Winchester 70 R 61
Windsor 576 R 118
Winterrowd 869 R 361
Witt 943
Wolf Lake 940
Woodhnll 383 R 69
Woodland 649 R 349
Woodlawn 522
Woodlawn Park 825
Woodson 711
Woodstock 60 R 205
Worden 738
Wyoming 244 R 333
Xenia 213 R 213
Yale 790 R 65
Yantisville 823 R 576
Yates City 370 R 561
York 419
Yorkville 839
Yonngstown 813 R 435
1907 TELEGEAPHIC CIPHER AND KEY. 561
TELEGRAPHIC CIPHER AND KEY.
Benefit. ā What sick and funeral benefits do you pay?
Black. ā He is a fraud, and if he has a Card or other papers
from this Lodge they are forgeries.
Boat. ā He is an expelled member and has not been in good
standing for
Cash. ā is in our city asking financial assistance, and claims
meml)ership in your Lodge in good standing.
Cautiox. ā Look out for fraud named
Final. ā A member of your Lodge died here.
Funds. ā Shall we aid him, and draw on you to the extent
of $ ?
Green. ā Wire instructions to us at once as to the disposition
of his remains.
Grip. ā Draw on us for the amount of expenses incurred.
Help. ā Will your Lodge pay nurse hire, and how much per
day?
House. ā Is in our city, holding a Visiting Card -from your
Lodge, and asking of us financial assistance.
Lodge. ā Forward remains to this place by
Purple. ā We tliink best to bury him there.
Eed. ā Holding a Visiting Card from your Lodge, died here.
Eegalia. ā Assist him and wo will lionor draft to the extent
of $
EiVER. ā Has your Lodge a momber in good standing by the
name of ?
EocK. ā A nu'inlicr of our Lodge is in your city needing assist-
ance. His name and address are
Secretary. ā He has a fraudulent Card.
White. ā We don't know aiiv such party, and lie docs not be-
long to our Lodge.
Widow. ā Wife or child of a deceased momlior of your Lodge
is in our city asking assistance. Shall we draw on A'ou to the
extent of $.." ?
Yellow. ā Is in our city and xory sick. Chiims nu'ml)ership
in your Lodge. Sliall wo givo liim altiMidance on vour account?
562 CONSTITUTION 0Ā„ THE 1908
CONSTITUTION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF
ILLINOIS, I. O. O. F.
ARTICLE I.ā Name.
This Lodge shall be known by the name and style of the "Grand
Lodge of the State of Illinois of the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows."
ARTICLE II.ā Powers.
This Grand Lodge, under the limitations imposed upon it by its
Charter and the Constitution and Laws of the Sovereign Grand Lodge,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, possesses, within the State of Illi-
nois, supreme legislative, executive and judicial authority. It has the
right and power (1) to grant dispensations to establish Lodges; (2)
to charter Lodges; (3) to suspend or discontinue for cause any Lodge
subordinate to it; (4) to hear and determine all appeals from the
actions and decisions of its Subordinate Lodges and from the deci-
sions of the Grand Master; (5) to redress grievances of members and
Lodges under its jurisdiction; and (6) to do whatever is proper ac-
cording to the usages of Odd Fellowship and not in contravention of
this Constitution or of the Constitution and Laws of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. No Lodge of
the Order can exist in this State without its permission.
ARTICLE III. ā Membership.
Section 1, This Grand Lodge shall be composed of the following
members, viz.: One Representative (who must be a Past Grand in
good standing) from each of the Lodges of the State, and all other
Past Grands in good standing of Lodges of this jurisdiction. A Past
Grand from another jurisdiction, becoming a member of a Lodge in
this State, may become a member of this Grand Lodge upon presenting
a certificate of his official standing from the Grand Lodge of the juris-
diction from which his membership was transferred: Provided, how-
ever, that neither a Representative nor other Past Grand shall be a
member of this Grand Lodge until he shall have received the Grand
Lodge Degree.
Sec. 2. This Grand Lodge shall have power to punish by repri-
mand, fine or expulsion, any of its members who shall refuse to obey
Its laws, or who shall be guilty of conduct unbecoming an Odd Fellow.
1908 GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS, 563
ARTICLE IV.ā Officers.
