Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois - University Library

Nov 18 1913 1 GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS, I. O. O. F. 53
names and addresses, with as much detail as possible, to one of the
members of the Special Relief Committee.
Every Brother in the Order who is acquainted with this Special
Relief Committee has full confidence in their ability, in their Odd
Fellowship and in their desire to relieve distress. Let every member
in the Fraternity assist them in every way possible.
Done at Sullivan, Illinois, April 26, 1913.
Attest: JOHN E. JENNINGS,
JNO. H. SIKES, Grand Master.
Grand Secretary."
As responses were received from the Lodges, the following letter
(Marked Exhibit "A"), together with a supply of blank application?
(Marked Exhibit "B"), was sent to them.
Exhibit "A."
To Subordinate Lodges, I. O. 0. F.. State of Illinois:
Dear Brothers—You have received a communication from John E.
Jennings, Grand Master, stating he had issued to the Lodges' of Illinois,
I. O. O. F., an appeal for aid, on account of the recent floods, and his
request that each Lodge, any of whose members have suffered loss by
reason of the floods, appoint a special committee of three to search
out who the losers are and how much they have lost, and make full
and complete inquiry into the conditions of such Brothers and report
at once to the Special Relief Committee appointed by him.
In furtherance of such instructions from the Grand Master, we
are sending you herewith application blanks, to be filled out by each
Brother making application for aid, by your local committee, together
with such other information your committee may desire to give, and
forward by mail as soon as possible to HENRY A. STONE, Chairman
Committee, Vandalia, Illinois.
When responses are received from the Lodges addressed, and an
estimate of the total losses claimed, this relief committee will visit
each place, and, after investigating each case with the local committee
and the applicants as far as possible, will make distribution according
to the merits of each case and in proportion to the amount availnble
and at our disposal in this Special Flood Sufferers' Fund.
Your local committee in securing this information should give
each applicant to understand that they cannot expect the Grand Lodge
to fully compensate them in their losses. We can assist them only
according to the amount of money placed in the fund by the donations
received from the Lodges for this specific purpose, and to be issued to
Brothers who are in actual need of assistance and to no one who may
be financially able to sustain the loss himself.