would get out which the public is not entitled to receive and the re-
jected candidate might thus be unduly humiliated.
10. Where one signs a petition for a new Rebekah Lodge and does
not assume the obligations of a charter member at the iristitution of
2G JOl'RXAL OF PROCEEDINGS. [nov^^9 1967.
the Lodge and does not care to become a member of such Lodge after
the institution, his fee for membership should be returned.
11. Postoffice employes, mail carriers, members of a paid fire de-
partment, and all other public officers while on duty, owe their first
duty to public service. It would not be right to exact from them attend-
ance at a funeral under penalty of a fine being imposed for their failure
so to do, when such attendance would conflict with the performance of
the duties which they owe to the public in their respective employ-
ments.
12. Where a sister has been reinstated to membership in a
Rebekah Lodge, she is reinstated with all the honors of office which
she held at the time she was dropped for non-payment of dues. If
she was eligible to the office of Vice Grand at the time she was
dropped, she may be elected to that office immediately upon being re-
instated.
13. Section 8 of Article X of the Subordinate Lodge Constitution
provides that where a member has allowed himself to become more
than thirteen weeks in arrears for dues, the Lodge may, by by-law,
provide as a penalty that he shall not become entitled to weekly bene-
fits for a period subsequent to payment not exceeding thirteen weeks.
With reference to the penalty the Constitutional provision is not self-
enacting, but before the penalty can be inflicted a by-law imposing
it must be adopted. But such a by-law may not provide that the funeral
benefits and funeral expenses shall be included in the penalty.
14. Question. Should an Odd Fellows' Lodge entertain a motion
or a resolution to donate from its general funds for the purpose of as-
sisting in the erection of a building to be used by an organization
known as the Young Men's Christian Association?
Answer. — No.
Question. Would it be legal for a Noble Grand to entertain a
motion or a resolution to appoint a committee of Odd Fellows to
solicit voluntary contributions from members of the Order for the
purpose of erecting a building to be used by an organization known as
the Young Men's Christian Association, the contributions to be made
either in the name of the individual members of the Order, or in the
name of the Lodge in which the donors held membership?
Answer. — No.
15. Upon the death of a beneficiary member of a Subordinate
Lodge, the Lodge is bound to pay for funeral expenses not less than
sixty dollars, subject, however, to the provisions of section 10 of
Article X of the Subordinate Lodge Constitution. The payment of
funeral expenses is not conditioned upon the Lodge having provided
for such payment by by-law.
16. Where a Lodge by-law provides that a fine of fifty cents shall
be imposed upon a member of the "Visiting Committee who fails to
Nov^^^a^lSO? \ (iUAND LODGE OF ILLlXOIiS, I.O.O.F. 27
visit the sick and fails to report either in person or in writing of such
visit except in cases of contagious disease; or, because of his own
siclsness, absence from the city, or being engaged in actual jury
service; the excuses enumerated in the by-law do not exclude the con-
sideration of other excuses. The exclusion of any and every other
excuse would make the by-law unreasonable. For a brother might be
prevented from performing his duty by Act of God, or a public enemy,
and even by business engagements. It is within the province of the
Lodge to determine whether the excuse offered is a legitimate one.
17. The following preamble and resolutions were presented to a
Subordinate Lodge with the request that the Lodge act upon them.
Whereas, The evil of intoxicating liquors is considered by Odd
Fellows to be one of the greatest evils that is cursing our fellow men at
the present time, and
Whereas, We believe the present license system to be conducive of
great evil, and should be changed by legislation, therefore, be it
Resolved, That Lodge No , of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, hereby indorses a Local Option
bill giving to the whole people of the county the right to say whether
or not saloons be licensed in any town or village in said county, and,
be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of this Lodge forward a copy of these
resolutions to our Representative in the General Assembly urging them
to do all in their power to have a law of this kind enacted at the present
session. Be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished each of the
county papers for publication.
Question. Is it within the province of the Subordinate Lodge to
adopt said resolutions?
Ansuer. It is not within the province of an Odd Fellows" Lodge
to take any part in the discussion of political questions or questions
of public policy. "With the divisions and classifications of human
society our Order holds no fellowship." The presentation of such a
resolution to a Lodge must of necessity call forth an expression of
different opinions which will lead to discussion. If the discussion of
this question is permitted there is no reason why a Lodge might not dis-
cuss any other political question. The result would be that strife
and discord, party and sect, which create heart burnings and divisions
among men, would no longer be banished from our councils. My deci-
sion, therefore, is that an Odd Fellows' Lodge may neither discuss nor
adopt any resolution declaring either for or against a Local Option bill.
