Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois - University Library

Nov TU da GRAND ! l| i913
LODGE OF ILLINOIS, I. O. 6. F. 1 T7
but if all half orphans are to be admitted on the same terms as full
orphans no one can estimate when we will reach our limit.
As your Finance Committee carefully surveys the situation, we
feel it our duty to call the attention of every member of this Grand
Lodge to what we will be called upon to meet in the future, in order
that they may study it thoroughly and consider it well. Every conservative
business man will see at a glance that good, careful management
and the application of sound business principles will be abso-
lutely necessary in the future, to maintain our Orphans' Home, as the
cost of its maintenance will increase each year.
Your committee is firmly of the opinion, that several children
now in our Orphans' Home are very largely supported and cared for
by our Order that should be cared for by their surviving parent. It
should not be the policy of our Order to relieve a surviving parent
from the duty and responsibility that devolves upon every parent, to
support their own children to the extent of their ability. At present
our Order is pursuing that policy to some extent, and, as it so mate-
rially affects the finances of our Order, your Finance Committee feels
it is within their province, and their duty, to call your attention to it
in this manner.
Your committee regrets to see that the Directors of the Orphans'
Home have again overdrawn their Building fund nearly $3,000.00. We
have in the past strongly protested against this> practice and feel it
our duty to do so again. We believe it a dangerous practice and one
that ought to be discontinued.
All of which we respectfully submit for your consideration.
M. P. BERRY,
GEO. F. KOESTER,
WILLIS MELVILLE,
Committee
Adopted.
FOURTH REPORT, BY BROTHER WILLIS MELVILLE, OF NO.
693t
I. O. O. F.
To the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, I. O. O. F.:
Your Committee on Finance would respectfully report as follows:
On Thursday, November 6, 1913, your committee met at the office
of the Grand Secretary for the purpose of examining his books', checking
his accounts and etc., and taking an inventory of the supplies on
hand. We found the business of his office in excellent condition, his
books showing very clearly all receipts and disbursements, from what
source received and for what purpose paid out. We found the receipts
of his office for the six months ending October 31, as follows: