The New York herald., 1870-12-25
THE KNIGHTS o. rYruiAs.


From the Baltimore American Dee. M.l
In the room Of the Baltimore City Court before
Chief Jusrl e Scott argument was nSd yesterday in
thc matter OF petition fled on Thursday, the 18th
Instant IN the City Circuit Court, BY hessrs. $.
Parker Bosley, =. Calvin Willlaps a,sd Henry Lin.
genie.der, a. counsel o., uenalf OF the Grand Lodgc
O .p ..ngnrs OF Pylhias OF Maryland, against Joiil
X. Steiner, or FREDERICK CITY; Thomas $. uppcrcu,
bill states that on the 26th or April last mandate
was received IRON Samuel Read, supreme Ghancel-
c1 rytas, shs s'P1n saspendsna T. % paS, NAE fSm
hls olnee as Grand n.an..a,,Jr Of the Grand
5-Juse OF Maryland which act Of suspension the
COmpairants allege was UNCONSTITUTIONAL, NC The
Baid Read subsequently suspended the other oTcers
OF the Grand Lodge OF Maryland. Charles +. Mere
ditn, Vice Grand Cnancelor; prancis Iuraer, Hrand
p. Barnes. Grand Banker: also the iast Chancellors
ana others composing the Grand Lodge, ana ap-
pointed DR. }. w. +. Bates and Thomas :. Uppercu
az deputies place oil the Grand officers mus
pended. Ihcsuspendea officers we're charged with
Resisting the mandates OF the Supreme Lodge of the
World and personally visiting The subordinate locgcs
and urging them also To resist sad mandates. Read
also as Supreme Chancellor, directed the formation
or new Grand Lodge. All OF these proceedings the
petitioner regards as unauthorized ana unconstltu-
uona and praSs tnat the the aeienaa,s @ be enolned
pnti the Supreme Lodge decides The appeal made by
the complainant
plant filed In the case Which s quite lengthy, ead
was read yesterday, III the commencement oI the
case, by Il. CALVIN Williams, one or tie counsel
for complamants An amendment TO the original
bill was also read by coHplalnanps counsel, INC
main points OF which were tDat Tue Ordef oI nights
of Pyihias oil Maryland now numbered about 5000
mcmbers with sixty-tNo subordinate lodges, ana
that A,GCO OF the members and nity-nyc lodges en-
doISed the action oil the c0mpalnants. Thc Court
stated that the amendment could not be oncrcd
unless 1t was nco po2ated In the original bill, or
flied separately 1t was then Withdrawn by the
complainanl's counsel. plea and answer 10 the
bill was then filed b. ". PiGckney White as coun-
eel on behalf or the defendants, denying many OF
Ihe allegations OF the Coinplalnants, who, the
plea alleges. acknowledged the authority OF the
Supreme Lodge, whose mandates the defendants
were merely carrying out Sc.; that Samuel Read,
Ms Supreme Chancellor OF the supreme Lodge, was
acting the authority or an order passed last
March by thai houy when he suspended the officers
OF the Grand Lodge ef Maryland; that the complain
ants did not properly appeal TO tue supreme Loage,
as they aege, and that Inc act which the compiaia-
ants sought by the suit TO prevent-nat OF formin
O new Grand Lodge-had already been accomplished
before the bin was Hed, sc.
The epenlag argument in the case was then cenn-
menccd by H. LiaReliclder OF counsel for the com.
plainanls, followed by II. Calvin Williams on tho
same side, The latter gentleman speaking for about
an hour and half, anu In the course OF his argu-
1nent quoting from a decision rendered by Judge
Allison, or Philadelphia, IN similar case and citing
number OF parallel cases as telidilg TO show that
she action or the Supreme Chancellor In removing
the Grand Lodge was unWaI1anted ana a usurpa-
tion or power, SC. AT the conclusion OF Mr.. VIII
nams remarks the court adjourned until tomorrow
when w. Pinkney White VIII open the argument on
the part OF the defence.