18. Resignation from membership by a brother presented to and
accepted by a Subordinate Lodge terminates his connection with every
branch of the Order at the close of that meeting. Acceptance of this
•^S JO I UNA I. OK PROCEEDINGS. j xIv^^y^lMT.
resignation, therefore, will terminate his membership in a Rel)el
Lodge without any further action whatever on his part, or on the part
of the Rebekah Lodge.
19. In the election of Trustees in a Rebekah Lodge the cumulative
system of voting is not permitted. No member can cast more than one
vote for any one candidate.
20. A brother who is a member of Lodge A residing in the terri-
torial jurisdiction of Lodge B petitions lor membership in Lodge B by
deposit of an official certificate. Ballot is had upon this petition and
the candidate is declared elected. The Secretary of Lodge B writes to
Lodge A for the brother's withdrawal card. Before the card is received
the brother removes from the territorial jurisdiction of Lodge B to the
territorial jurisdiction of Lodge C.
Question. Can Lodge B receive the brother's withdrawal card and
permit him to sign its constitution as a member without first procur-
ing a waiver of jurisdiction from Lodge C?
Answer. It cannot. In joining a Lodge by deposit of a visiting
card or an official certificate, the brother does not become a member and
entitled to sign the constitution until the withdrawal card is deposited.
Whatever action Lodge B may have taken upon the petition for mem-
bership was conditioned upon the granting of a withdrawal card by
Lodge A and the deposit of this card in Lodge B while the candidate
•was a resident within its territorial jurisdiction.
21. A member of the Order, being a cigar maker, has some of his
cigar boxes labeled I. O. 0. F., with the heart and hand and other
emblems of the Order and places them on sale.
Question. Is this a violation of the law?
Answer. It is. The brother must desist or be subject to discipline.
22. A by-law of a Subordinate or Rebekah Lodge which requires
the payment of dues in advance is void.
23. Where a sister is elected Noble Grand of a Rebekah Lodge on
July 9th, she cannot become a Past Noble Grand until the first regular
meeting in the month of January next following. Any resolution
adopted by the Lodge prior to that time which declares her to be a Past
Noble Grand is vofd.
24. A Lodge deputy is not an officer of the Lodge. He is only the
representative of the Grand Master. If he is a member of the Lodge
of which he is the Deputy, he may hold any elective or appointive of-
fice in the Lodge except Noble Grand or Vice Grand.
APPEAL OF WASHINGTON LODGE NO. 665.
It is with pleasure that I am able to report that in the numerous
instances in which I have been called upon to exercise the authority of
Tuesday. ( (UIAXD LODGE OF ILLINOIS. I.O.O.l-. 29
Nov. 19, 190(. S
the Grand Master's office, my rulings have been received with respect
and cheerfully obeyed in all but a single instance. The one exception
is in the case of Washington Lodge No. 665 at Chicago.
The controversy here arose out of a claim for benefits filed by
Brother Leopold Hilb. A preliminary skirmish was had in the Grand
Lodge at the last session, as will be found from Document No. 63, page
366 of the Journal of 1906.
Without attempting to present an abstract of the record, I will state
briefly sufficient of the facts to show wnat issue is presented by this
appeal. The original documents and correspondence will be trans-
mitted to the proper committee, to which the appeal is referred.
Brother Hilb represented to me tnat he had paid his dues and that
the secretary had refused to give him a receipt stating that his account
was paid up to a day certain. He submitted the official receipt which
had been given, and this corroborated his statement.
One of the issues in the case was as to whether or not Brother
Hilb was more than thirteen weeks in arrears for dues at the time of
the commencement of the disability for which he claimed benefits.
The Lodge pleaded that he was, for the reason, as was alleged, that
Brother Hilb had not paid certain funeral assessments levied against
him. To this Brother Hilb replied: (a) That he was not more than
thirteen weeks in arrears, because he had paid said assessments and his
official receipts showed him to be in good standing at the time of the
commencement of the disability in controversy, (b) That he was
secretary of the Lodge at the time the said assessments were levied
and was exempt from the payment of said assessments by the Subor-
dinate Lodge Constitution.
I reached the conclusion that the refusal of the Lodge to give
Brother Hilb a receipt stating that his dues had been paid to a day
certain, was an attempt on their part to manufacture testimony in
support of their plea. I thereupon directed the Lodge deputy, Brother
Max Davis, to cause the Lodge to give a receipt as required by law.
Instead of yielding in obedience to this demand, the deputy wrote a
lengthy and explanatory letter tendering a number of special pleas of
confession and avoidance.
