DEAR COMRADE:—I have your favor of 3d inst. and am fully convinced that you are right in the references and hopes you express for the year 1899. Our local U. B. organization is in good shape, we never were able before to work so unitedly and loyally and the efforts from all the members seem now to strengthen that unity.
Yes, we are all looking forward to Point Loma in many respects. Many of our members are planning to go down and I only wish we could all go and hope we may be able.
UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD LODGE NO. 7, AMERICA, California Academy of Sciences Building, Room 30, 819 Market Street, San Francisco.
Secretary’s Annual Report for Year Ending December 21, 1898.
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD LODGE NO. 7, AMERICA.
COMRADES:—Your secretary begs leave to report as follows concerning the closing year:
The year’s work shows a gratifying increase in results. In order to be exact your secretary gives the figures as shown by the minutes of the year: 547 meetings were held, with an attendance of 41,150, as against 478 meetings and 36,279 attendance in 1897, an increase of 14 per cent. in the number of meetings and of 13-1/2 per cent. in attendance; 481 addresses were delivered at these meetings by 65 speakers.
The highest total weekly attendance was 1060; the lowest 605; average 791.
The most noticeable increase is in the case of the International Brotherhood League, which began the year with an average attendance of 78, and closes the twelve-month with an average attendance of 170, a gain of 118 per cent.
The Lotus Group shows a gain of 18 per cent., as compared with 1897, and Lodge meetings a gain of 29 per cent. The attendance of visitors at the Library increased 16 per cent., and of members at meetings of Pacific Coast Committee for Universal Brotherhood 98 per cent.
The especial attention of members is called to the Ethical Class and Secret Doctrine Class as being the most important local channels for the acquirement of a knowledge of ethics and philosophy. The Ethical Class shows a gain of 35 per cent., and the Secret Doctrine Class 33 per cent. for the year.
The work at San Quentin Penitentiary was resumed in August, under the direction of H. H. Somers, after a suspension of more than a year. Lectures are given monthly, and the chapel is always filled with listeners.