The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-11-04

THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS" sYs-
TEN TO BE ABOLISHED NEXT YEAR,
When the present term of Of Lieuten-
ant General Underwood expires next
year, the "army headquarters" of the l.
o. o. F., with all military Offices above
those of Department of State Comma nd
ers, will be abolished, and each Patri-
archs Militant branch of the Order Will
be placed under control Of the State En-
campment within whose jurisdiction it
is located. That was one of the most
important and far-reaohing actions taken
by the Sovereign Grand Lodge. 1t was
accomplished by adopting a portion of a
report submitted by special commit
tee appointed year ago to investigate
the "Army Headquarters" feature Of the
Order and suggest as to whether it is
any longer necessity. The committee
found that the system has accomplished
its mission and has become too expen-
i've a luxury to be borne by the Cheva-
liers. 1t represents taxation without
representation, an arbitrary power be-
slowed by law upon those high in
authority, and court-martials-a method
of redress not in harmony with the pTin
ciples of Odd Fellowship-all of which
has become unnecessary with the re-
moval of the cause that called them into
being, and have produced disquiet.,
apathy and Indifference, and in some
quarters have awakened strong opposl-
ton to a system of government no
longer necessary. A determined demand
was made for return to former cOndi-
tions and relationships, and the less ex-
pensive methods given to other branches
of the Order, thus bringing the civil and
military subordinate bodies in closer
touch and sympathy with each other, and
tightening the burdens that the present
system necessarily entails. By Army
Headquarters" is meant the Lieutenant
General, his Office appoiDtees and special
committees of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge appointed to aid him in his work.
Its abolition will deprive the military
branch of the Order of much Of its fuss
and feathers, but will bring it closer to
the non-uniformed organization.
The above is an article going the
rounds of the press, evidently voicing
the sentiments of the majority at Port
land, O., last month. The present
organization is similar to that of the o..
S. Army, with the governing body the
Sovereign Grand Lodge, itself, answer
ing to Congress. What is now proposed
is to abolish central head, cutting the
Militant branch up into State bodies,
each governed by the Grand Encamp-
ments, and the Chief Patriarch the
executive officer. As the greater part of
the members of these State bodies are
not members of the uniformed branch,
and as the case is easily supposed, the
ruling executive might be inimical to
the Chevaliers, it is readily seen that the
| prOD0Sed government may become one
loithOut representation. The proposal is
to reduce from one army to such bodies
as the National Guard are to the State.
We prefer the present order to that of
the proposed reformation, and believe a
wrong step has been taken. Under the
impulse OF the Patriarchs Militant move.
ment the Order since 1884 has increased
in the country from 100000 to 800, 900; il
Vermont from 1900 to over 1000. and il
is best at times to let well enough alone