I thereupon revoked his commission and notified him and the Lodge
to govern themselves accordingly. The members of the Lodge prayed
an appeal, which challenges the authority of the Grand Master to
revoke the commission of a Lodge deputy without giving the deputy a
hearing, and which alleges that the deputy was removed in this case
without cause.
30
JontXAI, OF I'WOC'KKDINGS.
Tuesday,
Nov. 19,1907.
NEW SUBORDINATE LODGES.
During the year there have been quite a number of inquiries sent
in to the Grand Secretary's office and the Grand Master's office relative
to the institution of new Lodges.
Considering the fact that the State is already fairly well organ-
ized, it has been the policy of the Grand Secretary and myself to
proceed cautiously in the matter of authorizing new organizations.
We have attempted to limit the granting of dispensations to those
cases where there was evidence tending to show that in a very short
period of time the Lodge would have about fifty members. We have
also been cautious about sending out such dispensations to places
where the institution of a new Lodge might be injurious to a Lodge
already existing. Of course, in such cases no fixed rules can be estab-
lished.
I haTe granted dispensations for the institution of fifteen new
Subordinate Lodges, which are now working under dispensation, and
which I now recommend as being proper organizations to receive char-
ters from this Grand Body. A list of the names and numbers of said
Lodges, together with their locations and the respective dates of insti-
tution, and the names of the instituting officers, is herewith presented.
No.
Name.
Location.
County.
Date.
Deputy.
933 Carnation ...
934| Automobile
935i Reeves
9.3ti,Br()wnfield .
937 Lerna
938Carlock
939 Keensburg .
940 Wolf Lake..
941 Rock port . ..
942 Midway
943 Witt ,
944|Pilpriin
94.'), Walton villa.
946 Sesser
947 Nortonville
948|(i. Carducci..
Chicago
East Moline..
Reeves
Brownfield . ..
Lerna
Carlock
Keensburg.. ..
Wolf Lake....
Rockport
Dorrisville
Witt
Dorchester.. ..
Waltonville...
Sesser
Nortonville. ..
Chicago
Cook
Rock Island
Williamson.
Pope
Coles
McLean
Wabash
Union
Pike
Saline
Montgo'ery
Macoupin. ..
Jefferson . ..
Franklin
Morgan
Cook
Feb. 20,
Mar. 23,
Mar. 2,
Mar. 2,
Mar. 28,
Mar. 13,
May 1,
May 16,
May 15,
June 1,
Junel5,
Aug. 24,
Nov. 15,
Oct. 19,
Nov. 6,
Nov. 16,
John Kennev.
W. A. MacBeth.
(tco. McMath.
E. F. Morton.
T. N.Cofer.
A. B. Thompson.
S. W. Jones.
J. H. Hilboldt.
J. Johanseii.
S. D. Golden.
W. P. Hagtbrop.
W. E. P. Anderson.
Geo. W. Dickerson.
A. Gasaway.
Sam. Patterson.
F. D. P. Snelling.
NEW REBEKAH LODGES.
In the matter of instituting new Rebekah Lodges it has seemed
to me that a greater latitude could be indulged in than in the matter
of instituting new Subordinate Lodges. Rebekah Lodges do not assume
the financial obligations which are assumed by Subordinates. Their
purpose is more largely of a social character, and of necessity the
pleasures and benefits arising from membership in a Rebekah Lodge
must be of a tentative character. Where the application came from a
place which already had a Subordinate Lodge and the evidence sub-
Tuesday,
Nov. 19,1907.
GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS, I.O.O.F.
31
mitted seemed to indicate that the new organization would have an
enthusiastic beginning, the dispensation has been granted and the
Lodge instituted.
I have granted dispensations authorizing the institution of twenty-
three new Rebekah Lodges, which have been instituted and are now
working under said dispensations, and whicli I now recommend as
being proper organizations to receive charters from this Grand Body.
The following is a list of the names and numbers of these organizations
together with their respective locations, the dates of institution, and
the names of their instituting oflBcers.
No.:
Name.
Location.
County.
Date.
Chicago
Cook
Apr.
10.07
Chicago
Cook
Dec.
3.06
Staunton
Macoupin...
Nov.
17,06
Chicago
Cook
Jan.
31,07
Pleasant Hill.
Grand Ridge..
Pike
Feb.
Jan.
4,07
LaSalle
30, 07
Sidney
Champaign.
Mar.
4,0';
Harvel
Montgom'ry
Mar.
i>,07
Stockland
Iroquois
Mar.
7,07
Benton
Franklin
Mar.
19,07
Carlvle
Coulterville...
Clinton
Apr.
4,07
Randolph...
Apr.