Section 1. The officers of the Grand Lodge shall be as follows,
viz.: Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Warden, Grand Sec-
retary, Grand Treasurer, and two Grand Representatives to the Sov-
ereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; all of
whom shall be elected by ballot. Also, Grand Chaplain, Grand Mar-
shal, Grand Conductor, Grand Guardian, and Grand Herald, all of
whom shall be appointed.
Sec. 2. The Grand Master shall preside at all meetings of the
Grand Lodge, and preserve order and enforce the rules. He shall ap-
point all Grand Officers pro tempore, and all the Grand Officers who
are not elective. He shall name the members of all committees, unless
it is otherwise ordered by the Grand Lodge. He shall give the casting
vote whenever the Grand Lodge is equally divided. He may call special
sessions of the Grand Lodge whenever, in his judgment, the good of the
Order requires him so to do, and he shall call a special session when-
ever requested so to do in writing by the representatives of fifty
Lodges. He shall order the payment by the Grand Treasurer of all
moneys voted by the Grand Lodge. In person or by Deputy, he shall
confer all official degrees, and he shall communicate the necessary
passwords to be used in this jurisdiction. During the recess of the
Grand Lodge he shall have a general superintendence of the interests
of the Order in this State; shall hear and decide any grievance or
complaint that may be made to him; pass upon all questions of law^
and usage which shall have been first submitted on appeal under seal
of the Subordinate Lodge to the Lodge Deputy Grand Master, and he
shall not be compelled to answer questions submitted by individual
members of the Order; grant dispensations to open Lodges, and do
such other acts as this Grand Lodge might do, except that he may not,
by virtue of any powers conferred upon him by this section, exercise
any of the legislative functions of this Grand Lodge. At each Annual
Session the Grand Master shall report the dispensations to open Lodges
granted by him, and such other acts as he may have done in accord-
ance with the authority herein upon him conferred; and when an ap-
peal is taken from any of his decisions, he shall report the decision
with the appeal therefrom. All decisions made by the Grand Master
shall be binding until reversed, upon appeal, by the Grand Lodge.
Provided, This Grand Lodge may, by its Rebekah Assembly Con-
stitution, transfer to the President of the Rebekah Assembly any of the
functions or powers with which the Grand Master is herein invested, so
far as the laws of the Sovereign Grand Lodge may permit, and with
such restrictions and limitations as the Grand Lodge may provide in
said Rebekah Assembly Constitution.
Sec. 3. The Deputy Grand Master shall support the Grand Master
in the Grand Lodge. His powers shall be the same as those of the
564 CONSTITUTION OF THE 1908
Grand Master, when, during the absence of that officer from this juris-
diction, or because of his inability to act, or in the event of his death
or resignation, the duties of the Grand Master shall devolve upon the
Deputy Grand Master, and perform such other duties as are required
of him by this Constitution, the laws and usages of this Grand Lodge.
Sec. 4. The Grand Warden shall, under the Grand Master, have
special charge of the door, and shall assist the Grand Master in con-
ducting the business of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 5. The Grand Secretary shall record the proceedings of the
Grand Lodge, and send to the Subordinates printed copies thereof; he
shall keep the accounts between the Grand Lodge and its Subordinates;
shall receive all moneys coming to the Grand Lodge from its Subor-
dinates, and pay the same immediately to the Grand Treasurer; shall
notify each of the Subordinates of any special session that may be
called, and shall procure all stationery for the use of the Grand Lodge
and its officers.
Sec. 6. The Grand Treasurer shall receive all moneys paid to him
by the Grand Secretary, and receipt for same. He shall keep books
containing an account of all moneys received and paid by him, to whom
paid, and for what purpose; and he shall have his accounts posted at
every Annual Session, and submit them at that time to the examina-
tion of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 7. The Grand Chaplain shall perform the duties peculiar to
his office.
Sec. 8. The Grand Marshal shall assist the Deputy Grand Master
in supporting the Grand Master in the Grand Lodge. He shall, when
requested, attend the Grand Master in his official visits to the Subor-
dinates; shall make proclamation for the Grand Master when required
so to do; shall obey his commands, and perform such other duties as
are required of him by the Constitution, laws and usages of this Grand
Lodge.
Sec. 9. The Grand Conductor shall examine and conduct new mem-
bers into the Grand Lodge; shall attend to the comfort and con-
venience of the Grand Lodge, and during its session shall execute the
commands of the Grand Master.
Sec. 10. The Grand Guardian shall attend at the inner door of the
Grand Lodge, and permit none to enter or depart without the consent
of the Grand Warden.
