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DEVOTED TO POLITICS, NEWS, LITERATURE, AMD THE BEST INTERESTS OF OREGON.
VOL. 9.
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OREGON CITY, OREGON, FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1875.
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Annual Address.
OF II
1 IF
: STIirVI'. M. AV. OKASD MA ST Kit
TUT. K. AW lillAND LODfiE OF OK-
I.UllS AT TIin'2(hiI ANXfAIi COMMU
NICATION, 1'I ot X AN1 IIF.LU AT FOKT
T.VNU OKF.C.ON, OX THE lSTII DAY OF
MAY, 1S73.
' ,vn,i;r(-.: Yon have been
p1k(ii liv vonr brethren to exercise
the higli'iv important legislative and
imlicial functions devolving upon
tho ('.rami Lo.lyro of tliisiuristliction
Yon have 'assembled here under cir-..i.i,itt.in,-M
vliich demands your
li.-Liff.-lt thankfiilncss to the
Abni-'ldv for: His goodness and
uierev Co us and our order dining
the past year.: The kind hand of
Providence has again permitted this
fn,.i..lK- ri 1 .1 i internal reunion ol so
imnvofthe old veterans of our or
;i-r and we have reason to rejoice
that s.i much prosperity and so many
Q.U-ssiti -s h '-vis utten led the progress
or our o:lcr since our last session.
TI1K STAT:: U' THE OllIiEU.
Although tiy pa-t year has heen
i; irk-'d .s a season ot great Ocpres-
sioii in buine'-.i and pro.-tration of
industrial interests throughout the
wholo jurisdiction, I ;uu happy to
... iiblc.1 to r-tate that this fact does
not s era to have checked and r
tar dc i t!io grjiwth and increase of
our nnl.-i- Tife ratio of the net in-
rrea-j in lneni'bciship lia-; Ijecn even
grettn- than during the preceding
vo ir: t!i suii'.! heing over 10 per
cent m the tot.d membership. Vivo
a l.lition d lodges have also been or-
unler 'ilisjiensatiou
granted
hv the (I rand .Master
, and are now
oi'titi' ::triLr for a
:tug for a charter at your
I'roni yearly all pari.s of the
lion tlu- glad tidings of sub
hands,
iris li
stantial prosp rity are sent to us.
New halls have been erected, ceme
teries established and other eviden
ce of success a'.iound on every hand.
The, tot.d number of contributing
members on the 1st day of January
l.f-t. were two thousand live hundred
and ninety, ami I am justified in
stating that at present, there are not
h-s than 2, .sOO Odd Fellows in good
s.a:i ling in the jurisdiction. The
asrj; regale sum paid by lodges for re
lief during the past year was 812,--h'd
17, of which the sum of 88,GS(3 25
was pall for ti e relief of sick broth
ers 1 ."."2 o7 for the relief of widowed
families, ami the balance for burying
fie dead and educating the orphans.
The number of initiations during the
pa-t year wore three hundred and
thirty three, of which one hundred
and twenty two were admitted by
card and twenty suspended members
were reinstated. For further statis
tical details, I respectfully refer you
to the report of the It. Y. Grand
Secretary, v.hieh will bo submitted
to you and contains much interesting
andfValuablo information.
0 NEW LODGES. .
On the 2sth day of August, 1874, a
,lipen c,dion w is granted, during my
temporary nb-T-nco, from the juris
diction, bv T, M. iSZtch, acting
Grand Muster, '. for the institution of
a new lodge at dlillsboro, Vashing
ton county Oregon, to be known as
Montezuma Lcjalge No. 50 with six
charter members. This lodgo was
instituted by H. O. Hyde, special
deputy, on tlo 10th day of Septem
ber, 1874, aud has now a member
ship of 13 members. It started un
der the most favorable auspices, and
gives promise ;of a irosperous fu
ture. Hence Ijrecomrnend a charter
for this lodge. !
On the 2nd day of January, 1875, 1
granted a dispensation to 22 persons,
beiug Scarlet degree members of
Calapooia Lodge No. 43, and their
wives, of Brownsville, Oregon, to
form a llebekalij degree lodge at said
place, to be hailed as Rachel Ro
bekah Decree Lodge No. 0. Bro.
1. M. Thompson, P. G., and I). D.
G. M. of district No. 3, instituted
said lodge ou tl.e 9th day of January
l s75, and inasmuch as said lodge is in
a nourishing condition, I recommend
the granting of a charter for the
same.
