The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-10
B'NAI BIRTH.
THE FIFTH DAYS SESSION TAKEN UP
WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF
ENDOWMENT LAWS.

sonal explanation He, taking up the DEMO
Graf and Picapnne read some reflections there
from on his conduct in refusing to furnish the
reporters with resolutions etc. when asked to
do so. After he had made a statement and was
answered by members Of the press. his excuses
were considered satisfactory. He expressed
perfect Willingness to afford any accommoda-
ton in future to the press.
The report OF the committee of the whole
published In yesterday DEMOCRAT was read
and on motion. received.
The convention then resolved itself into COM
mittee Of the whole to take into consideration
the proposed amendments to the endowment
laws.
brother Faber in the chair.]
Brother Jacob in a forcble speech, ad-
dressed the body on the first of tho special
amendments, which reads AZ follows:
The term widow Of deceased member shall
apply to one who has been the lawful 1 wife OF
arated from him at the time of his DEATH
In the case Of minor children of a deceased
esa 4ou the useer The WIDOW and
orphan reserve fund of the district. as to the
disposition of their endowment. ehall act In the
capacity of legal guardians:
He favored strongly the adoption of the
amendment.
The definition of the word widow was dis
cussed at much length. some of the members
opposing the whole amendment as a whole and
being in conflict with the civil law of many of
the States within the jurisdiction of the order.
Brother Moses Ullman then offered tho fol-
lowing amendn ent to the above
THAT the term widow shall be construed
as to mean a,sa one who Is recognized by the Jaws
member Mt the time of his death"
The chairman OF the committee then with
drew this proposition.
The committee of the whole then decided to
report on all the propositions unfavorably to
the convention.
president Seelig in the chair.I
The committee then rose and reported to the
convention their action and that body accepted
and passed the report.
SO far none of the propositions looking to
change In the endowment laws have been
Broth Brother Dinkespiel. chairman of the commit.
tee on laws, then called UP an amendment rela-
tive to the time of electing officers to the grand
This created considerable debate, pro and
con. The proposed amendment makes 1t OBJ
ligatory on the grand lodge to elect its officers
now. electing them Just before the adjournment
Tor the next ensuing session. Some of tho
pable OF selecting good officers just before ad-
lournment, after having seen and heard their
powers and knowledge of the laws during q
ing together. perhaps without an acquaintance
at the opening Of the session. Others said that
sessions were Just opened for there e wo"d b ,se
be no log rolling. On calling the yeas and nays
the vote stood. yeas 49, nays 90. and the amend
Brother Sturm desired to know from the chair
for the purpose Of taking an appeal to the high
est grand lodge, whether. III a member of the
grand lodge was elected president under the
law as II now stood he could take his seat in the
next hes o convention If he was not delegate from
President seelig refused to answer the uues-
ton.
officers be made the special order of the dav for
the second days session of the next convention.
Referred to the committee on laws
Brother Sturm then moved as the sense of the
convention that brother elected az president
can take his chair If he be member of such
President Seelig declined to entertain the
amendment rs 1t might take away perogative
from the incoming president.
The report of the committee on endowment
was resumed. and the recommendations taken
The report showed that the books of the order
had been correctly kept
An amendment relative TO members of de.
funct lodges atiiliating with other lodges and
keeping up their status under the endowment
plan by paying all past dues. was taken up
under the suspension of the laws.
Lunch now arriving, a recess was taken to
discuss the same.
AFTER THE RECESS
Mr.. Dinkslspie moved that when the conven-
ton adjourn it adjourn at o'clock until
for night session. Carried.
The debate on the amendment relative to the
status. Of members Of dissolved lodges was re-.
The debate was participated in by Messrs.
Ulman. DaGosta M: Ullman and others;
=, Brother Mahlingsr. Of Arkansas, who had
livered himself.
The previous question was called and car
ried. and the chairman of the committee was
The resolution was then read and voted upon.
1t was lost, Yeas 43, nays 81.
Explanations of votes followed.
The report of the committee of endowments
was again takenu up. An amendment relative to
the raising of the assessment from $500 to $1,000
was discussed.
Brother Strauss argued with some length and
men and was followed f by Brother studeeEer
The previous question was called. and on mo-
ton the present endowment of $500 remained
the same by large majority vote.
An amendment relative to the person to
whom the member has bestowed his endow
ment was read 1t gives to the wife the en-
Carried.
Secretary Ullman, in very clear and logical
speech argued on the question relative to the
readmission of suspended members to take
2 Thot ayng past dues
ton adjourned until O'Clock.
EVENING SESSION.
brother Seelig in the chair.l
The argument was resumed on the question
OF the right to reinstate members who had been
suspended for non payment OF dues.
The resolution was then voted upon. but the
vote was not announced.
The effect of this is that suspended members
can affiliate again with their lodges by paying
dues to the Grand Lodge and not the endow-
have been suspended prior to May 8. and they
have time to affiliate up to January !. 1879.
The question as to whether the vote should
be q two-thirds or majority vote was then dis
cussed amid much confusion.
The president, on account of the noise. sus-
pended business, not being able to hear mem
bers.
When business was resumed Brother NJ. W.
Newman raised the point of order that no dis
cussion could take place pending the decision
Of the vote.
The chair would not hear the point.
n WIN fox fro fhn al nf tbo
Chair, that the chair erred in hearing argu-
ments before announcing the vote.
A member asked that time. until morning, be
given the president to inform himself.
The president arose and said that 1t was time
that the members should conduct themselves
property Too much time had been consumed
in frivolity.