Sec. 11. The Grand Herald shall attend at the outer door of the
Grand Lodge. He shall have charge of the personal property of the
Grand Lodge, and keep the same in good order.
1908 GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS. 565
Sec. 12. The Grand Representatives shall attend the meetings of
the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and represent this Grand Lodge therein.
Sec. 13. The Grand Officers, excepting the Grand Representatives,
shall receive for their services such compensation as the Grand Lodge
may determine.
Sec. 14. The Grand Secretary and the Grand Treasurer shall each,
before entering upon the duties of his office, give bond, with two or
more sufficient sureties, in such sum as the Gi'and Lodge may de-
termine, to be executed to and approved by the Grand Lodge, condi-
tioned for the faithful discharge of his duties, and for the delivery
of all moneys, papers, books, records and other property appertaining
to his office, whole, safe and undefaced, to his successor In office.
Sec. 15. The Grand Officers shall, in addition to the duties herein
specified, perform such other duties as may be imposed upon them by
law.
Sec. 16. Every member of this Grand Lodge shall be eligible to
any Grand Office, excepting to that of Grand Representative, to which
he shall also be eligible if he have the Royal Purple Degree, Is a mem-
ber in good standing of an Encampment in good standing, a member
in good standing of a Subordinate Lodge, a member of a Rebekah
Lodge in good standing, and a resident of the State of Illinois.
Sec. 17. A member of the Grand Lodge shall not hold two offices
at the same time.
Sec. 18. Candidates for office may be nominated at any time previ-
ous to the election.
Sec. 19. Ballots for persons not properly in nomination shall be
considered blanks, and blanks shall be counted as votes.
Sec. 20. All elective Grand Officers shall be chosen separately by a
majority of the valid votes cast. When there are but two candidates
for the same office, in the event of a tie for two successive ballotings,
the election shall be decided by lot. When there are more than two
candidates in nomination, and neither receives a majority of votes at a
balloting, the one receiving the fewest number of votes shall, after the
result of the ballot has been announced, be, by the Chair, declared
dropped from the nomination, and the balloting shall proceed.
Sec. 21. After the election, the Grand Officers may be, at any time
before adjournment, installed into their respective offices. The Grand
Master, or any Past Grand Master, shall install the Grand Master-elect,
who may install the other Grand Officers-elect. All Grand Officers
566 CONSTITUTION OF THE 1908
shall be installed to serve until after the election and installation of
their successors.
Sec. 22. Any Grand Officer may be removed from his oflBce for
conduct unviTorthy of his standing in the Order, or for inattention to the
duties of his office. He shall be entitled to a fair trial, and two-thirds
of the votes of the members present shall be necessary to remove him;
but any officer against whom charges are preferred shall not have the
right to preside during the trial, or to appoint any committee or part of
a committee to examine or try the case, or to do any official act that
can affect the trial or its result.
Sec. 23. Vacancies in any of the Grand Offices, occurring during
the recess, shall be filled by the Grand Master ad interim, and at the
first Annual Session of the Grand Lodge thereafter the vacancies shall
be regularly filled.
ARTICLE V. ā Lodge Deputy Gband Masters.
Section 1. The Grand Master shall appoint a duly qualified Past
Grand as the Lodge Deputy Grand Master for each Subordinate Lodge,
and a duly qualified Past Noble Grand or Past Grand as the Lodge
Deputy Grand Master for each Rebekah Lodge, who shall serve as such
until a successor shall have been appointed, or until removed by the
Grand Master. The Lodge Deputy Grand Master shall obey the com-
mands of the Grand Master, decide all questions of law and usage,
when submitted in writing under the seal of the Lodge, giving the
answer thereto also in writing. Said decision of the Lodge Deputy
Grand Master shall be binding upon the Lodge unless an appeal is
taken to the Grand Master, in which case the Lodge Deputy Grand
Master shall transmit the oi'iginal papers (being the question and
answer) to the Grand Master. The Lodge Deputy Grand Masters
shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed for them by the
laws of the Order.
ARTICLE VI. ā Standing Committees.
