The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-14
AMERIoA's CATHOLIC KNIGHTS.
An Animated Debate over the Right
to Membership

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 13.-At TO-
days session Of the supreme council Of the
Catholic Knights of America the report of
the committee on returns. which was ap-
proved, fixed the number of delegates to the
supreme council at fifty-four. On motion,
California having the requisite 500 MEM
oers, the state was allowed two delegates
An exciting discussion followed on the re-
port of the committee on appeals and
grievances on the difficulty Of branches II
and oS7, located at Chattanooga, Tenn. 1t
appeared that twenty-one members OF
the elder branch took out
cards Of dismissal and formed
No. 637. To the latter went Father Walsh
as a spiritual director. He refused to GER
tlfy the application of member. and when
this was made known there came an appeal,
but Father Walsh refused to explain or to
change his decision. To-day the committee
on appeals and grievances made a report
approving the action of Supreme President
Coleman in deciding that man who proved
himself to be a practical Catholic could be
admitted as a member of the order OF the
Catholic Knights OF America.
~ AN ANIMATED SPEECH.
Father Barry, in an animated speech, de-
clared that the constitution of the order re-
quired that the certificate of a spiritual
director or pastor should accompany the
application. He held that IN admitting
the person alluded to no organic law had
been violated by the supreme head. He
moved the appointment Of a special com-
mittee Of five to consider the subject and
report, and he also moved that there
be one priest on the committee, and that it
be not appointed by the supreme president
This motion caused somewhat of sensation
In the council and an animated discussion
ensued. Father Barry's motion was, how
ever, finally laid on the table and the re-
port of the committee on appeals and
grivances on the subject was adopted.
Before the morning adjournment Arch
bishop Jannsens announced that he had
received an answer to a cablegram sent to
the pope yesterday asking his blessing
This was read, and it contained two words,
Cordially granted being signed by the
pope. The blessing was given the delegates
by the archbishop.
THE REVISED CONSTITUTION.
AT the afternoon session the revised
constitution submitted by the committee on
revision at the morning session came up
for consideration. Numerous minor changes
in the text were made, and several proposed
amendments were laid on the table. Among
these was proposition to meet every
three or four years instead of
office Of the president, secretary and treas
urer to two years. In remarks on this
amendment, p. s. ORourke of Indiana
asserted that there was q caucus Of certain
officers on Tuesday night, having
for its object their perpetuation in
Office. He said that President
Coleman was not present.
The sections Of the constitution relating to
the duties OF supreme president were res
ferred to the law committee.
CHARGE oB DISHONESTY.
Remarks by Mr.. O'Rourke caused Su-
preme President Coleman to object to his
lmputation of dishonesty against M. j.
O'Brien, supreme treasurer. A warm dis
cussion ensued, in which President Coleman
challenged Mr.. O'Rourke, if he had any
proofs, to make them known.
MIR. ORourke the-eupon asserted that the
bank in Chattanooga where Mr.. O'Brien
deposited, paid interest on the deposits but
that the order received none. MIR. O'Brien
was director Of the bank.
A letter was read from the president of
the bank Offering to pay per cent on de-
posits, subject to certain conditions. The
offer was made to lumber company.
Mr. O'Rourke asked why the treasurer
had been keeping money in the bank for
eight years and not receiving any interest.
He did not believe that the bank did not
pay interest.
Mr.. O'Brien denied Mr.. O'Rourke's i'm
putations generally and defended himself
He said that he was a director in the Third
National Bank, and was before he became
treasurer. He owned the same amount OF
stock now that he first purchaeed. At 5
o'clock the committee of the whole rose and
motion to adjourn was carried.