Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-04-24
TOpeka's Begging Act Again.


TIL" meeting of the Sovereign Grand Lodge
at Topeka is not q Topeka enterpris if en-
terprise is the word To be used Nor does the
credit or vantage of holding the meeting
in Topeka wholly accrue to Topeka. The
writer of this article as prominent member
of The order, and as It's principal officer for a
year, knows that the Grand Lodge and grand
encampment of Odd Fellows, made up of DELE
gates from all the lodges and encampments
in the state, asked the Sovereign Grand
Lodge to hold its annual session in Topeka
minneapolis Messenger.
1t would have been a great disap-
pOintment if Mr.. Riddle had not come
to the defense of the brazenness of
the capital city. lie is one of the "old
crowd who believes the kings who sit
in solemn sanhedrim at Topeka can do
no wrong. In column article in the
Messenger the ex-governor attempts to
answer the statements of the REFLEC-
TOR that it is not just to require the
Odd Fellows of western Kansas to help
defray the expenses of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge for the edificatiOn of the
citizens of Topeka. Mr.. Riddle takes
great pains to tell us that he is prom
inent member" and one of the "prin-
cipal officers" of the order. We know
of no reason why his prominence" or
his eX"Oflicial" character should be
mentioned in connection with this ar
gument unless the ex-governor wishes
to paraly Ze the poor plebians by an eX-
hibitiOn of his inOrdinate vanity as
well as his supercilious arrogance.
The writer of this reply is humble
member of the order and is now and
has been for many years subordinate
officer among the brethren. Like a
large majority of the brethren we en-
tered the order not for the sake of
prominence" or ''Utlicial' preferment,
but that we might in our humble way
assist a worthy brother and contribute
contribute to the relief of widows and
orphans.
Within the past few years the city of
Abilene has entertained the state en-
campment of the g. A. r. and the
Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias and a
number of other grand bodies. The
citizens of Abilene Irrespective of the
fact whether they were members of the
orders or not went down into their
pockets and paid every dollar of the
expenses. No Abilene citizen ever
thought or dreamed of sending around
over the state and asking the boys of
the various g. A. r. posts or the breth-
rem of the subordinate lodges to con-
tribute toward defraying their ex-
penses. The honor and good name of
our city demanded that we should en-
terrain our guests. We did so and we
believe to the satisfaction of all who
had the pleasure of meeting in our
beautiful city. We have made some
inquiry and we believe that it was left
for the capital city to send out the first
army of Deggars to solicit aid from the
cities to assist her in entertain
ing her guests.
Mr.. Riddle says that 1.-THE Odd Eel
lows of Abilene are as much the hosts
in this entertainment as are the Odd
Fellows of Topeka" This is silly non
sense and the governor knew it when
be wrote it. The Sovereign Grand
Lodge belongs to no jurisdiction and
meets in no jurisdiction as such. 1t is
the creature of all the Odd Fellows IN
America, and it Is just as much guest
Of the Odd Fellows of Kansas City,
Mo-, as of the Odd Fellows of Kansas
City, Kansas. All equally desire a
successful session at Topeka next Sep
bember. But our objection to this
begging circular is that Topeka |
wants everything and then wants the
rest of the state to pay for it. The
Capital says that mo Topeka man was
On the committee that invited the Sow
,reign Grand Lodge to meet there"
What of it? If the Capital means to
intimate that the Sovereign Grand
Lodge is intruding itself upon Topeka
without an invitation from any of its
then the Sovereign Grand Off
'ers should at once change the place of
Meeting to some city where it is invited
md where it will be entertained with
'ut feeling that its presence is bur-
len. We do not believe the Capital
-oices the sentiments of the citizens of
Topeka in this respect. We believe
hat the citizens of our capital city are
lesirous of having the Sovereign Grand
lodge meet in its midst and if properly
to will entertain it royalty.
But there are few men at the head of