Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-15
AN ODD-FELLoWS QUARREL.
Question as 10 the Powers Of the Graud
Lodre 10 he Tested In Court.

s''~' ~ W s''''t IN toutts
A Milwaukee special Of the 18th
says; The Milwaukee delegates to the
meeting Of the Supreme Temple Of the
Patriarchal Circle, held in Chicago yes
tsrday, returned home to-day. The
special session was called to con-
slider the action OF the Sovereign
Grand Lodge Of 0dd-Fellows at
its meeting at Baltimore, to blot
out the Order Of the Circle. At
the session yesterday it was emphsti-
cally voted to continue the Patriarchll
Circle at all hazards, and to defy the
Sovereign Grand Lodge. A prominent
member Of the Circle, who also dccu-
pies high position in the order of Odd
Fellows, said to-day that the action
that has been or may be taken by the
Sovereign Grand Lodge was immaterial
to the members Of the Circle, and that
no attention would be paid to the Or
ders Of that body for the members to
discontinue their relations with the Cir
Gle.
The action Of the Patriarchal Circle
in defyiDg the Sovereign Grand Lodge
insures long and bitter struggle among
0dd-Pellows. The Patriarchal Circle
was formed in Milwaukee seven years
ago. The organizers were prominent.
members Of the order Of 0dd-Fellows.
The new lodge was intended as a uni
formed degree Of the mother lodge.
1t grew in strength and favor
with wonderful rapidity. Finally an
effort was made to break off the
relations between the two orders,
but it was unsuccessful. At the meet
ing ofthe Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd
Fellows six weeks ago representatives
who were members of the Patriarchal
Circle we're refused admission to the
sessions. 1t was resolved "that any
Odd.Fellow who shall after January |,
1856, retain his membership in the Pa
tIiarchal Circle, or its successor, by
whatever name it may be known, or in
any secret organization not authorized
by this grand body that has or may
require as a qualification of mem
bership past, present, or future
standing in this order, shall be guilty
of conduct unbecoming an Odd-Fel-
low, and on conviction thereof shall be
expelled from the subordinate lodge.
That the Grand Sire is hereby clothed
with all the power possessed by this
Grand Lodge when this body is not in
session, to prevent members of the
order remaining or becoming mem
bers Of the Patriarchal Circle. That
the provisions Of the order, as en-
braced in this resolution, may be en-
forced in lodges where the members of
the Patriarchal Circle hold the offices
and are in power, as they are in many
lodges"
The following additional resolution
was passed: THAT for the purpose
Of enforcing all laws in relation to the
Patriarchal Circle the Grand Sire is au-
thorized and empowered to deal direct
ly with the State Jurisdictions, and the
grand officers thereof, and upon a fail
ure Of the grand subordinate jurisdic-
tion, or their officers, to obey the man
dates of the sovereign grand body upon
the subject, the Grand Sire shall sus-
pend the charter OF such offending ju-
risdictions."
BY these resolutions the Sovereign
Grand Lodge Of 0dd-Fellows places
itself in complete power over all men,
bcrs of the order Of 0dd-Fellows who
are now or may seek to be members of
IL patriarchai Circle. odd Fsllove
who refuse to give up the Circle must
be expelled from the order. Lodges
that refuse to see that its members obey
this provision will lose their charters.
A prominent member of the order of
Odd-Fellows, who is also member ofthe
Circle, said to-day that the question to
be decided-and in all probability the
courts will be called upon to make the
decision-was whether a secret society
could legislate in manner to compel
members Of the order to surrender GER
tain rights, or to submit to expulsion,
in both cases the rights being those
that had been paid for under an entirely
different understanding.