On the 21th c" March, 1875, I is
sued a disjensAion for a new lodge
at Marshfield, Vos county, Oregon,
to be hailed asmset Lodge No. 51,
with 11 charter aembers. The same
was instituted by Bro. Jay Tuttle,
special deputy, "on the 22nd day of
April ,1875. There is every reason
to believe that this lodge is placed
upon a permanent basis, and I there
fore recommend a charter for the
iamo.
A new lodge under the name of
Cove Lodge No. 52, located in Union
county, was authorized to be insti
tuted by dispensation from this of
fice dated Mai-ch 28, 1S75. This
) lodge wth niiks charter members,
tos instituted Cn April 25, 1875, by
r 1
i-3 p : 15a
l?ro. J. W. Snodgrass, Gr. Kep. and ;
special deputy, and commences its
existence under most favorable aus
pices. A charter is recommended.
On the iI2d day of April 1875. I
granted a dispensation for the insti
tution of a new lodge at Coquille
City, to be known and hailed as Co
quille Lodge No. 53, with eight char
ter members, 'lue same was insti
tuted by Bro. Jay Tuttlo, special
deputy, on May Gth, and promise to
be a valuable addition to our order.
I recommend a charter for the same.
I have also received the necessary
papers authorizing the institution of
two new lodges m Washington Ter
ritory, which will probably be insti
tuted during the next month.
FINANCES.
I am justified in saying that the
finances of the Grand Lodge, dur
ing the last fiscal year, have been
prudently and economically manag
ed. The Grand Treasurer's report
will show the expenditures aud dis
bursements in detail. All the debts
of the Grand Lodge, up to the
present date, have been audited and
paid, and a balance of .DC2 21 is re
ported in tne treasury. iie balance
last year on hand was only 834 41.
although the receipts during that
year nearly equaled those of the
present year. The levy of the same
assessment for the ensuing year
upon the subordinate lodges will en
able the Grand Lodge to become fi
nancially independent, witliout re
sorting to annual loans, provided
economy and prudence is exercised
in the disbursement of the Grand
Lodge funds.
DECISIONS.
During the past year I have made,
among others, the following decis
ions:
1st Question. Can the officers of
several lodpres. located in different
towns, be installed jointly at the
same time ami place?
Answer. No; the installation of
officers is a part of the work of the
lodge, and the lodge must perform
its work in the place designated in
its charter as its local habitation. If
a lodge has the power to determine
that its officers shall be installed one
mile from the place where it is lo
cated, it would have the same righ
to determine that the installation
should take place ten or fifteen miles
or more distant.
2d ()K'. Jiun. Is it proper for
person not an Odd l ellow to appear
before the committee of live on char
ges, as attorney for either party con
cerned"?
Answer. No; the relations of at
tornev and party are of such a con
fidential and intimate nature, that i
necessarily involves the disclosure
of matters pertaining to the business
of the lodge which none but mem
bers should know.
3d Question. Is it proper for
person not an Odd Fellow to appoa
before the lodge as an attorney fo
either party concerned in the trial?
Answer. In the negative. JNo iier
son not an Odd Fellow has a right t
appear before the lodge while in ses
sum, in any capacity whatever.
4tn Question, lias a lodge a righ
to reconsider a ballot on rejection o
an application for initiation any time
previous to the expiration ot six
months, because members had inad
vertentlv been permitted to vote who
were not entitled to vote under the
by-laws, when the candidate hai
been rejected, the Grand Secretary
notified, and his name placed on th
black book?
Answer. A legal ballot cannot be
reconsidered under the circumstan
ces above mentioned. But when
brothers vote who are disqualified to
vote upon such application under th
by-laws, the ballot may be declared
illegal and void by a majority of the
lodge. (181 journal Grand Lodge
U. S. 5, 193, 5,244.) When this il
legallity is so ascertained and declar
ed, it places all parties as if no bal
lot had taken place, and thereupon a
ballot must be spread in strict com
pliance with the constitution of sub
ordinates. Only one ballot and one
reconsideration can be granted a can
didate, but the proceeding above in
dicated cannot be deemed a recon
sideration, because it is not predicat
ed upon a legal ballet. A ballot par-ticitt-'J
in by disnualified persons
is void ah initio, and when so declar
ed, the proposition of the candidate,
report of the committee, and the ac
tion of the lodge receiving such re
port, and ordering a ballot is again
before the lodge to be disposed of
by a legal ballot, in which, none but
duly qualified brothers should par
ticipate. If by reason of such void
ballot a person's name is wrongfully
placed upon the black book, the
lodge owes it to itself to promptly
cause the erasure of that name.
