Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois - University Library

•^78 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS L, Tu VS da i';
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) Nov. 18. 1913.
DOCUMENT NO. 6.
To the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, I. 0. 0. F.:
It is said that Odd Fellowship is progressive in its character and
times and conditions change with the development and progress of
natural events. Physical conditions and inventions and important
discoveries, supplemented with the experience of nearly 100 years
added to the history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has
brought many changes from what the originators of the Order early
taught. While one of the cardinal principles of Odd Fellows has
always been to relieve the distressed, this principle applied with great
force in the origin and wants of the Order because it originated
among a poor class of people, and there were but very few, if any, but
what needed help when they were in distressed circumstances. After an
experience of nearly 100 years, we find that a large per cent of the
membership make this principle the leading factor of membership in
the Order, and under the laws of the Order we are compelled to pay
sick benefits to brothers who are worth $10,000, or more, the same as
to those who may not be worth more than 10 cents; thus, in a great
measure making the Order a fraternal insurance company, paying out
upon certain conditions ,based upon sickness or disability, "whether
the brother is in needy or distressed circumstances or not. This prac-
tice has been taken up by other modern orders and made the leading
and principal object of their organization, while with Odd Fellows
there are other cardinal principles which are practiced and taught in
the lodge room and among the members that overshadow every feature
of a financial nature, and especially among that class of mem-
bers who are in affluent circumstances and do not need financial
assistance in time of sickness or disability; therefore, be it
Resolved, That our Representatives to the Sovereign Grand Lodge
bring this question before the Sovereign Grand Lodge at its next
session and use their best endeavors to get a recognition of the basic
principles of Odd Fellowship recognized and enacted in the laws of
the Order, so that the question of money benefits will be of a secondary
consideration and given only to those who are in need of financial
assistance and in such a way that it will be a help, in time of need;
and for the enactment of such laws as will regulate the payment of
funeral and sick benefits to those who really need them, and are not
financially able to meet such demands.
Referred to Committee on Legislation.
Xot adopted.
Geo. W. Young, No. 392.