"The issuing of a Transfer Certificate shall sever membership in
the Lodge or Encampment issuing it; Provided that, if the member
becomes sick or disabled, or should die, within four weeks of its date
and before completing his membership by signing the Constitution of
his new Lodge or Encampment, then said Transfer Certificate shall be
cancelled and said member shall retain his beneficial standing in his
old Lodge or Encampment, the same as though no Transfer Certificate
iiad been issued.
"Provided further. That a brother desiring to receive the advantage
•of the preceding proviso must pay his dues four weeks in advance of
the date of his Transfer Certificate.
"The provisions hereof, except those relating to benefits, shall
apply to Rebekah Lodges the same as to Subordinate Lodges and En-
campments.
"Be it further Resolved, That the resolution on page 761, Journal
1904, known as the New Transfer Law, and the amendments thereto on
pages 778 and 784, Journal 1906, be and the same are hereby repealed."
The following was added to the Telegraph Cipher and Key:
"Rock — A member of our lodge is in your city needing assistance.
His name and address are "
The amendment making it possible to install an officer of the
Sovereign Grand Lodge, who is unable to be present at the session
on account of illness, was unanimously adopted. Such an officer may
now be installed after adjournment of the session.
The amendment fixing the age of admission at eighteen instead
of twenty-one years was defeated by an overwhelming majority.
The Committee on Judiciary and the Sovereign Grand Lodge ap-
proved every decision of the Grand Sire just as he made them except
No. 12, which was slightly modified. This is an exceptional honor to
Grand Sire Conway. It is very rare, indeed, that every decision of a
Grand Sire is approved. All of his recommendations were also ap-
proved.
A resolution was adopted permitting the Vice Grand of a Rebekah
lodge to communicate the annual traveling password to a member visit-
ing from another jurisdiction when found upon examination in the
ante-room to be in possession of the proper credentials and entitled to
admission.
The Grand Lodge of California used about $33,000 of the funds
contributed to assist lodges outside of San Francisco in rebuilding their
buildings that had been destroyed by the earthquake and not by fire.
Permission was given the Grand Lodge of California to use these
(!kANI) llKI'IiKSKNTATIVE.
nJv^^MWV. I' • GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS, I.O.O.F. 337
funds to the above extent upon asking for and receiving the permis-
sion of the various Grand Bodies contributing toward the relief. About
$50,000 will be unused and will be returned to the jurisdictions pro
rata even if consent is given to use the entire $33,000. The total
amount contributed by the Order for the relief of California was
$216,714.49. Total amount expended $157,921.83.
The Special Commission, consisting of Past Grand Sire Pinkerton
and Grand Representatives Alexander and Fuller of Massachusetts,
appointed at the session of 1906 to revise the Subordinate Lodge
Ritual, reported. The report of this Commission was referred to a
Special Committee of Fifteen, of which Grand Representative John B.
Cockrum, of Indiana, was chairman. After careful examination by
this Special Committee of Fifteen, a unanimous report was made to
the Sovereign Grand Lodge approving the work of the Special Com-
mission. The Sovereign Grand Lodge adopted the report of the Special
Committee by a unanimous vote. It was also unanimously decided to
exchange the rituals, ritual for ritual, without cost, to the number of
four. It was also provided that hereafter, if a lodge so desires, it may
own six rituals instead of four. If a lodge now has four rituals it
can exchange them without cost; and if it wishes two additional rituals
they can be obtained by paying the usual price. The new ritual is
a masterpiece. It is a credit to any order. It will be well printed and
well bound.
All pending legislation pertaining to the Patriarchs Militant was,
on motion of Grand Representative M. A. Raney of Iowa, indefinitely
postponed. This leaves this Branch of the Order as it has been for
a number of years. It is now making substantial progress. Gen.
M. A. Raney was unanimously re-elected General Commanding for
another term of three years.
Denver, the one-mile high convention city, was selected by a
unanimous vote as the meeting place for the Eighty-fourth Annual
Communication, to be held in September, 1908. A most cordial invita-
tion was extended to the Sovereign Grand Lodge by the Chicago Asso-
ciation of Commerce to hold the 1908 session in Chicago. Inasmuch,
however, as this Grand Lodge had not extended an invitation to the
Sovereign Grand Lodge to meet in Illinois, your Grand Representatives
did not feel authorized in making an effort to have the meeting come
to Chicago.
It was decided that, where it is the wish of the family of a
deceased brother, the funeral ceremony adopted at the session of 1874
may be used instead of the one now in general use.