5th. A sister of 4-he Rebekah de
gree cannot act as Y. G. in a subor
dinate lodge, when opened in that
degree.
Gtli. Question. Is a lodge which
has adopted the plan of the W. & O.
R. A. bound to pay assessments for
brothers who are six months in ar
rears and not entitled to sick benefits
according to its by-laws?
Answer. In the affirmative. Until
a suspension or expulsion takes place,
the lodge must continue to pay such
assessments.
I have made a number of other de
cisions, but in as much as they were
simply declaratory of ordinary prop
ositions of law contained in the di
gest and journals, I have deemed it
best not to encumber this report, nor
the Grand Master's record book,
with the same.
APPEALS FHOM ABROAD FOE AID.
On the 20th day of February last
I issued a proclamation authorizing
the R. W. Grand Lodge of Nebraska
to request contributions from all the
subordinate lodges in this jurisdic
tion, to keep many of our brethren
and their families in that State from
suffering and starvation, owing to
the fearful ruin and devastation
caused by the visitations of the grass
hoppers and other insects, which
scourged that and other States and
Territories in the Union. T
official data to ascertain how much
was contributed in this 111f i,t
. , "
rum uuuiiiciua sources l am enabled
to state that the response to my an-
ieal was quite liberal and fen pi-mi j
Several applications to mo for au
thority to request contributions in
his jurisdiction to heln subordin
ate lodges on the eastern seaboard,
who had suffered by fire and other
wise, have been refused by me for
reasons not now necessarytto' state.
The correspondence herewith sub
mitted will show all the facts in the
case. I respectfully ask the approv
al of the Grand Lodere of mv ac
tions herein.
HOME LODGE NO. 34.
Circumstances seemed to render
necessary the surrender of the char
ter of Home Lodgo No. 34, located
at Monroe. Benton county. Oretron.
which was accordingly done on the
20th day of July, 1874." I appointed
lro. J. al. Lacon, Grand Secretary
as special deputy to demand and re
ceive the charter and all effects of
said lodge, which duty he succesful
ly accomplished. A schedule of all
the articles in his possession will be
submitted to vou by him. This is
the only blank number in this juris
diction.
IiEBKKAIT DECSKEE LODGES.
I herewith submit an application
ior a dispensation to constitute a
Rebekah degree lodge at Pendleton,
Lmatilla county, Oregon, signed by
twentv-one applicants. Inasmuch as
the same was received by me just
prior to the present session, I took
no action, but refer the application
to you.
I regret that I am not in a position
to furnish you much information
mcerning the condition of the Re
bekah degree lodge. Only three cut
of nine have made their reports to
the Grand Secretary. These were
from Oregon City, Jacksonville and
Canyon Citv. Our respected sisters
are undoubtedly accomplishing
much good m their respective local
ities; but they should let others
know the history ol their progress
aud success, so that they can profit
by anil emulate their example.
AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION OF Sl'Ii-
OKI II NATES.
I recommend an amendment to
section 1, article HI, coustituton of
subordinaes so the same mav be
conformable to the decision of the
Grand Lodge of the United States,
msde at its last session, (see journal
pages 0,203 aud 0,202), which places
a construction upon the well known
rule that no more than one ballot and
one reconsideration can be granted to
a candidate for membership. I am
aware that this Grand Lodge, at if
session ot LSio, (see journal page
1,351) has held that although section
1, article III, may indicate that
several ballots can take place, yet
that no ballot is actually had until
the result is declared bytheN.G.
that the candidate is elected or re
jected. But this seems to be a clear
and illogical evasion of the doctrine
as expounded by the Grand Lodge
of the United States. This question
comes up to mo for decision from
Yalley Lodge No. 42, at Independ
ence, and not wishing to take the re
sponsibility of declaring any jiart of
the organic law to be unconstitution
al, I reserve the decision, and sub
mit the matter for your action.
CIIAKTEIJS.
