Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-09-18
ODD FELLOWS.
Meeting of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge l. o. o. +.
MEMBERSHIP LARGELY INCREASED.
Interesting questions Coming Up For De-
cIsion-The Grand Sire Discusses the
question of Liquor selling By
Members.

world began It's sessions yesterday. Inc
attendance, though large, was hardly up
TO expectations.
A procession was formed at $3.50
o'clock in the morning and the represent
atives marched TO the Grand Opera
House, where Governor Humphrey de-
livered the address Of welcome on be-
half OF the State, Mayor Cofran on be-
half Of the city, John NJ, Price, past
grand master. in behalf Of the grand
lodge, Grand Patriarch Ferguson for the
grand encampmont, and Mrs, Alice B.
Dawson for the Rebekah degree. Grand
Sire Underwood responded in behalf OF
the sovereign grand lodge, and Mrs. M
u. Rea for the National Rebekah degree
After the speech making the two or
ders marched TO the Capitol building,
the Odd Follows occupying Representa-
tive hall and the Daughters of Rebekah
the Senate chamber. The proceedings
OF the short session were secret
One OF the most interesting questions
which will come before the order at
this session is the charge against Cap
tain General Ellis, OF Ohio, who has
beon arrested for breach OF discipline.
He is next in seniority Of command in
the Patriarchs Militant to the general
issimo. The alleged breach of discl-
pline was refusal on his part to obey
orders from Lieutenant-General Under
wood
September last aptain-General El-
lis issued an order proclaiming himself
acknowledgement and general issimo
OF the militant order OF Patriarchs Mil
liant by promotion and assumed COM
mand of the army. AS soon as this or
der reached General Underwood he is
sued another declaring IL "a fragrant
breach OF discipline and a slap at the
legislation of the order" and Ellis was
suspended.
Ellis bases his claim on the legisla-
,ion Of The Sovereign grand lodge of
1885, which decided that the terms Of
Office OF the acknowledgement and
generalissimo should be limited TO
three years each, and that the captain
general Should succeed to it by'promc-
tion. This case will come first before
the committee ON appeals
Grand Sire Underwood and Grand
Treasurer Sheppard and Grand Treasur-
or Ross submitted their reports at the
secret session in the afternoon.
Grand Sire Underwoods report shows
that the lodge mem bership has been in
creased 30, 7gs within the past year and
that it is at present 63l, 3S5. Tho relief
furn shed by lodges and encampments
during the year amounted to s., 725,
g5S.g3 During the year 81, $40 were in
itated.
In his report Grand Sire Underwood
discussed the action OF the grand lodge
Of Missouri in issuing Its famous order
refusing admission TO salooLkeepors.
The grand lodge Of Missouri resolved:
That as the business OF saloonkeeping
is an immoral one, and not such reput-
able means OF support as our laws re-
quire, subordinate lodges be instructed
TO demand that any OF their mem
bers who may be engaged in such
business shall abandon l. or
be charged with unbecoming conduct
and expelled from the order" As the
sovereign grand lodge will be asked to
make similar order the position OF the
grand sire on this question was heard
with great interest He held that the
| qualifications OF membership had been
prescr bed by the constitution OF the
sovereign grand lodge aud that retro
active legislation was Illegal and could
not be enforced. He declared: The
mandates Of subordinate grand body
conditioning habit qualifications for
membership and interdcting the busi'
ness privileges Of citizens are directly
contrary to- the continued action Of the
sovereign grand lodge, which sovereign
| body has invariably refused to inter
fere with the personal attributes OF APP
plicants, or members and their business
avocations, further than as expressed In
| the constitution. A mans bad habits
and Illicit business transactions (sC
calledl are proper reasons for his rejec-
tion by those with whom such charac'
teristics are disliked, and improper APP
plicants should be refused admission II
the order through the ballot the silent
and sacred protector OF the sovereign
grand lodge
Continuing this discussion Grand Sire
Underwood referred to the restrictions
ON membership imposed by the consti-
tuition and concluded with the statement
that no qualifications for membership
could be imposed except those provided
Tor by the constitution Of the sovereign
grand lodge.
The report of Grand Treasurer Shep
pard shows that there remains a cash
balance IN the treasury of $50. 576 In
addition the lodge had siS, 500 in A. 4 pei
cent United States registered bonds
and S23, ,001 in coupon bonds.
A reception was rendered to Grand
Sire Underwood in the Senate chamber
last night at which Ma a.or-General A. G.
Cable, OF CovingtoE, O., acted as master
Of ceremonies
Deputy Grand Sire Busbee will have
no opposition for grand sire. 1t is the
custom to promote the deputy grand
sire in this way and he is immensely
popular
For the position Of deputy grand sire
there are four candidates-A Oren.
dorf. Of Springfield. Ill; c l. Campbell
Of Ontario; Fred Carlton, Of Texas ant
William H. lizard, Of New Jersey
There are numerous candidates for tn,
other pos tons