The amendment excluding from membership not only saloonkeepers
and bartenders, but all dealers in liquors, was defeated, as it takes a
338 JOUliXAL OF I'llOCEEDINGS. -j Nm-^i^G'tcioT
three-fourths majority. But thirty votes were needed. Grand Repre-
sentative J. A. Lucas prepared another similar amendment, which will
be acted upon in 1908.
Past Grand Sire Alfred S. Pinkerton and Grand Representative
Charles N. Alexander, both of Massachusetts, and Grand Representative
Walter S. Wheeler, of Missouri, were appointed a committee to revise
the encampment ritual. Brothers Pinkerton and Alexander were mem-
bers of the committee that revised the subordinate lodge ritual.
The following resolution was adopted: "Your Committee on Legis-
lation, to whom was referred a resolution providing that when a mem-
ber in good standing in the Order dies and his funeral, at the request
or desire of the family, is conducted without the funeral services of the
Order, and independent of its ritual, and not by the Order, it is the
duty of the lodge and encampment to which said member belongs at
the time of his death to pay to his widow or personal representatives
the funeral benefits, as provided by the by-laws of said lodge, and
that it shall be unlawful for any lodge, by by-laws or otherwise, to
refuse the payment of such benefits — because such member was not
buried by the Order, or in accordance with its ritual — would respect-
fully report that they have duly considered said matter and recom-
mend the adoption of the following resolution:
"Resolved, That it shall be and is unlawful for any lodge to make
the payment of its funeral benefits depend on the burial of the member
by the Order or the use of the burial service as provided by the Order.
In all cases where the member is in good standing at the time of
his death and entitled to funeral benefits under the law of the Order,
the same shall be paid as herein provided, whether [or not] buried by
the Order, or the ritual and funeral service as provided by the Order is
used at his funeral or burial."
Lieut.-Col. Henry A. Stone, P. G. M., Major E. F. Godfrey, Major
Oscar A. Malmgren, Col. P. A. Anderson and Col. Joseph Warnecke, of
Illinois, were among those endorsed by the Sovereign Grand Lodge
to receive the Grand Decoration of Chivalry.
The following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That the in-
uiscriminate and promiscuous advertisement by public display, news-
paper or catalogue, of paraphernalia necessary and useful in conferring
degrees in all branches of the Order, by agents, salesmen, jobbers or
manufacturers thereof, is detrimental to the best interests of the
Order, and that it is the sense of this Sovereign Body that the same
be disapproved and discontinued whenever and wherever practicable."
Grand Representative Frank C. Goudy, of Colorado, Chairman of
the Committee on Courtesies Extended, presented a most complete
report of that committee, which was adopted, extending the unanimous
thanks of the Sovereign Grand Lodge to all who had in any wav
Tuesday,
Nov. 19,1907.
GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS, I.O.O.F.
339
assisted in making the session not only a most delightful one, but a
most successful one as well.
IN CONCLUSION.
To be a member of the Sovereign Grand Lodge is a great honor
and may well be prized by any member of our Order. To have been
elected representatives from this Grand Lodge is an especially great
honor, as Illinois is one of the foremost Jurisdictions. It has been
our aim to represent you to the very best of our ability. How well we
have succeeded we leave that for you to decide. We wish to express
to you our thanks for the great honor conferred upon us, and assure
the members of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois that when it
is possible for us to do so we shall be delighted to assist as best we
can in th'e great work of our Order.
Sincerely and fraternally yours.
Qrand Representatives.
340 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. -| Nov^^9^!9()7
The printed reports of the Grand Officers were distributed
by the Grand Marshal and his assistants.
The Special Committee on Analysis and Distribution, ap-
pointed by the Grand Master in advance of the session, pre-
sented the following report, which, under suspension of the rule,
was considered and adopted:
DOCUMENT NO. 3.
Report of the Committee on Analysis and Distribution.
To the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, I.O.O.F.:'
Your Committee on Analysis and Distribution would respectfully
report as follows:
That part of the Grand Master's report under the heading "State of
the Order", beginning on page fourteen (14) and concluding- on page
sixteen (16), should be refei'red to the Committee on State of the Order.
'•Proclamations"', pages 20, 21 and 22, and -'Special Session" on pages
22 and 23, should be referred to the Committee on State of the Order.
•"Decisions"", on pages 24 to 28 inclusive, should be referred to the
Committee on Judiciary and Appeals.
"Appeal of Washington Lodge, No. 665'", on pages 28-29 to the
Committee on Judiciary and Appeals.