All charters that were authorized
at tho last session of the Grand
Lodge, were duly issuml to tho re
spective lodges. In compliance with
former legislation on the subject,
new charters were also issued and
delivered to all the lodges in the ju
risdiction, in lieu of the old charters,
which were ordered to be cancelled.
REPORTS OF D. D. GRAND MASTERS
I herewith submit the annual re
ports made to me by the various dis
trict deputies. Those from districts
Nos. 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 20 have
made no report, and I have caused
citations to be issed as required by
law. Some of. these contain valua-
blo information and useiul sugges
tions. But about one-half of these
reports are very meager, which fact
I ascribe more to the want of a law
defining fully and specially what
such reports should contain, than
any want of ability or disposition on
the part of tho deputies to comply
with the law. Since, under the
present regulation, the Grand Mas
ter cannot in person visit all the
lodges, many of his active field du
ties necessarily devolve upon his
deputies. To " enable this Grand
Lodgo to legislate intelligently to
suppby the wants of the jurisdiction,
its officers should be thoroughly and
reliably informed as to the exact con
dition of the various subordinates,
and such information can be best
contributed by the district deputies.
I therefore recommend that some
committee be charged with the labor
of preparing the form of an annual
report for the district deputies, to
consist of a variety of questions,
which must necessarily elicit from
the deputy such answers, in detail,
as will give all the statistical data
and other information required by
the Grand Lodge. These blanks
should be printed, and forwarded to
the deputies in due season by the
Grand Secretary.
OFFICIAL VISITATIONS.
My opportunities to visit lodges
have been necessarily restricted dur
ing the past year. I have, however,
been enable to meet with lodges in
Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Rose
bur" Mvrtle Creek, Canyonville,
Olympia "and Seattle, to the mem
bers of which I exemplified the un
written work. I found all of these
lodges in good working condition,
and notablv so in Southern Oregon.
where a very marked revival has
taken place during the past 3-ear.
A great deal of new material has
been added, taken from the most re
spectable and influential elements in
the community. A bright and pros
perous future may be safely predict-
ed for these lodges. I found a few
lodges with a large membership, all
of which paid their dues with punct
uality and discharged all their out
ward obligations as Odd Fellows:
but the faces of many members were
rarely seen in tho lodge room. This
want of frequent attendance has a
discouraging tendency tijion the
other members, and wherever I met
lukewarmness in the work, the cause
could nearly always be traced to slim
lodge meetings, a consequent lack of
interest and general inefficiency in
the work of the order.
"WASHINGTON AND IDAHO.
No change in the relations between
this Grand Lodyre, and the lodges in
these Territories have taken place
during the past .year. Greatly owing
to the kind and fostering care which
has ever been extended by this
Grand Lodge, the order in these Ter
ritories has had a steady and pros
perous growth, and in Washington,
at least, sufficient strength will be
fore long bo developed to maintain,
if necessasy or desirable, a separate
Grand Lodge organization.
ANNIVERSARY.
On the 20th day of February last,
I issued a proclamation enjoining
the observance of the 50th anniver
sary of our, order and also a general
dispensation authorizing lodges to
appear publicly in the regalia and
jewels of the order on that day. I
am glad to be able to state that the
occasion was properly celebrated in
all parts of the jurisdiction by pro
cessions, orations, friendly reunions
and other festivities of an appropri
ate character. In Hillsboro, Can-
yonville and some other localities,
the observances were of a very im
posing nature and exhibited in a
very favorable light to the outside
world the love and attachment of the
brethren toward
the
principles
of
our order.
WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' RELIEF ASSO
CIATION.
This organization, which was cre
ated by tho Grand Lodge at its last
session and is conducted and man
aged under its auspices, has been in
successful operation during the past
year. Twenty-two subordinate lodges
aggregating a membership of 80.7,
have formally adopted the plan sub
mitted by the Grand Lodge. The
other lodges have rejected the same,
but 170 individual members of these
have opened a personal account with
the Grand Secretary, and are now
contributing members of the associ
ation. The total number of mem
bers at the present time being 1,037,
it insures the sum of .8518 50 to the
widow or person designated as tire
beneficiary in the case of tho death
of a member. But four members
have died, and the sums respectively
paid were 8387 50, 8418, 8550 50, and
8518 50 on each assessment. Tho
principle of this organization con
tains the crude germ of a system
which, by the aid of experience, can
undoubtedly bo developed into a suc
cessful plan of mutual insurance.