Section 1. The Grand Master, at each Annual Session, shall, within
twenty days after his installation as such, appoint the following com-
mittees to serve one year, viz: (1) On Credentials, three members, of
whom two shall be Representatives; (2) On the State of the Order, fif-
teen members, of whom at least twelve shall be Representatives at the
time of their appointment; (3) On Legislation, fifteen members, of
whom at least twelve shall be Representatives at the time of their ap-
pointment; (4) On Finance, three members; (5) On Rebekah Degree,
ten members, of whom at least eight shall be Representatives at the
time of their appointment; (6) On Mileage and Per Diem, fifteen mem-
1908 GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS. 567
bers, of whom a majority shall be Representatives at the time of their
appointment (said committee may appoint a clerk, who shall receive
the compensation to which a Representative is entitled); (7) On Rail-
roads, three members; (8) On Printing, three members, of whom at
least two shall be Representatives at the time of their appointment.
Vacancies shall be so filled as not to diminish the number of Repre-
sentatives on a Committee. In the Order of Business, the reports of
these Committees shall be called and have precedence in the order in
which they are herein named. And within twenty days after the adop-
tion of this amendment, the Grand Master shall appoint a Committee
on Judiciary and Appeals, to consist of five members, one of whom
shall be appointed for the term of one year, one for the term of two
years, one for the term of three years, one for the term of four years,
and one for the term of five years; and thereafter at each Annual
Session the Grand Master, immediately after the installation of the
Grand Officers, shall appoint one member of said Committee for Ihe
full term of five years; and shall, whenever a vacancy exists in the
membership of said Committee, occasioned by death, resignation, re-
moval, or otherwise, fill such vacancy by appointment, and such ap-
pointee shall fill out the unexpired term of his predecessor.
The Committee on Judiciary and Appeals shall have appellate jur-
isdiction to hear and determine all questions arising by appeal from
the action or judgment of any Subordinate Lodge, or otherwise, which
may be referred to them by the Grand Master or Grand Lodge, or which
may be presented to said Committee by virtue of any legislation of this
Grand Lodge, now or hereafter in force; and shall have original juris-
diction to hear and determine all other cases which may arise under
the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, subject to such rules and regula-
tions as may be adopted for that purpose; and shall examine and ap-
prove or reject the By-Laws of all Subordinate Lodges in this jurisdic-
tion, and may so approve or so reject the same in whole or in part,
but shall have no power to change any part thereof in any other man-
ner. Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as
to prevent the Grand Master from hearing and determining any ques-
tion that may arise by petition or complaint of any grievance, by the
wrongful act of any Lodge, officer or member, or otherwise interfere
with the Grand Master in the exercise of his authority as the executive
officer of this Grand Lodge.
Sec. 2. The Committee on Credentials shall report, without delay,
on the credentials of Representatives and Past Grands.
Sec. 3. The Committee on the State of the Order shall report upon
the reports of the Grand Master and Grand Secretary, in so far as such
reports relate to the State of the Order. The Committee shall also re-
568 CONSTITUTION OF THE 1908
port upon the condition and progress of the Order in this jurisdiction,
upon applications for charters and upon such other matters as may be
referred to it.
Sec. 4. The Committee on Legislation shall report upon all resolu-
tions referred to it proposing the enactment, amendment or repeal of
any law, and upon such other matters as may be referred to it.
Sec. 5. The Committee on Judiciary and Appeals shall hold four
sessions annually, to-wit: Three at the office of the Grand Secretary,
unless the Committee is notified by the Grand Secretary that there is
not any business to come before them; one beginning on the third
Tuesday of February, one beginning on the third Tuesday of May, and
one beginning on the third Tuesday of August; and the fourth session
shall be held at the time and place of holding the Grand Lodge.
The Grand Secretary shall be the clerk of said Committee, and shall
keep an accurate record of all their transactions, and shall have the
care, custody and control of all its records, papers, etc.
At each session of said Committee, the member having the shortest
term to serve shall act as Chairman, and each of said Committee shall
be paid mileage at the rate of six cents per mile, by the nearest route
from his place of residence to the oflace of the Grand Secretary, or to
the place of holding the session of the Committee, as the case may be,
for each of such sessions, and a per diem of three dollars for each day
actually occupied, to be paid upon the certificate of the Chairman of
the Committee.
The said Committee shall reduce all their judgments and decisions
to writing, and file the same with the Grand Secretary.