"New Subordinate Lodges"', "New Rebekah Lodges", "Subordinate
Lodges Closed"", and "Rebekah Lodges Closed'", pages .30 to 36 inclusive,
to the Committee on State of the Order.
"Losses by Fire", pages 36 and 37, to the Committee on State of the
Order.
"Consolidations"', "Removal of Lodges"", "'Change of Language", on
pages 37 and 38, to the Committee on State of the Order.
"Change of Name", pages 38 and 39, to Committee on Legislation.
"Expelled Members Reinstated", "Dispensations'", on pages 39 and
40, to the Committee on State of the Order.
"Appeals for Aid"' and •-Special Relief", pages 40 to 44 inclusive, to
the Committee on Finance.
"Maintenance Fees"", pages 44-47, to the Committee on Judiciarj'
and Appeals.
•'Surety Bonds"', pages 47-53, should be referred to the Committee
on Finance and to the Committee on Judiciary and Appeals to consider
the same together.
"The Egyptian Lodge Case'", pages 53-55, to the Committee on
Judiciary and Appeals.
"Bequests"", pages 55-56, to the Committee on State of the Order.
'-Endowment Funds'", beginning on page 56 and ending on page 62,
to the Committee on Finance, excepting the two paragraphs on page
Nov^^g^m? ( GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS, I.O.O.F. 341
59, forming part of the Grand Master's report under the same subject
head, which should be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and
Appeals. Also, that part of the Grand Masters report under the same
subject head beginning- with the ninth line on page 61, which should be
referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Appeals.
"Endowment Funds", page 61, to the Committee on Finance.
"Duane Lodge Defalcation', page 62, to the Committee on State of
the Order.
"Foreign Correspondence", pages 62 and 63, to the Committee on
State of the Order.
"Old Folks' Home', beginning on page 63 and ending on page 67, to
Committee on State of the Order.
"Advisory Hoards", page 68, to the Committee on Judiciary and
Appeals.
"Degrees at the Grand Lodge Session', pages 68-69, totheCommit-
tee on State of the Order.
"Home Libraries ', pages 70 to 72. to Committee on State of the
Order.
"Committee on Finance", pages 72-79, to Committee on State of the
Order.
"Official Examiners and Instructors"', pages 79-90, to the Committee
on State of the Order.
"Weekly Meetings', pages 91-92, to Committee on State of the
Order.
"Committee on Analysis and Distribution", page 92, to the Com-
mittee on Judiciary and Appeals.
"Change of Venue", page 93, to Committee on Legislation.
"Miscellaneous Matters", beginning on page 93, should be referred
as follows:
First paragraph to State of the Order.
Second, third, fourth and fifth paragraphs, to the Committee on
Judiciary and Appeals.
Sixth paragraph, on page 95, to Committee on Ijcgislation.
"In Conclusion", page 96, to the Committee on State of the Order.
That part of the Report of the Orphans' Home Board on pages 98 to
107 inclusive, should be referred to the Committee on State of the Order.
That part of the same report beginning "Financial Statement"
should be referred to the Comtnittee on Finance.
That part of the report referring to the Old Folks" Home Board,
pages 126 to 133 inclusive, should be referred to the Committee on State
of the Order.
That part of the same report beginning 'Financial Statement," on
page 134, should be referred to the Committee on Finance.
"Donations of property received during the past year"', pages 163
to 167 inclusive, to the Committee on State of the Order.
342 JOUENAL OF PROCEEDINGS. ] N^v.^fo! ^07.
That part of the Grand Secretary's report on pages 176 to 19]
should be referi'ed to Committee on State of the Order.
"Receipts", "Disbursements", and that part of the report following.
to and including "Trustees of the Orphans' and Old Folks' Homes", on
page 192, to the Committee on Finance.
That part of the report under the head "Judiciary and Appeals
Committee" on page 192, and the same report on pages 192, 193 and
194, to and including "New Rituals", to the Committee on State of
the Order.
That part of the report concerning the "Grand Lodge of Califor-
nia", beginning on page 194, to the Committee on State of the Order.
"Donations", pages 197 to 216, to the Committee on Finance.
That part of the Grand Secretary's report \inder the heading Pro-
posed Amendments to the Grand Lodge Constitution Introduced at the
session of 1906, on page 238, excepting Article IV, Section 14. should
be referred to the Committee on Legislation.
The Grand Treasurer's report shoiild be referred to the Committee
on Finance.
Respectfully submitted.
