Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-10-17
IUWA UUU fELLUWS
MEET IN OES MONIES
About 10000 Odd Fellows and Re-
bekahs and Various Branches of Or
der Meet for SEVENTEEN Ses-
sion Grand Lodge.
DELEGATES FROM
DEBORAH PRESENT
Odd Fellows Order is Largest Fra.
ternal Benevolent society i'm the
World, Having Membership
of 2,25O,OO0.

DerS or the Independent order OF
Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs and the
various branches of the order are
meeting in Des Moines this week for
the SEVENTEEN annual session of the
grand lodge, which opened Monday
morning and the state assembly of
the Rebekahs.
A number of delegates from the
DEBORAH lodges are present, going
down Sunday. DR.. c. L. Topliff repre-
sents the subordinate lodge, he was
accompanied by Mrs. Topliff. H. NJ.
Cummings is a delegate from the
Camp and Mrs. H. NJ. Cummings is a
delegate from the Rebekah lodge. Mr..
and Mrs. r. w. Cutting past grand
officers are also il attendance, and
will make addresses.
The Independent Order of Odd
Fellows is the largest fraternal ben
evolent society in the world, having
membership of 2,250,O00, of which
$4,000 are members of the Rebekah
degree, the women's branch of the
order. The encampment or patriar-
chal branch numbers 100000 and the
Patriarchs Militant, or uniformed
branch, has $1,000 members In Iowa
the order has 60, 500 men and 1929
women members.
The department council of the Pa
triarchs Militant held the first SEES
sion of the week at the I. o. o. F.
temple at o'clock Monday morning
for the purpose of acting upon recon-
mendations for the decoration OF
chivalry, an honorary degree con-
ferred upon both Odd Fellows and
Rebekahs for meritorious service in
any branch of the order
At 1880 o'clock Monday afternoon
the grand encampment was opened
at the temple and was presided
over by Grand Patriarch G. R. All
rens of Belle PLANE. The Rebekah
lodge held it's first meeting at Z o.
clock Monday night at the Auditor
! ium, where degrees were exemplified
| by Leech Rebekah and Golden Star
Rebekah lodges.
The opening session of the Rebekah
assembly proper was held at the Au-
ditorium at 8 o'clock Tuesday NOR
ming with President Effe Graham of
Des Moines presiding. Mayor Mac
Vicar delivered an address of vel
come and w. S. Knight, grand master,
responded.
At the same time the regular ses-
sion OF the grand encampmeni "as
opened at the temple of the order
and the session closed in the after
noon with the installation of officers.
Comforting of the degree of chiv-
airy upon class of fifty Rebekahs
by Mai. Gen. A. o. Peterson, depart
meat commander, was feature of the
program at the Tuesday night session
in the Coliseum. 1t was preceded by
eXemplifcatiOn Of the Rebekah de-
gree by staff composed of the past
noble grands of Des Moines. Mrs.
Leah Washbur1 of Mason City was
installed as president to succeed Mrs.
Graham.
A. grand ball at the Auditorium
closed the events of Tuesdays pro-
gram.
The grand lodge proper will be
called to order at the /. o. o. F. tenn
pie at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning
and will continue until Friday after
noon, at which time new officers will
be Installed. Grand Master w. S.
Knight of Des Moines, who will pre-
side at the sessions, will be succeed
ed in Office by c. E. Alexander, also
of Des Moines, who is now deputy
grand master.
Legislation by the state grand
lodge to carry out authorizations by
the sovereign grand lodge which met
several weeks ago and recommended
changes in present laws to permit the
carrying of members in good stand
ing without payment of dues during
their service for the government in
the army or navy. Legislation relative
to the benefits to be paid the families
of members in the military or navy
service will also be considered.
The order will also act upon the
question of participation in the main
tenance of the, fraternal building at
Camp Dodge together with the Ma
sons and the knights Of Pythias. Ra-
LITIGATION of the plans already started
is expected to go through unanimous
Ily. call has already been sent out
to members in Iowa for an assess
ment of 10 cents a person to meet
the obligations of this project.
The outstanding feature of the
weeks program for the public will be
the patriotic parade to be staged on