The Mankato free press., 1916-10-13
Knights Of Pythias To Meet In
Mill City Year Hence
PUSH WORK OF THE ORDER
No Reduction in the Number of
Representatives To the
Grand Lodge

Knights of Pythias will hold the
next grand lodge meeting in Min
neapoliS the second Tuesday in
October in 1917, and after this meet
ing the grand lodge will meet bien-
nially instead of annually, this de-
cision being reached during the
business session yesterday after
noon. After the meeting in 1917 the
meetings of the grand lodge will
alternate between Minneapolis and
ST. Paul, with the choice of meet
ing at other places if so decided by
a vote Of the grand lodge. The terms
of grand lodge officers were length
ened to two years to correspond
with grand lodge meetings. Various
constitutional changes were dis
cussed during the session yesterday
afternoon. Provision was made for
district deputies grand chancellor,
who will organize lodges, and the
grand chancellor was given power to
appoint such deputies. Economy
seemed to be the keynote of the
convention, and the change from
annual to biennial meetings was
made with this object in view.
NO hSuuStiOH III nSPI SSCfildliNCo1
An effort was made to reduce the
number of representatives to the
grand lodge, so no lodge would have
more than one representative. Lodg-
es are entitled to one representative
for every hundred members, and
very few lodges are entitled to more
than two members. The proposition
was defeated. An effort was made
to have the election of grand repre-
sentativeS changed from January to
July but was defeated. An effort
was also made to reduce the mile
age to the actual railroad fare. At
present representatives are allowed
three cents a mile each way, and it
was proposed to reduce this to two
cents a mile. Three amendments to
the supreme statutes were submitted
and approved. In the report of the
grand chancellor he gave the num-
ber of Bible classes in the state as
five, with 233 members in all. Spe-
cial mention was made of the Man
kato Bible class, with members from
the lodges of Mankato, Kasota,
Henderson, ST. James, Lake Crystal
and Fairmont, seventy-six candi-
dates taking the obligation over the
Rathbone Bible, with a large number
who would have done so but were
unable to come. He also complimented
the Pythian Sisters, and the Dra-
matte Order Knights of Khorasan.
Proposed State Organizer.
He recommended that state Or
ganizer be provided, and stated that
the insurance department was in a
very prosperous condition. The re-
port of the committee on the Pythian
home showed that the funds had in
creased largely during the year, and
steps to solicit for this fund will soon
be taken. The report of the Grand
Keeper Of Records and Seal showed
that at the close of the fiscal year of
1915 there were 1929 members in
the state, and eighty-one lodges.
During the year 372 had been in
itiated, fifty-two reinstated, and 1884
admitted by card There were sixty
six deaths during the year. The
grand lodge finances were shown
to be in a splendid state, the total
receipts for the year, including the
balance of $1,097.9 .9S for the last
fiscal year being $11,507 .12.
Business sessions and installation
of officers took up the closing Ses-
sion this morning. Brother Fowler
acted as installing officer, and the
following newly elected officers
were installed: A. L. Sperry, Owa-
tonna, grand chancellor; j. B. Rich
ards, Mankato, vice chancellor; Rev.
T. J. E. Wilson, Hinckley, grand
prelate; Pliny w. McAllister, grand
keeper of records and seals; c. A.
Greenwood, Minneapolis, grand mast
er of exchequer; P. D. Winship,
Park Rapids, grand master at farms;
w. R. Hunter, Lyle, grand inner
guard; M. J. Colvin, Gilbert, grand
Continued on Page Two.