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Report of Grand Treasurer.

To the R W. Grand Lodge of the United States, I. O O F.:

Section I, Article VII. of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, constitutes the Grand Treasurer the custodian of all the moneys, and all the evidences of debt, choses in action, deeds, etc., of the Grand Lodge, and requires him to lay before the Grand Lodge at its stated communication in September, annually, a full and correct statement of his accounts.

In obedience to the injunctions of the Constitution, the undersigned has the honor of communicating to your honorable Grand Body the subjoined statement of the operations of the monetary affairs of the department of the treasury, during the fiscal year terminating with the 31st day of August, 1878, and the condition of the treasury at the date of this report.

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To the end that the Grand Lodge may understand this money account, it is proper to state that while the debit side of the Treasurer's account exhibits the total amount chargeable to that officer, it does not in the aggregate indicate the revenue proper for the fiscal year, for the reason that it includes a cash balance of $13,474.91, brought forward from August 31, 1877, the date of the closing of the preceding fiscal year, and also includes the proceeds of the sale of $7,500 of United States 5-20 bonds of 1865, amounting to $7,778.37. Deducting those two items from the aggregate amount of cash which the Grand Treasurer charges himself with, to wit, $52,633.80; and it will show that the revenue proper for the fiscal year ending with the 31st of August, 1878, was $31,380.52; which was derived from the following sources, to wit:

From the foregoing state of facts the revenue and expenses proper for the fiscal year may be stated as follows:

The expenditures of the year were materially increased by, what is generally termed, extraordinary expenses, to wit;

On the other hand, the general depression of trade and productive industry, the depreciation in the values of property and productions, and the scarcity of employment for those who depend upon physical labor for support, that have marked the times for the last two or three years in all the domain of the United States, in addition to other causes known to those familiar with the distribution of supplies to subordinate Grand Jurisdictions, have contributed to affect the sources of revenue of the Grand Lodge during the period indicated. The Subordinate Lodges of the Order, in the matter of their membership, and in their revenues, have not been exempt from the prejudical effects of the state of the country. A favorable change in the condition of the people will bring with it a more vigorous vitality in all the departments of the Order.

The available assets of the Grand Lodge—which means cash money, and that which can at pleasure be converted into cash—on the day of making up this report, to wit: August 31, 1878, were—

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It may be observed by an examination of the tabular statement that the Grand Treasurer disposed of $7,500 of U. S. bonds. The sale of $5,500 of these was rendered necessary to contribute to the payment of the mileage and per diem of the last session of the Grand Lodge, and the printing of the Daily and Revised Journals, and other expenses incurred in the first few months of the year. The other $2,000 of bonds were called in by the government on the 30th of July, 1878, and the proceeds of the same contributed to increase the cash balance.

It is to the Grand Treasurer a matter of regret that he cannot present a more favorable report of the financial condition of the Grand Lodge in the department which is especially, by the Constitution, placed under his charge. It is, however, as he conceives, his duty to present the money affairs as they exist, accompanied with such remarks or explanations in that connection as may render the Grand Lodge intelligent upon the subject, to the end that it may, if deemed by it necessary, adopt such legislation in that connection as its wisdom may suggest. In his judgment, he would be faithless to the responsible trust reposed in him by the favor of the Grand Lodge if he did less than this.

It is respectfully suggested that the Grand Treasurer be authorized to dispose of such amount of the bonds of the Grand Lodge as may be necessary to meet any deficiency of cash moneys in the treasury to meet its obligations.

He has also the honor of reporting the condition of the Wildey Monument Fund.

Dr., Grand Treasurer.