All processes, whether in the nature of summons, subpoenas, or
otherwise, shall be under the seal of the Grand Lodge and the signa-
ture of the Grand Secretary. All appeals hereafter taken from the
final judgment or action of any Subordinate Lodge shall be taken and
referred to the said Committee on Judiciary and Appeals. And the
aecisions and judgments of said Committee shall, unless appealed from
within thirty days, be final, and stand as the judgment and decision of
this Grand Lodge.
An appeal from the decision or judgment of said Committee to this
Grand Lodge shall be allowed, and such appeal shall be considered and
determined at the session next after such appeal is taken, except in case
such appeal is taken during a session of the Grand Lodge, in which case
such appeal may be considered and determined at such time as the
Grand Lodge may direct. A notice in writing directed to the Grand
Secretary and signed by the member appealing, or the Noble Grand or
Secretary of the Lodge, under the seal of the Lodge, in all cases where
1908 ' GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS. 569
a Lodge appeals, briefly stating the fact of such appeal and the reasons
assigned therefor, shall be the only requirements of such appeal.
Sec. 6. The Committee on Finance shall report upon all accounts
and claims against the Grand Lodge, previous to such accounts and
claims being allowed. It shall audit annually the accounts of the Grand
Secretary and Grand Treasurer, and the accounts of all officers and
committees intrusted with the receipt and disbursement of funds of
the Grand Lodge. It shall, from time to time, suggest such measures
of finance as it may deem expedient.
Sec. 7. The Committee on Rebekah Degree shall report upon all
matters relating to the Rebekah Degree and Rebekah Lodges referred
to it.
Sec. 8. The Committee on Printing shall superintend all printing,
and shall purchase all stationery and blanks not supplied by the Sov-
ereign Grand Lodge. They shall advertise for bids for printing the re-
ports of the Grand Officers, the proceedings of the Annual Sessions of
this Grand Lodge in the English language, and such other printing
as may be required by the Grand Officers, awarding the contract for
such work to the lowest responsible bidder, and reporting the original
list of said bidders, with the prices that they have offered to perform
the work for, to the next session of the Grand Lodge. They shall sign
all bills for which they may have awarded contracts as being correct.
Sec. 9. The Committee on Railroads shall, if possible, procure re-
duced rates of fare over the several railroads of the State for members
of the Grand Lodge and the Rebekah Assembly attending the sessions
thereof; and shall report to the Grand Secretary, at least three weeks
before any session, the names of railroad companies giving reductions
of fare, and all the details of the arrangements made therewith.
Sec. 10. The Committee on Mileage and Per Diem shall report the
number of miles necessarily traveled by the shortest traveled route by
each Grand Officer and Representative and member of the various
Grand Lodge Committees, the number of days' attendance of same, and
the amount due to each. The Committee shall make its estimate by
allowing five cents mileage one way, and two dollars per diem.
ARTICLE VII.ā Sessions.
Section. 1. The Grand Lodge shall meet annually on the third Tues-
day in November. This meeting shall be styled the Annual Session.
Special Sessions shall be held on the call of the Grand Master. When
in Annual or Special Session, fifty representative members shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and
the Grand Lodge may adjourn from time to time until the business of
570 CONSTITUTION OF THE 1908
the session shall have been disposed of. The Annual Session shall be
held at the City of Springfield, except when otherwise ordered by a
two-thirds vote, by the Grand Lodge convened in Annual Session. A
Special Session shall be held at the time and place designated by the
Grand Master in the call.
Sec. 2. At the Annual Session the elective Grand Officers shall
be elected, and all business requiring the attention of the Grand Lodge
transacted. At a Special Session no business shall be transacted ex-
cepting that for which the session was called, which business must be
distinctly stated in the call.
Sec. 3. The Grand Lodge shall be opened in the Grand Lodge De-
gree at all times when engaged in transacting business of the Order.
Sec. 4. All questions in the Grand Lodge shall be decided by a ma-
jority of the members present and voting, excepting upon a call of
Lodges, when Representatives only shall vote, and each shall cast the
number of votes to which his Lodge may be entitled. A call of Lodges
may be required by any ten Representatives, and whenever the vote is
taken this way, the yeas and nays shall be recorded.
Sec. 5. Each Lodge shall be entitled, upon a call of Lodges, to one
vote for every ten members in good standing at the close of the last
preceding semi-annual term; provided, that any Lodge with less than
ten members shall have one vote.
ARTICLE VIII.ā Subordinates.
Section 1. Charters may be granted as follows, viz.: (1) On the
written application of five or more brothers in good standing, to open a