DATE OF ORGANIZATION-OFFICIAL PARTICIPANTS-CHARTER MEMBERS-FIRST OFFICERS-DATE OF CHARTER-FIRST INITIATION-PLACE OF MEETING-TOTAL MEMBERSHIP-PRESENT OFFICERS-FINANCIAL CONDITION.

WELCOME LODGE, No. 37, Knights of Pythias, of the city of Muncie, Delaware Co., Ind., was organized in August, 1873, in the Odd Follows' Hall, situated on Main street, by Charles P. McCarty, P. G. C., Harry C. Jones, George C. Webster, Russel Elliott, Dolph Grose, Scott, from Indianapolis, and Newcastle, Messrs. Grose and Scott from the latter and the others from the former place. The following persons constituted the charter members, to wit: D. B. Shindeler, W. D. Jones, J. N. Templer, B. S. Gregory, George W. Spilker, M. S. Claypool, W. R. Maddy, L. L. Hodge, J. F. Sanders, A. Rothchild, S. P. Anthony, Jr., Samuel Huffer, George Higby, William Glenn, Richard Berger, Joseph Fox, John Mann, O. H. Swain, Frank Leon, W. Slick, J. C. Bacon, W. C. Langdon. The date of the charter was January 28, 1874, the society being organized under dispensation. The first initiation took place on the fourth meeting of the lodge, September 5, 1873, the first initiate being William A. McClellan. The first officers were:

William Glenn, P. C.; D. P. Shideler, C. C.; Richard Berger, V. P.; J. N. Templer, P.; M. S. Claypool, K.of R. & S.; W. B. Maddy, M.at F.; L. L. Hodge, M.of E. The following officers were appointed, to wit: R. S. Gregory, M.at A.; O.H. Swain, I. G.; George Higman, O.G. At the meeting of January 2, 1874, the Treasurer submitted the following abstract of the condition of the finances: Receipts, $336.55; disbursements, $309.40. In the report of June 30, 1880, the receipts were shown to be $402.47, and the disbursements for the same period $282.10, showing a net balance of $180.37. The order continued to meet in the Odd Fellows' Hall until March, 1879. On the 22d of that month, a committee was appointed to secure other rooms in which to hold meetings. A short time after this, the society moved to the opera house where they have since remained. Previous to the removal, however, the lodge held its meetings during two sittings, in the new Odd Fellows' Hall, on Walnut Street. The hall now occupied by the order in the opera house was fitted up by it at an expense of $250, which, together with the furniture, paraphernalia, etc., cost about $725. The total membership on the 30th of June 1880, according to the report of that date was fifty-two. The present officers are: Ed Stradling, P.; Benjamin F. Miller, C. C.; A. E. Lemmon, V. C.; J. M. Barnes, K.of R. & S.; W. R. Maddy, M.of F.; S. U. Huffer, M.of E.; John Keck, M.at A.; C. Stradling, I. G.: Theodore Palmer, O. G.; M. G. Mock, P. C. (Page 184)

CHAPTER X.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

MUTUAL LODGE, No. 122-DATE OF ITS INSTITUTION-INSTITUTING AUTHIORITIES-CHARTER MEMBERS-FIRST OFFICERS-WHERE INSTITUTED-SUBSEQUENT PLACE OF MEETING-PRESENT FINANCIAL CONDITION-WIDOW AND ORPHANS' FUND-Times ACCOUNT OF THE ORGANIZATION.

On the 14th of June 1875, H. W. Vermeer, S. D., and H. H. Bartholomew, instituted in the I. O. R. M. hall; removing at the next subsequent meeting into the old Odd Fellows' Hall in the city of Muncie, Mutual Lodge, No. 122, of the Knights of Honor, of the State of Indiana. The following are the original members, known as charter members, to wit: William Glenn, S. U. Huffer, J. A. Cockefair, B. I. Williams, W. J. Boyden, J. R. Paxon, A. N. Gallbreath, J. H. Miller, S. P. Anthony, Jr., Harvey Russey, Theodore Palmer, George W. Richey.

The following were the first officers chosen:

William Glenn, Past Dictator; S. U. Huffer, Dictator; J. A. Cockefair, Vice Dictator; W. J. Boyden, Assistant Dictator; B. F. Williams, Financial Reporter; S. P. Anthony, Jr., Reporter; A. M. Gallbreath, Treasurer; Harvey Russey, Guide; J. R. Paxon, Sentinel. From the date of the institution of the lodge until the latter part of March 1879, the regular place of meeting was in the old Odd Fe11ows Hall, in the room in which it commenced its career in Muncie. About that date, a change of location becoming necessary, arrangements were made whereby comfortable quarters were afforded in the opera house, in conjunction with the Knights of Pythias who had expended a considerable sum in fitting up the room for their own accommodation. Since the time of its removal to this room, the lodge continued to meet regularly at the same place, which appears to be recognized as the permanent headquarters. The Widows' and Orphans' Fund were reported as follows, on the 30th of June, 1880, for the hall year commencing January 1,1880: receipts of fund from December 31, 1879, to June 30, 1880 $155.35; disbursements for same period, $155.35.

The general receipts and disbursement for the same period were as follows:

Receipts of W. O. B. Fund for the same time $207. 90
Disbursements W. O. B. Fund for the same time $207. 90

General Fund:

Receipts from December 31 to June 30, 1879....$167. 80
Disbursements from December 31 to June 30, 1879....$84. 88

Receipts of General Fund from June 30 to December 31, 1879....78.03
Disbursements of General Fund from June 30 to Dec. 31, 1879....60.76
Balance on hand $17.28

The officers, July 1880, were the following:

Moses Lutz, Past Dictator; D. S. Huffer, Dictator; J. R. Paxon, Vice Dictator; J. A. Stahle, Assistant Dictator; L. D. Richmond, Chaplain; O. F. Jones, Guide; S. U. Huffer, Reporter; L. H. Harper, Financial Reporter; J. H. Miller, Treasurer; George Feathers, Guardian; Leroy Heath, Sentinel.

The present (April, 1881) membership in good standing is thirty-seven.

"The objects of the order,"as set forth in an article from the Muncie Times "are to unite fraternally all acceptable men of all professions, to give moral and material aid in its power, and give to the widow and orphans of a deceased member, a benefit of $2,000 at his death, and to care for the sick and distressed" and otherwise to maintain and cultivate the principles of a common humanity toward the brotherhood. (Page 184)