Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois - University Library

16 JOURNAL OP THE ] Nov.''f^tJo(
Lodges for a donation of a sufficient amount of money to complete
the contract for the building. With a magnanimity unparalleled in
Fraternal institutions, the money was raised and the Home completed.
No picture has been as beautiful so the building itself since completed.
It was found that it was necessary to have $20,000 to build the
building and complete the first story. When this was done the Board
found that they could complete the second story for about one-half
the amount that it would cost at any other time to do the work, so
they let the contract to complete the second story, which left them at
that time, with the contract so made, about $1,000 in debt. If only
the first story was completed, there would be but room for about
thirty-two inmates, but, by completing the second story, they can provide
for at least one hundred and two. I believe that the Board acted
wisely in completing the second story of this building, and hope that
the jurisdiction will indorse their course.
BY-LAWS GOVERNING THE OLD FOLKS' HOME.
This is, indeed, an important question that presents itself for our
consideration. That is, the mode of conducting the Old Folks' Home;
and it is now for you to determine what laws shall govern the admission
of the brothers to the Home, and in what manner the Home shall
be maintained. Two plans have been presented that I think are worthy
of consideration. One is for the Lodge to which the member seeking
admission belongs to pay a certain amount per week for the maintenance
of the member while at the Home, thus supporting the Home
largely by the amount paid by the Subordinate Lodges for the care of
members sent from their respective Lodges. The other plan is for the
Grand Lodge to appropriate a certain amount of money to maintain
the Home, and raise the same by per capita tax. I do not believe that
the Home will, for several years to come, need more than ten cents
per capita to maintain it. I believe that the laws governing this Home
should be made so as to permit members to donate a sufficient amount
of money or property to the Home for the purpose of their own maintenance
at that place. I have recommended to the Board of Trustees
that the committee empowered to draft the By-laws to govern the Old
Folks' Home should present to the Grand Lodge two sets of By-laws,
based upon these two plans of maintaining the Home. These are to
be submitted to the Grand Lodge, and the plan which, in their judgment,
is deemed best, I hope it will adopt. This demands at your hands,
my dear Brothers, careful consideration, as the future of the Home
may depend upon the legislation adopted by this session of the Grand
Lodge.
I have received since the dedication of the Old Folks' Home on
the 25th of October, the resignation of Past Grand Master Henry A.
Stone, as a member of the Board of Trustees, his resignation to take
effect November 15th, which has been duly accepted.