Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-05
AND COW FEEp.-RICH.
PERSONAL.
HEAR BOTH SIDES.

A. W. Gilnn Council, Junior Order of AmeF'.
can Mechanics, desires no controversy With Rev.
&. 4. Ochlschle"ger. or any ono else, but several
points in his card IN the Dispcick " February
lat deserve "a notice and q reply az the hands ot
the committee % that Council.
Tho statement published by tho committee ~
the state and Dispatch was an entirely Impartial
and unbiased one, ami can be aHcsted by over
ono hundred Of our members and others nos
members OF tho order
That card was read u a brother-in-lsw ot ths
deceased, before its publication, and he aclui-
esced In the facts contained therein.
We repeat with emphasis mat tho only oolec-
tlOn we over heard 10 our order was mat they
would not be allowed In the church In regalia.
That came direct from tho widow or our De.
ceased brother, who hal 70 tom tho reVerrnd
gentleman. A before stated. oar Council then
decided pot 10 enter the church in BODY in re-
gala, but 90 allow the pal-bfarors 10 escort tho
remains therein without regalia.
The widow states that no objection was ratsed
by the pastor until saturday morning. although
he knew Of ell the circumstances Friday eve
ming.
our taking oil our rcralia would have changed
the other fact Of our being mom0ers Of secret
order!
qhe Council "a compelled % conclude that tho
objection was TO o1r regala and not 70 the secret
That tho Council recognised ihs right Of the
Officiating pastor % object 10 our entering his
church In regnlia r. truo, hut did not recognize
tue right Of that gentleman or any ope else 10
compel US 20 strip oursoiyDs of our uniforms IA
tho street. We repeat thnt a soven- foot Ainsri-
can dag enveloped the coffin Of our brother AMI
must have boen seen by Rev Mr. Oehischlee-
ger It was surely large enough, and hts A.
tentiOn was especially directed 80 it ~ tho
Councillor of A. w. Glinn Council
That onlcor remarked % tho reverend gen
tleman: "Why DO you object 20 that flag being
placed on tho conin, as it is only the United
States nag"
4 .giF II "a 70.
gala, said: This, too, IS only Tho CnitId
Tho reverend gentleman then remarked; I;
Either you mus, comply with my request OF
shall refuse 10 perform the seryicea Then the
Council refused 10 grant Nun his request and ho
appealed 10 the widow. repeating his Remarks
that one Of tho two things must Do dOne-bo
order must go or he would leave, aad that u vas
for her 70 decide A. before stated the widow
deciced that tho funeral arrangements should 10
In charge OF tho order Of American Mech,nies.
WiIh regard 20 any arrangement between Rev
Nj. Oehlschlaege and Rev. Mr.. Mcneil We know
nothing, but were 30 informed BY member OF u o
congregation Of the former that such was NO
fact
None OF us beard any such remark es 81 am
not dealing with the United states" made BY hs
officiating pastor. What he did say wa" am
good United States citlzon."
We we'll knew he was not dealing with ths
United States, and simply pointed him % ths
nag 10 show him what he wes objectlns n. ss
We think all good citizens OF tho United states
should respect the United States dag az all times
and under all circumstance lie states thRt a. q
good citizen ne yielded 20 me will oi the majority
and retired, but be omits 10 state that hs ap.
pealed 70 the widow o. the deceased, and that
she decided In favor Of the order.
We will have no dIscussiob ~ te Sir 5cs-r.s--.,C
OF secret orders. As free citizens 0t n free roe
public, wo claim tho right for ourselves and our
fellow-ctizens ~ Join them ana do not thinx that
membership IA them should be SUFFICIENT 20
deny us the right OF Christian burial after death.
as no man can bo member OF our order who
does not believe In soms Christian religion. We
never knew OF the decision Of the reverend gen.
ueman that he would not allow IA " appear oa
tho street in regalla until NO visited the resi-.
dence OF the deceased.
And here We consider that grea, iaiustico was
done US la making known This decision 40 late.
la conclusion, wo state that We aro c0nten, %
rest the case with the publIc. We feel confident
in all that we have done that We acted In mode.
ration, and as members Of a great order de.
voted 20 its principles, aud We are prepared II
necessary 10 prove the truth OF every statements
we have made. Out OF respect 70 tho feelings OF
the widow we have couched this card In the most
moderate language Consistent with our duty 10
ouselyes
This card would have appeared sooner, but tho
committee desired 70 place the matter before
tho Council and obtain their endorsements aud
also % consult the widow and act IN accordance
with her feelings In the nlattor.
Signed for A. W. Glinn Council, Jr. q. y. A. ".
BY THE COMMITTEE.
". B.-Tbe names % the committee are left
with this communication. H. Slt