Evening journal., 1919-09-17
odd ODD FELLOWS FELLOWS
KEEP AGE LIMIT
Debates in Sovereign Grand
Lodge Sessions Over Inn
portant Questions
THREE. LINK MEN
IN GREAT PARADE

BALTIMORE, Md. Sept. f1.-Two
proposed amendments TO the constllu-
"a OF Odd Fellowship in America
which were presented for adoption at
Yesterdays session OF the Sovereign
Grand Lodge. were promptly defeated
The first Of these which, because
OF The fact that il has been persist
entity presented at cacn session Of the
body for the last 49, years, has been
dubbed the "ls-year AmendmentS
sought TO reduce the age limit for en-
trance into the order from q to Is
years. The second proposed that the
sovereign Grand Lodge meet biennial
~ instead OF annually.
The agc-limit proposition occa
stoned a lively tin among The dele
gates and the session was a stormy
one. In the flght. the Western and
Canadian delegates were arraycd
against those from the Eastern dis
tricts. and the latter, ouinumberlng
The former, won out. The specific
charge made by the opposition was
10 the effect that, 10 open the mem
Dcrship books of the order TO minors
would have a decidedly dampening ef-
feet upon the stability Of the order,
90 being claimed by several OF the
delegates that men seeking admittance
10 the order should by all means have
reached the age Of accountability and
responsibility. The grand officers and
many OF the grand masters strenuous
ly opposed the amendment
As for changing the time OF meeting
for the major order OF The body from
one 10 two years, the delegates We're
almost unanimous IN their belief that
10 meet only every two years would
have the effect Of lessening Interest
In the activity OF the order, and feared
it might have a general deterrent ef-
feet upon the fraternity. The method
Of dealing with certain other matters
IN connection with the subordinate
lodges was also discussed at the ses-
sion. 10 was claimed that a number
of them had thus far failed 10 turn
i'm their foreign language rituals. Tie
Sovereign Grand Lodge has already in
-dicated its determination TO have the
rituals printed in - English language.
Just what will be the penalty meied
out 10 the lodges that have not thus
lar obeyed the Sovereign Lodge in
structions. Will be determined at the
session this morning Governor j. B.
A. Robinson, Of oklahoma, a past
grand sire. presided over a portion OF
lhe session yesterday.
There will be no election of the
sovereign Grand Lodge offices at this
meeting. The grand sires. by virtue
n an unwrltten law Of the Order. hold
office for two years and Grand sire
Borst was elected last year. Deputy
Grand Sire Oliver. OF Canada, will sue
ceed 20 the office Of Grand Sire at next
years meeting. The Boston delegation
mas made a strong bid for the 1920 con
vention with several other cities ready
TO make try for It as soon as the
proper time arrives. Philadelphia and
pittsburgh are also said 20 be in the
Held for the honor. The session Of the
sovereign Lodge was curtailed some
wnat yesterday In order that The dele
gates, their wives and families might
lake advantage Of the trip down the bay
on the steamer Dreamland, which left
The city at one o'clock. The Re
bekahs and The General Military Coun