Many lodges are as yet undecided
concerning it, and waiting to see the
practical results of its operation.
The principal objection urged by
many seems to be that the young
man of 21, whose lease of life may
be fairly presumed to continue for a
long period, is liable at Lis ago to
far greater prospective burdens than
those imposed upon the man of 00,
who may reasonably expect to reap
the same benefit from the plan with
a largely disproportionate outlay of
expense. But, not being versed in
the science taught by mortuary sta
tistics, I leave tho whole matter to
your wisdom, with this simple rec
ommendation, namely, that some law
bo enacted which will prevent any
lodge from adopting the plan of the
association, or any individual mem
ber from becoming a member, when
the danger of death is imminent or
likely to occur, and when either
lodgo or member becomes a sub
scriber for the single purpose of se
curing the paj-ment of the benefit.
In this connection I would also state
that a very largo amount of addition
al labor is entailed upon the Grand
Secretary by reason of this associa
tion, and if the financial condition of
the Grand Lodgo will permit, I
would recommend that the salary of
that officer be raised from 8400 to
8000 per annum.
APPOINTMENTS.
The following appointments have
been made by me during tho past
year: June 5, 1874, James Hay, 1).
I) G. M. in Idaho for district No. 8;
June 5, 1874, F. L. Ensign, 1). I). G.
M. in Idaho for district No. 9; June
5, 1874, James Noble, D. 1). G. M.
for district No. 5; June 5, 1874, C.
W. Tower, D. I. CI. M. for district
No. 27; June 9, 1874, 1. E. Thomas,
D. D. G. M. for district No. 20; Nov.
18 1874, James A. Smith, D. D. G.
M.' for district No. 2, vice C. W.
rarrish, removed; Feb. 24. 1875, Jay
Tuttle, D. D. G. M. for district No.
20, vice J. C. Wing.
DISPENSATIONS.
At various times during the past
vear I have granted numerous appli
cations for dispensations to Lodges
to hold public installations and cele
brations and festivities of a various
nature. They are stated in detail in
the record of the Grand Master here
with submitted, to which I refer for
further particulars.
APPORTIONMENT.
have also taken the liberty, in a
few instances, to reapportion some of
the districts after duly consulting
some of the Lodges and members in
terested. These changes have also
COURTESY OF BANCROFT LIBRARY,
UNIVERSITY OF CALTFOPJJTA.
been recorded, and are respectfully
submitted to ycii for your approval.
HISTORY OF ODD FELLOWSHIP. ;
At the last session of the Grand
Lodge a committo w as appointed to
contribute a chapter to the history
of Odd Fellowship, now being pre
pared by our venerable and beloved
brother, J. L. Ridgcly, Grand C and
Recording Secretary under the aus
pices of the Grand Lodgo of tho
United States. Bro. T. M. Gatch,
the chairman of that committee, re
ports that the services of Past Grand
Master Bariinm have been secured, i
and that ha lias cansented to furnish
'an authentic account of -the origin.
and early history of our Order in
Oregon and the adjoining Territories.
No part of the appropriation of 8100
made at the last session for that pur
pose has as yet been used.
APPEALS.
No appeals from the decisions of
any of the district deputies have been
taken to tho Grand Master, and so
far as I am informed there is only
one appeal to be settled by this G rand
Lodge. All controversies and ques
tions have been happily settled witli
out any appeal to higher authority.
PENDING CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENTS. You will be called upon at the
present session to consider some very
important amendments to the consti
tution of tho Grand Lodge, which
were proposed at the last session.
The first of these contemplates a rad
ical change in the election of grand
officers by constituting each subor
dinate Lodge aseparatepollingplaee,
where each Past Grand of such Lodge
may exercise at any particular time
his right of suffrage for such candi
dates as have been duly nominated,
tho returns to bo canvassed and the
result declared by the Grand Master
and his assistants prior to each ses
sion of the (J-rand Lodge. The par
ticular merit claimed for this amend
ment seems to be the fact that every
Past Grand, no matter how remote
his residence, will have an opportun
ity to exercise his inherent right to
express his choice in the election of
grand officers, whereas under the
present system, the choice is confined
to representatives in actual attend
ance and such Past Grands as reside
in tho immediate locality where the
Grand Lodge holds its session. It
is also claimed that the amendment,
if adopted, will give more time and
opportunity to canvass the fitness
and qualifications of the several can
didates, as well as expedite the busi
ness of the regular session. Several
other arguments for and against tho
proposed amendment may be reason
ably urged.