John R. Camp, James Ewing Davis, Charles S. Hakris,
J. L. Bakxum, George F. Howard, M. P. Berry,
J. Smith Cruttenden, E. R. Sayler, Alfred Orendorff,
David Fuller Wm. H. Pease, J. R. Kewley.
F. D. P. Snelling.
Committee.
By vote of the Grand Lodge, Grand Sire Conway was re-
quested to wire the greetings of this body to the Grand Lodge of
New Jersey, now in session.
Bro. James Ewing Davis, of 450, offered the following, which
was referred to the Committee on Legislation. [See 9th report
of that committee.]
DOCUMENT NO. 4.
Whereas, The funds of our Subordinate Lodges are Trust Funds for
the purpose of protecting our widows and orphans, and relieving our
members when in distress; and
Whereas, Every possible safeguard should be thrown around these
funds, in order that they may be preserved for the purpose for which
they were contributed; therefore, be it
Resolved, That Art. IV of the Subordinate Lodge Constitution be
amended by adding a new section, which shall be known as Section 5,
and shall be as follows:
^"^fq^^y;- !- GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS^ I.O.O.F. 343
Nov. 19.1907. ('
Section 5. The Finance Committee shall, not later than the first
day of May and November of each year, send a written report of their
audit and inspection of the accounts, books, securities, bonds, funds and
other property in the hands of the Treasurer, to the Grand ^Master, and
shall give a detailed statement of the securities, bonds and funds, and
the manner in which they inspected the securities, bonds and funds,
and verify the cash on hand reported by the Treasurer.
The following preamble and resolution were presented, and
were referred to the Commifctee on Legislation. [See 10th report
of that committee.]
DOCUMENT NO. 5.
Believing th
mation by the representatives of Subordinate Lodges of more than
one central organization in any one citj"^ for the purpose of general
relief work; and
Whereas, In the City of Chicago there are at the present time two
such central organizations, known respectively as the Odd Fellows'
Board of Relief and the Illinois Odd Fellows' League, each performing
in its own way an almost similar line of work, resulting in added tax
on those Subordinate Lodges that feel called upon to contribute to the
maintenance of both, and deterring other Lodges from contributing to
either organization because they can not contribute to both, and also
resulting in confusion in the minds of the public and some of our own
membership;
Resolvsd, That the Grand Master be requested to use his best en-
deavors to effect a consolidation of the two organizations.
W. F. Douglas, No. 141. E. D. Harris, No. 190.
Wm. H. Dellenback, No. 362. J. Henry Debus, No. 540.
H. M. Blood, No. 330. M. A. Sherman, No. 673.
Fred Stroiim, No. 8.
Bro. George W. Youngs of 392, offered the following, which
was referred to the Committee on Legislation. [See 16th report
of that committee.]
DOCUMENT NO. 6.
WiiEKEAS, The Sovereign (Jrand Lodge, at its late session, passed
legislative acts that do not become operative in this Grand Jurisdiction
without enabling legislation by this Grand Body; therefore, be it
Reaolvcd, That the Committee on Legislation be and hereby is in-
structed to prepare and report to this Grand Lodge such legislation
along this line as maj' be necessary.
344 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. ! nIv ^^9^1907.
The following resolution was presented, and was referred to
the Committee on Legislation. [See 11th report of that com-
mittee.]
DOCUMENT NO. 7.
Be it Resolved, That Article X, Section 10, of the Subordinate
Lodge Constitution be amended by striking out the word "sixty" as
found in the fifth line and second sentence of said line, and also the
word "sixty" as found in the seventh line and first sentence of said
line, both as printed in the Illinois I. O. O. F. Code for 1906, and sub-
stituting the word "thirty" therefor in both instances, so as to read
when amended:
"In case of the death of a beneficiary member of this Lodge there
shall be allowed not less than twenty dollars as a funeral benefit to the
beneficiary or beneficiaries entitled thereto, and such further sum as
may be actually incurred under the laws of the Order for funeral ex-
penses, not less than thirty dollars, unless shared by another society;
liabilities for funeral expenses shall be limited to thirty dollars unless
the Lodge, by By-Law. assume liabilities for a larger amount: pro-
vided, however, the Lodge may, with the written consent of the fu-
neral beneficiaries, expend the funeral benefits toward the funeral ex-
penses. The beneficiaries of the funeral benefit -are the widow, or-
phans (under the age of 21 years, members of and residing with the
family of the deceased), or the dependent relatives of the deceased, or
relatives upon whom the deceased was dependent at the time of death.
