Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-22

uSl 1T1nCo or New 1onQOn, StdLeQ Iudl the past year was marked with great prosperity.
 Grand Patriarch's Report. Grand Patriarch Prince said in part: Representatives Once again the never ending cycle, time has brought us together in executive eonclaYe to de- llberate upon the doings of the past year and to confer and agree upon the best mode of action for the coming year in order that we may perpetuate the good and wholesome laws that have ruled our actions in the past and to extend into the future the good we have done and to be charitable to each other for the many good things we have left undone. As l review my ef- forts for the past year, I realize that my desires and ambitions for the. fur therance of encampment Odd Fellow ship have fell short of the buoyant hopes l entertained for your welfare when you chose me as your executive chief. Human desires and hopes and efforts are oft times depressed by dis appointments, but we have a realizing sense that our failures are the pointers and the milestones that often guide one's successors to the desired goal. may have erred at times, but for such errors I beSeech your charitable com miseration and I believe that you be- lfeve that whatever errors l may have made were errors of judgment rather than errors of heart
 l entered into my official year full of buoyancy and determination to make this term d banner one and kindly asked your earnest cooperation to att tain such results. I have had earn est cooperation, and but for the ener- get1c support you have given me the 241 gain during this term could not have been eonSummated; and as l look over the work of the past year l feel that much more could have been ac- compiished had l had more time to devote to the work. However, l have been faithful and prompt in respond ing to all calls, and for such you no doubt will give me credit.
 Visitations.
 I have made several visitations to subordinate lodges, the arrangements for which were made by the district deputy grand patriarchS to whose ac- tivity must be attributed much of the gain we have made in our member ship. I wish there had been more such Visitations, as the extent of the results have been such as to have been a great surprise to me and very grat- flying to those encampments who have participated In the increase. certain feeling of prosperity Is permeating through the personnel of all the en- campments in this jurisdiction and the outlook for the coming year is the
 
 of years past on the advent of new term. 1 ask you, my brother repre- sentatiyes, to see that my successor has a continuance of our prosperity and when his term shall have expired let the records show membership of $500 in the little Nutmeg state.
 New Encampments Started.
 Monday, June 30. there entered into our constellation of encampment Odd Tr-II- brilliant star, one that will shed the rays of Faith, Hope and Charity along the pathways of those who are fortu- nate to be within her territory. The ceremony of institution of the new en- campment was performed by the grand officers and named Shepherd encamp- ment, No. 37, I. O. O. F, under the Jurisdiction of the grand encampment of Connecticut, after which the off, cers were nominated and elected. George Varney, district deputy grand patriarch district No. H. with his eff cient staff, installed the officers elect in a most creditable manner receiv ing the commendauon of all grand officers present.
 Honor Roll.
 One year ago only eight encamp- ments were on the honor roll. This year we have ten. A little gain for which we are thankful. There are only three encampments that were on last years roll that are on this year, and these are Midian, No. '; Friend ship No. Il. and Atlantic, No. 28. A very noticeable feature this year is that this is the first year some of them were ever on the honor roll, and now that they are so recorded let us hope that next year they will occupy the same place, and to those who have failed to get there this year resolve within yourselves that your encamp- ments. shall have place among the select few.
 I would call your attention to the report of our grand scribe upon this subject.
 Suspensions.
 It is with extreme regret that I, as have so many of my predecessors, have to call your attention to the many sus- pensions that occur every year. Let us see if we cannot, in the coming year reduce the suspensions and in that manner help to make the year 1913 and 1914 6 record year in the reduced number of such loss to our grand total of members.
 Recommendations.
 I would respectfully recommend to this grand encampment that a divi- sion be made in the visiting require ments of the grand officers. The pres ] ent custom requires the grand patrf- 8TCn To NlSlt every section or the state l when called upon, and it is often that business or other causes may interfere with his responding to the call. It has been suggested to me that the juris- dictiOn of Connecticut would get bet ter results by allotting one section to the grand junior warden, one to the grand senior warden, one to the grand high priest and one to the grand patri- 1 arch. By this division, when the l grand patriarch shall have completed his term, he has visited and become 1 acquainted with the requirements and | the working force of every encamp 1 ment in the state. As each officer as | cends the ladder of promotion, each l year a separate territory should be allotted to him.
 Representatives I think this is wor- | thy of your careful consideration
 l would recommend that Districts | No. 1 and 13 be consolidated into one l district. This would include Sassa- GUS encampment, No. 1; Golden Rule 1 No. 24, of New Haven: Granite encampment, No. 19, of Stony 1 Creek and Hollis encampment No. 34 1 of Guilford. I understand the trolley 1 facilities are very good between Guil- | ford, Deep River and New Haven.
 District No. II has got to be very l large district. composed of six en- Midian No. :; G. Fred | Barnes No. 8. of Hartford: Comstock. | Nc. 29, of New Britain: E. L. Dunbar, 1 No. 32, of Bristol; Enfield, No. 36, of 1 Thompsonville. and the new encamp- i ment Shepherd No. 37 of South Man. chester. I think it would be wise to l divide this into two districts, placing |