The second proposed amendment
of givat importance is the creation of
an intermediate tribunal, to be called
the District ('rand Committee, com
posed of all the Past -Grands in each
district and having as its presiding
officer the L. 1). G. M. This com
mittee is to have a limited supervis
ory control over all the Lodges in
the district and is to exercise an in
ferior appellate jurisdiction and cer
tain other powers 111II3 set forth in
the amendments. My experience
during the past year enables me to
state that any measure calculated to
lessen the labor and responsibility of
tho Grand Master ought to meet
with favorable consideration by this
Grand Lodg, if it can be adopted
without a radical departure from an
cicnt landmarks and without substi
tuting a cumbersome, expensive and
inconvenient machinery to perform
functions now devolving upon the
Grand Master or his duputics.
Several other conststutional amend
ments of minor importance are pend
ing and will be brought to your par
ticular notice in duo time.
Our constitution is the code of fun
damental and organic law, which
gives power and vitality to tho vari
ous inferior systems of laws, rules
and regulations of grand and subor
dinate Lodges, and restrains and lim
its the sphero to which they extend.
No amendment should therefore be
adopted unless tho necessity is press
ing and immediate and tho ren mis
appropriate, certain and adequate.
The spirit of change and rennovation
is always rife in this progressive age
and too often ill-advised measures
are hastily adopted without that due
deliberation which the importance of
the subject requires. Hence I invoke
at your hands a careful and close
scrutiny of these amendments and
their probable result if adopted, and
such action as tho welfare of the
jurisdiction may seem to require.
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
- The following resolution was adopt
ed by this Grand Lodge at its last
session: .
"Ilesolced, By this Grand Lodge,
that wo discountenance tho use and
sale of all intoxicating drinks by
members of the I. O. O. F. in this
jurisdiction." .
The adoption of this resolution has
given rise to considerable discussion
and controversy in various xarts of
the jurisdiction as to its true con
struction and the extent of its itera
tive force. I regret to state also that
by reason thereof a factious spirit
has manifested itself in one or two
places, engendering hostile and bitter
feelings. It became my official duty
to givo a construction to this resolu
tion and I held in substance that the
same did not amount to any absolute
Irohibition of the use and sale of in
toxicating drinks by members of the
Order. The Grand Lodge of the
United States has decided that it is
contrar- to the spirit and xolicy of
our institution to pass any law on
the subject referred to, creating a
new test of membership:) in the Order.
The same authority has also decided
that Lodges cannot abridge the lib
erty of tho citizen, nor dictate to him
what he shall eat and drink. All
good Odd Fellows, as -such desjfise
the abuse of intoxicating drinks and
riiiw II'
in their ' war against vice they look ; ments and decisions. When properly
upon drunkenness as incomxatible ,f completed, this Digest will be of great
with ever .' rrincixlo of tho Order. utility and benefit to the Order in .
But neither will the laws nor the j this jurisdiction. It will present t&1
the principles of Odd Fellowship do- ; the Lodges and members all local
scend to the restriction or regulation legislation in conqmet form, readily
of the beverage of its members. enabling all to ascertain a disputed
While temperance is a cardinal xrin- , xoint; it will secure a bettei compli
cixle of the Order, and must be ob- i ance with the laws and uniformity
served, no attempt can be made to j throughout the jurisdiction: it will
enforce totnl abstinence, a uinciile
never intended bv the framers to be
grafted on our O
)rder, (see White's ;
This being the par- f
I Digest, p. 137.)
amount law, the
resolution of this
Grand Lodge so far as it has any
force, can only ,be considered as a
Irotest against the use and sale of
intoxicating drinks and an admoni
tion to the racnibcrshir; Apxlying
these principles to the cases submit
ted to mo for adjudication, and aris
ing under said resolution, I decided
as follows:
1st. A man of otherwise good mor
al character, but who is a dealer in
liquors is not for that reason alone
debarred from membership.
2d. No Lodge can rexmmand, fine,
susxend or expel a member otherwise
in good standing, for being a dealer
in liquors.
3d. A member of the Order has
tho lawful right to deal in liquors or
use the same as a beverage in such a
manner as not to transgress tho laws
of the State or violate the well-known
jiriiiciples of the Order as laid down
in the ritual.