In the event of the death of a beneficiary member of this Lodge not
leaving surviving him any of the above-named beneficiaries of a fu-
neral benefit, and leaving either no estate or insuflicient estate to pay
the expenses of the funeral, the Lodge shall pay the funeral expenses,
not to exceed the combined funeral benefits and expenses provided
by the By-Laws of this Lodge.
R. J. Steixfort, Rep. Willow Hill Lodge, No. 881.
Lewis Delp, Rep. Vevay Park Lodge, No. 754.
D. B. Miller, Rep. Casey Lodge, No. 747.
J. S. TuMELSON, Rep. Yale Lodge, No. 790.
J. W. Nye, Rep. Lecture Lodge. No. 563.
Eep. John Steiner, of G6o, presented the following preamble
and resolution, which were referred to the Committee on Judiciary
and Appeals. [See 7th report of that committee.]
DOCUMENT NO. 8.
Whereas, On April 11, 1907, Brother Max Davis. P.G., Lodge
Deputy Grand Master, received a letter from Brother Fred B. Merrills,
Grand Master, in which he threatened to revoke the' charter of Wash-
Tv^^q^iqm \ GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS^ I.O.O.F. 345
Nov. 19,1907.
ing-ton Lodge, No. 66,5, I. O. O. F. , and charged it with •'manufacturing
testimony", 'trifling with the Grand Master's office', and '"acting in
bad faith"; and directly and by inference made other charges, conclud-
ing with the flattering statement that said Lodge is a disgrace to our
noble Order; and
Whereas, All charges made and inferences suggested in said letter
are absolutely without foundation; and
WiiKKKAS, Such statements do a grievous wrong to Washington
Lodge, condemning it unheard, and apparently wholly on ex-parte
statements; and
Whereas, It is due to Washington Lodge to be given an oppor-
tunity to be vindicated; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the incoming Grand Master be authorized and di-
rected to investigate the matter, and make such finding as may seem
just and right to him.
Bro. George W. Young, of 392, offered the following, which
was referred to the Committee on the State of Order. [See 21st
report of that committee.]
DOCUMENT NO. 9.
Whereas, The Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the State of
Illinois extends to every county in said State, and is recognized by the
people of the State of Illinois as one of the great moral and civil forces
among the citizenship of the State; and
Whereas, The broad catholic democracy of the Order is antagonis-
tic to rings, cliques, and combinations in the administration of the
official affairs of the Order; therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Grand Lodge of Illinois in regular anniial session
assembled. That it is the sense of this Grand Lodge that the Grand
Master, in making his appointments, should observe the principle of
rotation and distribution in selecting his official assistants and com-
mittees, so that every portion of the State should be recognized so far
as possible. That is, in the appointments of Grand Chaplain, Grand
Marshal. Grand Conductor, Grand Guardian. Grand Herald, and the
members of the various committees provided for by the Constitution
and By-Laws of this Grand Lodge, that he observe the territorial loca-
tion for equitable distribution of such appointees.
That in the appointment and selection of members of the Board of
Directors and members of the Advisory Board of the Orphans' Home,
and members of the Board of Trvistees and Advisory Board of the Old
Folks' Home, no member thereof be allowed to succeed himself or her-
self on either of said boards, but that a new brother or sister be ap-
pointed each year from different parts of the State.
346 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. -j Nov^19 WO
And that this rule also be observed in the selection of the Judiciary
and Appeals Committee; the retiring' member each year on said Com-
mittee step down and out and a new brother be appointed in his stead.
Grand Master Merrills presented the following, which was
referred to the Committee on the State of the Order. [See 19th
report of that committee.]
DOCUMENT NO. 10.
Supplementary Report of the Grand Master.
Since preparing- the copy for the Grand Master's report I have signed
a dispensation authorizing the institution of a new Lodge in Chicago to
work in the Italian language. This Lodge is to be hailed as G. Carducci
Lodge, No. 948, I. O. O. F. I commissioned Brother F. D. P. Snelling,
Grand Senior Warden, as the Special Deputy to institute this Lodge.
Brother Snelling reports that he instituted the Lodge on the night of
November 16th, with eight charter members who were present. The
Lodge already has a list of thirty- two candidates who have paid the
initiation and degree fees in full. These candidates will receive the
degrees on Monday night, November 2,5th.
The matter of instituting this Lodge received very careful consider-
ation by myself, and I took the advice of a number of brethren in Chi-
cago before the granting of the petition. I recommend that a charter
be granted to them, authorizing them to work and keep their records