Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-05-17
BERNHARpT OPENS PYTHIAN GRAND
 LODGE MEETING
CONTINUED FROM PAGE OWED
Jack Bernhardt Presides.

JACK DeIIlHdIuI Ol AlhdIlSdo Siey, supreme representative, acted as temporary presiding officer yesterday forenoon, when the thirty-siXth an nual session of the grand lodge was called to order at the Shriners' tenn pie. MT. Bernhardt made a few in troductory remarks, and the lnvoca- ton was said by Rev. Frank Thomp.. son, following which addresses of welcome were made by Mayor simon Bloom, for the city, and by Clyde Smith, for the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias. The response was by Grand Chancellor James w. Me- Cornell. The grand lodge then went into closed session, conferring the grand lodge rank upon the following members:
 Bert Altschul, Pine Bluff; D. G. Maxey, Pine Bluff; s. A. Diehl, Eure- ka Springs; L. J. Burbridge, Warren; J. T. flight, Fayetteville; w. E. Will Hams, Brinkley; Jesse Spelce, Alma; o. T. Ward, Greenway; R. c. Bailey, Benton; A. c. Law, Pocahontas; N. c. Thompson, Altus; J. E. Ramsey, Junc- ton City; Walter Rachels, Green wood; V. Bozeman, Fort Smith; Geo. Herndon, Augusta; R. N. Hoke, Will mar; Wm. Ward, Luzora; T. l.. Bur- ford, Spadra; A. w. Bird, Crossett; Irwin c. Muse, Dyer; George Vandyne, Leslie; w. H. Clingham and c. N. Prince, Texarkana; St. Clair Slatta, Truman; w. A. Warfield, Warren.
 Immediately after these ceremonies had been concluded, the members of the grand lodge were taken on an au
 tomobile ride through the city over the paved streets, and then were brought back to their hotels for lunch con. This courtesy was arranged by the chamber of commerce, that the visitors might see what Pine Bluff has been doing in this respect.
 Hold Memorial Services.
 At the afternoon session memorial services were held in honor of those members of the organization who had passed into the Great Beyond during the year. The grand lodge officers and members paid high tribute and honor to the memory of the late Ben w. Bartlett, former grand keeper of records and seal, and who had served in that high office for many years. Representatives from each subordi- nate lodge which had lost one or more members during the year, gave brief enlogies to the dead, following which, at the request of the grand chancellor, a general eulogy was delivered by Past Grand Chancellor J. J. Doyne of Conway, who handled his subject in stirring and affecting manner.
 Grand Chancellor's Report.
 The report of the grand chancellor was in printed form, and the several items mentioned therein were refer red to the finance committee, the com mittee on the state of the order, the judiciary committee and other ap- propriate committees, all these com mittees being instructed to report back to the grand lodge first thing this morning, when the session will be resumed at g o'clock.
 The grand chancellor reported that the order is in a healthy condition. notwithstanding the lack of gain in membership the past year, this con- dition resulting because of the "clean- ing up" campaign which had been carried on the two years previous in the organization of the Hays class and the Rathbone class. He stated there are several weak lodges il, the state which, he suggested, should surrender their charters and transfer membership to Home Lodge No. 1, and he urged also that each of the members of the grand lodge should become a member of the Dramatic Order, Knights of Khorassan. He that the grand lodge either reduce it's expenses Or increase it's revenue, and he reported the or ganization at Hot Springs of a Pyth- ian Sisters lodge, which is very suc- cessful. He strongly recommended the organization of such lodges else where in the state. The grand chan cellor strongly recommended the es- tablishment of the office of assistant grand keeper of records and seals, the incumbent thereof to be a, stenog- rapher, to assist the grand chancellor and the grand keeper of records and seal.
 The grand chancellor's report show ed that the insurance department of the Knights of Pythias has 1,532 mem- bers in Arkansas, representing in- surance aggregating $2,812,47O.
 The Membership Figures.
 The report of Thomas w. Milan, grand keeper of records and seal, showed that on December 31. 1915, there were 5,556 members of subordi- nate lodges of the Knights of Pythias, in Arkansas. There were 26 past grand chanceflors, 1,476 past chancel- lors, 3,97O Knights, 39 esquires and 45 pages, with an aggregate of 127 active lodges of the organization.
 The report showed that during the past year 697 members had been sus- pended, two were expelled, 68 with drew by card and 62 had died. Cash on hand to the credit of the grand lodge. on December 31. 1915, aggre- gated SIS, ,6A2.2S, according to the ret