Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-23

o. B. N.-ers and Anti-O. b. N.-er,-T6s D.e
IN PbiI06srpb,u

o. B. N.-eTs and Anti %. b. N,-er,-T5, D.e;.;sn
IN Philadelpkia.
On Saturday last, in the Court of Common
Pleas OF Philadelphia, Judge Allison delivered
his opinion in the case OF Lowry ct al agt.
Blanebois ct al, ian abstract of which opinion
was telegraphed to the Associated Press here
and published in THE starr Much interest
was teit In this case by the members of the or
ger mere. and during the week there has been
considerable rejoicing among those who have
not taken the q. Il. y. prescribed by the Su-
preme Lodge, many believing that the decision
wlu go far towards healing the differences now
existing in the order. This case came up on APP
plicstion by plaintiffs for an injunction to res
Train Blancbois, Reed, StotZer and Rose from
exercising power as officers OF the order OF
knights Of Pythias, for which, it is claimed,
there is no authority. Judge Allison. i'm his
opinion, states the question involved in the con-
troversy II as TO the power of the chief officer OF
tne supreme Lodge to suspend the highest officer
OF State Grand Lodge, and his authority for
suspending plaintiff is claimed under a section
on the constitution of the Supreme Lodge, which
declares "The Supreme Chancellor shall exer-
else, as occasion may require, all the rights ap-
pertaining TO his high Office, in according with
the usages ef the order. He shall have a watch
1ul supervision over all lodges, grand and sub
ordlnate, and see that all the constitutional
enactments, rules and edicts OF the Supreme
Lodge are duly and promptly observed, and
thst the dress, work and discipline OF the order
express authority to suspend the plaintiff, Low
", connot be found in the clause of the const-
tuition, nor can it be inferred from any other
portion of the organic law of the order. lie
notdS that there can be no ''usage" in an Order
yet in its infancy. He asks ''In what wav is the
duty Of supervision over the lodges and of seeing
that the constitutional enactments of the SUI
preme authority are observed to be carried into
erect" and saws the power of summary re-
mONaI can only be exercised when clear authori-
" Is shown, and it cannot be assumed in a
doubtful case. He finds no provision for
the trial of offenders except that the COM
mlttee on appeals and grievances shall hear
all appeals referred TO them, and report with
1lSPatch; and only by implication the Supreme
Louge mas the powers OF court. There is not
WORD from which il can be inferred that its
chlef cfhcer Is clothed with the power of suspen-
sion or removal from Office. Article first recog-
nlzes very general and extended authority in
the supreme Lodge, but it does not affect the
question in hand. 1t Is a declaration of the
power OF the Supreme Lodge, and may be ample
place in the Supreme Chancellor the discretion
to remove or suspend, but if they possess that
power they have not attempted to exercise it,
anu me assumption OF the right is clear as
SUMPTION OF authority. No provision having
oeen discovered for the trial or suspension OF
an officer how is the Supreme Chancellor to see
the ehactnents, rules. &c, observed? This
question is answered by a bylaw of the Grand
LOuge OF pennsylvania, which provides an of
hcer may be removed for conduct unbecoming
hls standing in the order, or for inattention to
provision which has been wholly disre-
g zrded by the Grand Chancellor, viz: that
an officer shall ofiiciate until the charges
are settled, unless otherwise ordered,
ard also that he shall have a fair trial
ms constitution was examined and approved
by the Supreme Lodge, and il may be fairly
argued that with this regulation before them
the necessity Of taking other than appellate
jurisdiction was not recognized. In this case
charges could have been preferred against
Lowry OF characterization before the Grand
Lodge; but he could not have been put out of
once ana another person installed until his case
was decided. Ii the matters connected with
. .hls controversy involved no other right than
the personal right of Lowry he would refuse the
PRAYERS, for he (Lowry) not only consented but
advised the Supreme Chancellor to issue the
order OF SUSPENSION, and he is not entitled to
cialm the aid OF the court to reinstatc him. But
tnls bill Is hled by other plaintiffs members of
the order, and officers who will be injuriously
anected by the decree Of suspension, and back
~ are nose whose peouniary and personal
interests are dependent upon the question of the
awlessness of the order of the Supreme Chan
c< lIor and the action OF the Vice Grand Chan
= llor, all OF which he regards as illegal, and
therefore to be restrained, because they are
contrary 10 law and prejudicial to the rights OF
individuals. He closes: Choking To the general
interests involved, and the parties who are
Of the blu
The Grand Lodge of Virginia, at its late ses-
sion adopted resolution that in the event of
the Supreme Lodge taking any measures to en-
force the o. b. n. in the Jurisdiction the Grand
Lodge OF virginia withdraws all connection
" IN ,ne SuPionc IouRe, anu In SUCH event the
Grand Chancellor shall proclaim such with
drawal and surrender the charter.
The anti-O. b. Ms of this District still keep
up thef lodge organization, and tonight will
form grand lodge of the District
The property OF Damon Lodge which was
removed from the hall about the 18th inst. by the
y. d. y. members, and which after a search
warrant had been procured was sent to Police
still remains there. 1t was
expected that the Board of Police would have
heard arguments as to the ownership at their
ast meeting, but they turned the matter over
% Major Richards, and it is expected that he |
will decide as to the ownership. 1t is stated
however, that the D. b. n. folks are determined |
the decision should be against them, that thew |
viii carry the case to court