In making these decisions I have
not considered tho questions in their
ethical X'hase, but in a purely legal
aspect, and I respectfully ask you
to apxuwe the same. Uxon the
whole, it may bo regretted that the
resolution was iassed at all, for want
of its effectiveness and I may be al
lowed to express the ho-io that such
action be taken by you in the prem
ises as will settle for ever the mean
ings, scope and extent of this resolu
tion aud for ever settle all controver
sy concerning it.
THE INCORPORATION OF LODGES.
Many subordinate Lodges in this
jurisdiction havo from time to time
adopted and filed under the laws of
the State, articles of iucorroration,
whereby they became colorations
and in their corxorate capacity do
now own and hold real and x'ersonal
Xroxierty of every kind and descrip
tion. A resolution of the Grand
Lodge of the United States xassed in
1800 (Journal 3,994, 4,012) provides
all acts of incorporation obtained In
subordinate Lodges must be submit
ted to the State Grand Lodgo for ax
Xroval, before the same can be ac
cexted and acted ujjon by such sub
ordinates, and it shall be the duty of
tho Grand Lodgo to see that such
articles of incorporation contain no
Xu-ovision inconsistent with the laws
of the Order and that the rights of
Xiroxierty of both grand and subordi
nate Lodges are as fully xirotected as
the legislative provisions of theStat?
will xermit. This rovipion seems
to have been entirely disregarded,
both by tho Grand Lodgo and all of
its subordinates in this jurisdiction.
A vast amount of xn"Pcl'ty, consist
ing of real estate, covered with costly
structures, cemeteries, c, as well
as moneys, Lodgo fixtures, stocks
and other investments, aggregating
to the value of many thousand dol
lars h :s been accumulated and is now
held in trust in this jurisdiction for
the benevolent objects of our Order,
and it becomes highly imxiortant to
so guard this trust as to secure its
proper application, avoid allxossible
litigation, prevent an impuTcr diversion-as
well as to secure for the
Grand Lodge its reversionary right
to all the xroxerty of Lodges, whose
charters are surrendered or taken
away, I therefore recommend the ap
pointment of a committee of brothers
learned in the law, to draft a blank
form for articles of incorxioration in
conformity to tho general incorpora
tion law of the State, the same to be
used by subordinate Lodges in this
jurisdiction and also the xassago of
a lesolution authorizing the standing
committee to approve the same dur
ing tho recess of the Grand Lodge
and requiring tho submission of all
such articles adoted to the Grand
Lodgo or tho standing committee,
before they are held as required by
law.
DIGEST.
At the last session of the Grand
Lodge, and by its authority, I axi
pointed a committee, consisting of
Bros. J. N. Dolph, R. W. Grand
Warden, J. W. Whallev, P. G. Rep.,
and J. M. Bacon, R. W. Grand Sec
retary, for the purxiose of ireparing,
during the recess, a digest of local
legislation in force in this jurisdic
tion. On the 20th day of April,
1875, I received and accepted the
resignation of Bro. J. W. Whallev,
P. G. Rex., as a member of said
committee, and filled the vacancy
therebv created bv the axqiointment
of Bro. F. O. McCown, a P. G. of
Oregon Lodgo No. 3. Since that
time the members of the committee
have been dilligently engaged in xcr
forming the task assigned to them,
which, however, is not sufficiently
completed to be rejiorted at the xres
ent session. The labor imposed uxon
this committee is very arduous and
difficult to accomxilish. Tho legisla
tion x'roxiosed to be embodied in the
Digest consists of resolutions, an
swers to questions, reports of com
mittees and other enactments, which
are scattered over tho nineteen vol
umes constituting tho Journals of j
Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of j
Oregon. A xroper execution of tins
rem-ires tho committee to classify
and arrango tho various subjects un
der aimropiiate heads and titles, to
eliminate tho points and substance
from tne various reports of commit
tees and answers, to bring together
and incorporate the various amend
ments and modifications into the
original acts and to reject all repeal
ed inoperative and obsolete enact-
avoid many frivolous controversies
and ai-peals and will materially les-
sen the labors of the grand officers
and save time and exxense in de
creasing the business of the Grand
Lo Ige. I therefore recommend:
: 1st. .-Tho continuance of the corn
mi t tee wit luthe inj unction to proceed
with all convenient Bpeed. '
2d. The" immediate publication
under existing regulations- of the Di
gest, when submitted to and approv
ed by the standing committee of elec
tive grand officers, to be published
with the Constitution of the Grand
and Subordinate Lodges and such
Xmblic ceremonies and other matters
as is now xiermitted to be xmblished
by tho laws of the Order'and deter
mined by said standing committee.
