Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-06-13
24 Annual Session Patacs Militant O F. Opens Augusta
NII-RO

Q. 1916. The Council meetings were held
in the sun parlor of the Park Hotel, pre-
sided over by Gen. A. r. Stocker, general
commanding. Twenty department COM
manders were present besides several
proxies, making total of 80 departments
| represented, which was the largest, at
tendance since the Council was organized.
was appointed chairman of the commit
tee on distribution also a member Of the
committee on finance, both of which ap-
pointments gave me an opportunity to be
of service to the Council.
While the reports showed a slight loss
| in membership Uotal Dec. ST. Is, being
| 26.750) yet I learned that while such was
shown by the returns, it was not true in
fact, as several Cantons failed to get in
annual reports in season, and their men,
bership was not counted. General Stocke-
was untiring in his efforts for the uplift
of the army, and we believe that the re-
suits of his lahors will be realized in the
future
| The committe on Patriarchs Militant of
the Sovereign Grand Lodge in lis re-
| port, said in part: We appreciate the Pc
culiar and difficult situation confronting
this branch of the order under the pres
ent unsettled condition of the worlds af-
fairs, and realize that no branch Of our
great fraternity is more susceptible to
the depressing influence Of the present
world wars than this estimable depart
n1ent.
! We wish to- congratulate the officers in
command and every Chevalier Of the Pa
triarchs Militant for the splendid showing
| do ,,rla av;c
ommend that every officer and brother of
each and every degree of our fraternity
| lend personal and individual encourage
ment TO the good work of the Patriarchs
| Militant. The department commanders
of the many jurisdictions under the S. G.
L. report that harmony prevails and that
the future has good things in store. Your
committee approve the recommendations
of the general commanding and COM
mend him for his untiring labors in the
work Of Justitia Cniversalis. and bespeak
for him the continued smiles and bless
| ings of the Great Architect of the Uni
verse.
! Several matters of legislation were
| passed by the General Military Council,
and sent to the S. G. L. for approval.
Those approved being as follows: That
Section 130, page 35 Of the Patriarchs
Militant Code (page 81 Gen. Laws which
reads as follows: Officers in command OF
! battalions. regiments, brigades and dvi-
sions will be allowed to purchase one
copy of the Ritual, for individual official
use, and the commanders OF departments,
divisions and brigades, will be allowed to
procure set of three Rituals each, for
headquarters purposes) be repealed
That hereafter in departments where
there is only one Canton the retired COM
mission Of the captain retired shall read
Department Commander Retired. Sew
eral amendments to the drill regulations
were approved by the S. G. L.. and be-
came effective at once These amend
ments will be printed and distributed lat
er by the General Military Council
| A proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the S. G. I. which was introduced
at the 1915 session, and laid over until the
1916 session, which sought to require Of
grand representatives to the S. G. L. as
an additional qualification, that they
must have received the Patriarchs Mill
tant degree, was indefinitely postponed
but we believe that the time will come
when this just request of the Patriarchs
Militant army will be granted.
The Grand Decoration of Chivalry was
voted by the Sovereign Grand Lodge to
three worthy officers Of this department.
as follows: Maj. Willie E. Parsons
Grand Master and Grand Representative; !;
Col Percy c. McKeen, retired; and Lieut.,
Col Elmer w. Nickerson.
The trip to and from Chattanooga, the
great manufacturing city of the South,
was made with the New England dele
gates to the S. G. l.. and was a most de-.
lightful trip, the weather being perfect
from the time we left home until our re-
turn. Maj. Frank Cole and Col F. F.
Lehman of this department accompanied
me and attended the Council sessions
The usual festivities in connection with
these sessions were enjoyed to the fullest
extent. A warm hospitality was extend
ed by the splendid men and women Of
Chattanooga and the State of Tennessee
Open houses and warm southern hearts
were ours and our every want was sup
piled. We shall always and everywhere
loudly proclaim our love for them
Reconnmendatio
4 I recommend that a committee Of three
be appointed to select a. place and make
arrangements for our next annual Coun-
Gil meeting and field day. While stand
ing resolution calls for our field day to
be held annually 1 am of the opinion that
while our country is at war. authority
should be given the department comman-
der and field day committee to cancel the
Field day if in their judgment it would
be unwse to hold it. Should this war
continue for any length of time our ranks
will be broken, and conditions may make
it unwise to hold a field day. think this
is a matter worthy of your thought and
action at this time.
| The Grand Decoration Of Chivalry, the
highest honor bestowed upon Chevaler,
should be conferred only upon those who,
by their earnest devotion to the cause Of
Odd Fellowship have merted it. With
| this in view 1 am going to request this