16,07
Boyd
Jefferson . .
Apr.
9,07
West Salem...
Edwards
Apr.
11,07
Cypress
Johnson
May
6,07
Ashkum
Iroquois
May
18,07
Denver
Hancock
June
10,07
Huntley
McHenry. ..
June
14,01
Waterloo
Monroe
June
15,07
Reeves
Williamson.
June
?2,07
E. Carondelet
St. Clair
July
6,0'i
Thomson
Carroll
July
17,0'
Herod
Pope
Oct.
26,01
KeenviJle
Wayne
Oct.
22.07
DCijUty.
83
160
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
37
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
Iron Link
Banner
Staunton
Elva
Superb
Holly
Sidney
Rose
Lola
Benton
Pride of Erie
Egypt's Help
Carnation
West Salem
Cypress
Ashkum
Thelma
Evangeline
Tripp
Reeves
East Carondelet . .
Odd Link
Herod
Sumpter
Mrs. Lillie E. Stewart.
Julia Swinefort.
Mrs. Lillie E. Stewart.
Rose Brenner.
Mrs. Eliza Wilson.
Mrs. L. E. Connerly.
Althea Staples.
Miss D. Misch.
Mrs. L. B. Wheatley.
Mrs. Margaret Huff.
Lillie Bearing.
J. H. Mooney.
Ida Sims.
Marg^aret Weldon.
Nellie C. Thompson.
T. C. Vance.
Mrs. M. Richardson.
Fred C. Stepnacher.
Mrs. Sarah Kelley.
Mary Simcox.
Dora B. Zelgler.
Dr. L. McCormack.
Miss E. Scudmore.
In addition to this list it appears that Staunton Rebekah Lodge
No. 657, located at Staunton, Macoupin County, was instituted Novem-
ber 17, 1906, by Sister Julia Swinefort. This institution was author-
ized by the dispensation of Past Grand Master W. R. Humphrey. It
does not seem to have been reported in the Session of 1906, and this
Lodge is still working under the dispensation and has not received a
charter. This matter is mentioned at this time in order that a charter
may be granted at this session.
Subordinate Lodges Closed.
During the past year the following Subordinate Lodges have been
closed.
Albany Lodge No. 168, located at Albany in Whiteside County,
was closed July 25, 1907, by Brother Chester M. Turner, P. G. P.,
of Cambridge Lodge No. 199. This Lodge had not had any meeting
32 JOURXAL OF PROCEEDINGS. ] Nmv ^^^1907.
in nine years, and it did not appear that there was any probaLility of
its resuming business. The paraphernalia and records were found in
a closet where the rain had come through the roof and they were
necessarily in a very damaged condition. Brother Turner closed up
the affairs of the Lodge, adjusted and paid its liabilities from the
funds on hand, and returned to the Grand Lodge $12.85 in money,
together with the seal, charter, rituals and records.
Macon Lodge No. 687, located at Macon in Macon County was
closed on July 27, 1907, by Deputy Grand Master Owen Scott of
Decatur. This Lodge had no money in the treasury and no ddsets.
It appears to have had only four active members, and there seemed
to be no prospect of its resuming business. The deputy arrested the
charter and sent it to the Grand Secretary's office together with he
records, seal, etc. Some furniture still remains unsold.
Egyptian Lodge No. 802, located at Camp Ground, near Anna, in
Union County, Illinois, was closed August 30 by Brother I. R. Spilr.an
of DuQuoin. The deputy remitted to the Grand Secretary's offic- a
treasurer's record and $4.50 in cash. He also returned an affida '
which showed that the records and effects of this Lodge had been <
stroyed by fire, and thereby hangs a tale which will be more ful.
explained in a subsequent part of this report.
Rebekah Lodges Closed.
At the beginning of the year the President and Secretary of tL
Rebekah Assembly furnished me with a list of Rebekah Lodges which
seemed to be, so to speak, out of commission. I have spent a good
deal of time in endeavoring to get these Lodges to work or to reclaim
the charter and effects of such of them as could not be induced to
resume work. I found in one instance that the Lodge had not held
a meeting for seventeen years. In another no meeting had been held
for ten years. In several instances no meetings had been held for a
number of years. It was reported in one instance that the Lodge had
never received a charter or rituals, and that it had held no meeting
after the night when it was instituted. How this condition of affairs
could have been permitted in so large a number of Rebekah Lodges
for so many succeeding administrations is beyond my "ken." A list
of the closed Lodges is herewith submitted.
