mr. Hutchinson recommended that the grand secretary be bonded to the amount of 5000 in reliable bonding company.
 The report of Grand Treasurer Sid ney w. Challenger showed a net gain in funds for the year of $z318.
 Reports showed that at the pres ent there are tWenty-four residents at the Odd Fellows Home ahd that since organization there had been 119
 Arthur M. Woodford was elected representative for one year to the Sov- ereign Grand lodge; William T. Mey- ers of Bridgeport and a member Of the legislative committee. and Mayor Clifford B. Wilson of Bridgeport was named district deputy grand master.