Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-22
ODD FELLOWS REPORT
LOSS IN MEMBERSHIP
Grand Master Says It Was Ex-
pected and Was Due to World
Conditions under Stress of
War, but Tide Is Already
Turning

annual session. together with delegates
from New York, New Hampshire and
Massachusetts grand lodges. The cleo
ton of officers was held In the early after
noon and their installation followed
Immediately.
The highest officer of the order in the
State is Grand Master Alexander Duncan
Of Barre and his suite folows Deputy
grand master, II. T. Brown of Ludlow;
grand warden. II. A. Morse of Bellows
Falls; grand secretary, Frank w. jack
son Of Barre; grand treasurer, l.. e.
Grant of Burlington: grand chaplain d.
B. Reardon of Barre grand conductor
o. l.. Martin of Plainfield; grand guardian,
N. C.. Buck of Randolph; grand herald,
C. A. Anderson of Proctor. Past Master
Oscar w. Edwards of Burlington was
elected as delegate to represent the
Grand Lodge at the sovereign Grand
Lodge convention.
The retiring grand master. Oscar W.
Edwards of Burlington gave very In
teresting report of his duties while in the
office, as follows:
GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS
To the Officers and Members of the
Grand Lodge of Vermont, l. o. Q. F.;
We are gathered here to-day for our
T3rd annual session, and 1t is indeed
pleasure to me to so many familiar
/ faces and be privileged to clasp hands
in fraternal fellowship, and l extend
TO each of you a personal greeting and
q most cordial welcome to our Queen City,
| and this session of the Grand Lodge or
! Vermont. May our deliberations be
marked by harmony as in the past, and
may each member gain a greater en-
thusiasm for the underlying principles
!, of Odd Fellowship fine enthusiasm
which will be carried into the subordinate
lodges throughout the State
I also extend special greeting and well
come to our distinguished visitors and
trust that our meeting together may re-
result lin mutual benefit and the advance
ment of the interests Of our beloved
order.
While peace and harmony have pre-
vailed throughout this Jurisdiction, the
year is marked by two events Of unusual
I interest. The world war. after raging
for over four years, and at the cost of
incalculable treasure, vast amount OF
material and unnumbered lives. was
brought to a close by the armistice OF
November II, 1918. The desolaton, ruin
and misery, the many broken lives and
| crying want, call fos continued efforts fol
&c.. relief and education.
April 26 marked the completion Of the
FIRST century of American Odd Fellow
ship. The growth has been phenomena
in these one hundred years; SURPRISING
all expectations, and while Odd Fellow
ship continues to minister to- the needs o.
mankind, we may have and expect tina
the future growth of the order will no
fall behind the accomplishment of thu
past.
I take this opportunity to thank yo'
f1Dr the uniformly courteous treatmen
1.-THE past year. 1t has been pleasur
ITO me to have your hearty cooperation
working together for the interest Of Yer
mont Odd Fellowship.
RECEPTION
On, the evening of the oath of May, 1915
soon after our last Grand Lodge session
the members of all branches of the orde
here in Burlington, united in giving m
a reception at Odd Fellows hall. Thi
Included Green Mountain Lodge, No.
Hamilton Lodge, No. IA. Antonio. Rebeka
Lodge No. II, Beatrice Rebekah Lodge
No. co. Green Mountain Encampmen
No. 3, and Canton Lafayette Patriarch
Militant.
I cannot find words with which to ea
press my appreciation to the brother
+ and sisters for this expression of the
friendship, coming as it did just whe
I was beginning to realize the mportano
of the office, and the responsibility
the duties which had come to me as gran
master In some way they had learnt
that this was also the anniversary of n
birthday and during the reception, Il
lights were suddenly turned off, and
one end of the hall door opened al
one of the sisters appeared, bearing
huge birthday cake. lighted with candle
We adj enjoyed a very delightful everir
together and after the assurances of he
and support, ! returned to my HON
feeling that the task before me was
Hight one after all
My sincere thanks go out to all mer
bers Of the order here in my home cit
for the loyalty and support they ha
gwen me during the entire year.
STATE OF THE ORDER
A was expected, our order for t
year off, 1918 shows net loss in mel
bersfnp This was due to world CONF
Ittons under stress Of the greatest W
in all history, but as soon as peace W
heralded. which we trust will be pt
f.maneat, ODD Fellowship took on new Ii
and ] am glad to report that spient
.progress is being made in building
our membership, ! do not hesitate
Eprophesy that this will be a banner We
for our onder in this State and throue
|. 4 out the country. Peace and harmony ex
KIN nearly all places. There have be
diesensions IN a very few cases, but l
Heve the breach Is being healed a
friendship and brotherly love are asse
hgstheir mild dominion.
DISTRICT MEETINGS
RfAebthatsI have, been exceedingly 70
unate in having a very capable staff
district deputies and my thanks are due
them for the splendid work they have
complished By arranging dates for {
district meetings, beginning as early
September IT, we succeeded in gett
ahead of the epidemic of influenza VIII
YVES so prevalent throughout the count
Some fraternal orders were forced to g
tup their district meetings entirely
weswere able to hold 10 out of our 49,
was thought best to give up the meetil
in districts No. 3. and 8. but the de
ties in these three districts had some
csnent meetings planned and progra
all made out. twas my good pleasure
be, present at all ten of these meetings
while the attendance was perhaps
equal to some former years, yet the in
est taken, and the good work accompl
cd has certainly been of great benefit
thetorder.
DECISIONS
niiave been called upon to give many
/ cisions during the past year, and in
!. cssas have endeavored to point out
law as have been deeply appreciatv