Fidelity Rebekah Lodge No. 25, located at Stanford, McLean County,
was closed by Sister Saidee Gray Cox, September 2, 1907. An affidavit
was procured by Sister Cox from Sister S. S. Bowling, P. N. G., and
Brother Henry Erisman, Past Grand, showing that the charter, rituals,
records, seal and effects of this Lodge were destroyed by fire September
13, 1904. The deputy recovered nothing from this Lodge.
Margaret Rebekah Lodge No. 129, at Jonesboro in Union County,
was closed May 2, 1907, by Sister Margaret E. Weldon, Vice President,
Nov.^^glmiT. (â– liHAND LODGK OF ILLINOIS, l.O.O.F. 33
of Cairo. The deputy remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of
the Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc.
Vashti Rebekah Lodge No. 151, located at Raleigh, Saline County,
was closed July 12, 1907, by Sister Ellen Johnson of Galatia, who re-
mitted to the Grand Secretary's office the effects of the Lodge, con-
sisting of records, rituals, seal, etc. There were only two members of
this Lodge left, and the Treasurer had been dead for over ten years.
Alpha Rebekah Lodge No. 157, located at Albany in Whiteside
County, was closed July 25, 1907, by Sister Emma Turner of Cam-
bridge. The deputy remitted to the Grand Secretary's office the effects
of this Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc. The records
and rituals of this Lodge had been kept in the same closet with those
of Albany Subordinate Lodge No. 168, and were likewise very much
damaged from the rain. This Lodge had not held a meeting for seven-
teen years. If there is anything in names I would suggest that in
the future no name be taken for any new Lodge from the alphabet of
any dead language.
Whittier Rebekah Lodge No. 242, located at Atlanta in Logan
County, was closed September 27, 1907, by Sister Saidee Gray Cox, "of
Hudson, who remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of the Lodge,
consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc.
Magnolia Rebekah Lodge No. 255, located at Magnolia in Putnam
County, was closed by Sister Lillie E. Stewart on August 21, 1907.
The effects of the Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc., to-
gether with $10.35 in money were remitted to the Grand Secretary.
Murrayville Rebekah Lodge No. 281, located at Murrayville in
Morgan County, was closed July 19, 1907, by Sister Mary D. Kinney,
of Jacksonville, who remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of
the Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc., and $10.00 in
money.
Lily of the West Rebekah Lodge No. 288, located at Bible Grove
in Clay County, was closed August 21, 1907, by Sister Sarah A. Bourell,
of Olney. The deputy remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of
the Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc.
Ingraham Rebekah Lodge No. 295, located at Ingraham in Clay
County, was closed August 21, 1907, by Sister Sarah A. Bourell, of
Olney. The deputy remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of
the Lodge, consisting of records, seal, rituals, etc., together with $5.79
in money.
Rosa Lee Rebekah Lodge No. 344, located at Boaz in Massac
County, was closed by Sister Margaret E. Weldon, Vice President, of
Cairo, June 9, 1907. The deputy remitted to the Grand Secretary th^
records, rituals, seal, etc. No money or roll of membership was
found.
."U JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. â– ( nJv ^^9^19()7
Idell Rebekah Lodge No. 359, located at Versailles, Brown Countj',
was closed September 19, by Sister V. Catherine Thomas, P. P., of
Quincy. The deputy remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of
the Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc.
Shannon Rebekah Lodge No. 438, located at Shannon in Carroll
County, was closed July 6, 1907, by Sister Violet B. King, of Roclrford,
who remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of the Lodge, consist-
ing of records, rituals, seal, etc., and also $23.69 in money.
Rising Sun Rebekah Lodge No. 491, located at Smithboro in Bond
County, was closed September 11, 1907. by Sister Mila Ritter of Van-
dalia, who remitted to the Grand Secretary, the records, rituals, seal,
etc., together with $1.04 in money.
Trilby Rebekah Lodge No. 494, located at Grant Park in Kankakee
County, was closed July 11, 1907, by Sister Nellie C. Thompson, of
Kankakee, who remitted to the Grand Secretary the effects of the
Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc., together with $'E5'.01
in money.
Violet Rebekah Lodge No. 505, located at Riverton in Sangamon
County, was closed August 26, 1907, by Sister Fannie Coon of Spring-
field, who remitted to the Grand Secretary's oflBce the effects of the
Lodge, consisting of records, rituals, seal, etc., together with $6.2S
in money.
Cannon Rebekah Lodge No. 527, of Columbus, Adams County, was
closed September 18, 1907, by Sister V. Catherine Thomas, P. P., of
Quincy. No property could be found but the deputy remitted to the
Grand Secretary $4.52 in money.
Brenner Rebekah Lodge No. 564, located at ElDara in Pike County