3d. Tlie first expense of publica
tion to be xaid by the Grand Lodge.
4th. The number of copies of ibe
Digest to be xrinted and the price of
each copy to be fixed by said stand
ing committee.
5th. A resolution that each subor
dinate Lodge in this jurisdiction
shall ymrehase at least two copies.
If the financial condition of the
Grand Lodgo will xermit, I would
also recommend a reasonable com
pensation to the members of the di
gest committee for the laborious task
imxosed uxon them, which requires
legal skill and learning, as well as
Xiatient exertion.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The very voluminous correspon
dence of this office, together with a
detailed statement of all my acts and
doings as Grand Master, is herewith
submitted to bo referred to and ex
amined by the xroxer committee.
REJECTIONS.
I recommend a law making it an
allense to criticize., and improperly
comment on the actions and motives
of a brother who chooses, in good
faith, to exercise his perogative of
black-balling a candidate for mem
bershix. Nearly all of the unfriendly
feeling which has ever existed in
Lodges is attributable to this habit.
A brother casting a black-ball ought
to be held amenable, when actuated
by malice or improper motives, by
putting him on trial instanter, but
no uncharitable criticisms or imxingn
ing of motives ought to be allowed.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Tho O. S. N. Co., O. & C. R. R.
Co., O. C. R. R. Co., N.P. R. R. Co.
and xierhaxis other lines of transpor
tation have generously extended a
reduction of fares for officers and
members of this Grand Lodge. To
all these conqmnies suitable acknowl
edgment ought to be made.
CONCLUSION.
I cannot close my refjort witliout
expressing my gratitude to Deputy
Grand Master Gatch, who ably offici
ated in my xdace during my tempor
ary absence of three months, and to
the various District Deputy Grand
Masters, for the aid which they have
so efficiently rendered to enable mo
to discharge the responsible duties
of my office. I also feel deeply in
debted to the very xrompt and effi
cient Grand Secretary, Bro. J. M.
Bacon, who was ever ready to assist
me with his counsel and advice,
which was rendered doubly valuable
by his many years of experience and
arduous labor in the cause of Odd
Fellowshii.
I surrender into your hands the
authority of my office with a great
sense of relief from the responsibili
ties which it involves, and also with
the deexest gratitude for the trust
and honor conferred upon me and
tho warm, and fraternal support given
to me by all Odd Fellows, here and
abroad. During the past year per
sonal trials and difficulties have fall
en to my lot, and I cheerfully bear
testimony that the great heart of th
Brotherhood in this jurisdiction no
bly exemxnificd in their conduct tow
ard me the x"rincixiles of faith, friend
shix,' charity and brotherly love. I
trust that harmony and zeal may
characterize your deliberations, and
that the result of j our labors may re
dound to your credit and the honor
of our Order.
Submitted in the bonds of Friend
shix, Love and Truth.
Henry G. Struve,
Grand Master.
Portland, Or., May 18, 1875.
India Rurber Sidewalks. India
rubber sidewalks are coming into
fashion out west. For small towns
they are admirable combining econ
omy with durability. The first ex
Xieriment was made at Danville, Iowa,
where three hundred yards were put
down on one of the principal streets.
All the boys in the place ran over it,
but there wa3 no noise. A leading
merchant stopped in front of his
house; then junked on his heels.
The elastic forces hidden in the rub
ber threw him over the gate to the
roof of the xiazza. Bnt after a few
trials he was able to alight on the
stexs with the graceful accuracy of a
living squirrel. The chief drawback
to the walk ii its odorous familiarity
in hot weather, but it can be neutral
ized by a weekly was of borax and
cold tar. Its xrinciiial advantage is
that it can be stretched. As the town
grows it is xulled out toward the
suburbs. Two yoko of cattle can
lengthen it three miles a day.
Put it Off. An economical farm
er's daughter in Massachusetts put off
her wedding day because eggs were
ux to forty cents per dozen, and it
would take two dozen for the ved'
ding cakes and pudding.
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