Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-10
MEANT NO OFFENCE.
LETTER FROM Mr.. BLACKWELL
ABOUT HIS RECENT SPEECH.
.Prompted by n Righ-Flown Sentiments
EmanatiDg from the supersonsitive
Minds" OF Certain Leaders.

The Knights OF Pythias of the world are
much exercised as to what will be the out
come of the differences existing with refer
euce TO tho secret work of the order being
done in any other tongue than that OF the
land Of its birth. That the Germans par
tlcularly are much wrought up Is wen
known. The question in Its local bearing
seems TO have been made tho more burn
ing by the speech Of Supreme Chancellor
Blackwell at the banquet gwen IN the
Masonic Temple on the occasion OF the re-
cent session of the Grand Lodge OF Viz;
gina in this city. The criticisms passed
upon this speech have been varied-some
Pvthians approving and Others condemn
ing. The German members. almost to
man. belong TO the latter class.
A letter has Just been received here from
Mr.. Blackwell. in which he says;
al am uuder obligations to you for collecting
the various clippings which appeared In the Dis
PATCH. ard am indeed glad 70 have an oppOrtu-
nifty 10 present through that popular paper ate"
facts In recitation Of the outrageous eXsggera-
tons emansting from the pre!udiced German
members OF the order in the city Of Richmond
relative TO my remarks nj the banquet given on
tho occasion Of my visit q the Grand Lodge OF
Virginia.
INTENDED IN KINDNESS.
81 regrot exceedingly that such thorough
misunderstanding could have occurred on tho
part Of our German MONITORS "a 90 the intent
and purpose of my remarSs. and can only ac-
count for 10 on the ground that through the un-
reasonable sensitiveness OF a few they were led
10 believe that my visit was made for tho
purpose OF insulting them. assure you
tbat uo,h'nc was more foreign to tho
facts or m intent In the case. My re-
marSs were ,lmplS intended In kindly way 10
present TO the minds of the mem Oership assem-
bled the importance OF q great question Nhich
the Supreme Lodge had recently presented tor
thOughtful consideration 10 its membership. !
made no personal references whatever, aud
am honest IN my beliei-even IN the face Oh the
statement 10 the contrafy-that there was no
thing whatever in any remark made by mo on
that occasion that a German gentleman could Dc
offended az. so far a. the statement that "
smacked OF hnow-NOihinglsm ~ concerned
that is more bosh. know -Nothinsism nad A. lts
most important platform native Americans
only for citizsns,' while, II my remarks conten-
plated citizenship AZ all. II simply meant that
all respectable foreigners were welcome. AMI
gladly welcome. provided they qualified them-
solves for reasonable citizenship by q talr uller-
standing OF the English language.
THEIR STRENGTH OyEREsrIMArED.
"With reference to the number mentioned in
your letter (75,O0Ol | am glad of the oppor-
tunity 20 correct you. The Germans have been
claiming that they had from 10000 10
10000 active members In our order, ~h'e
the records OF tho different grand lodges show
that thev cannot figure exceeding l2,OUO mein-
bers. all told. 70 save their lives; aud yoh can
readily understand that Il would be outrageous
TO expect l2,OOO members 10 absolutely dictate
the policy for tue government OF iJO,OOO active
American CitiZens. $50
81 am very glad indeed 10 give you the afci-
tional information that the Grand JURISDICTION oi
New YORK contains thirty-slx German lodges,
with about 5000 German members-by FAR tho
LARGEST German element IN any grand lursnlc-
ton. Ihaye Just received informatian from the
Grand Chancellor of that state informing me
that every lodge IN that state except one nave
cbeertuily and Loyalty exchanged their Gertnsn
rituals tor the English edition ana accepted the
edicf Of the Supr ne Lodge nave assurhncrs
also from different localities that the large ma.
iority II the German membership Throughout
the order ieel that the step taken Oy mo
Supreme Lodge ls a proper one. though work
ing hardships upon some Of their members
" IL Was a very great surprise 10 NE hlter
having Passed through the strongholds OF Mary
land. New Jersey. New YORK, Massachnsettr,
and Rhode Island to come 20 the grand ola state
of Virginia. where only two German lodges eA-
isted majority OF whose members are tho
roughly acquainted with the English language,
and, am assured, understand II Tar oeuer thhh
they do the German, to nud 30 much fuss made
about very small matter
ONLY A HGB-FLOwN SENTIMENT.
"In reiereuce 10 tho clipping on the part OF
the Chancellor Commander oi Germania Lodge
No. Is, DENYING tho statement made that ho
had had any conference with me, permit me- TO
make this explanation: Tho words Chancellor
| commander were misused. intended 10 say
| that a past chancellor OF Germania Lodge. ard
! my recollection 10 thar Il VAS ana
! that he was tho representative of Getinahla
| Lodge I'm the Grand Lodge. Also, young melS'
| ber made "A statement 70 me that they
| greatly preferred the English language, and
! the majority OF the members OF GormanlA Lodge
| were Of the same mind. Is mat mol Wnethei
THIS statement Il absolutely true or not III" assu
| rance was generally presented that tho large
] q Bf
| were perfectly familiar with tho Engllsh IAN
| guaee and that their opposition 10 its adoption
| WAS not because of their inability 10 master the
| same, but. On tho contrary, was prompted py a
! high-fioyn sentimen. oinanating from super
J sensitive mind ana Other ieaiers
in that direction.
( ~ am very sorry 20 have gained the uotorieiy
| given me By our German brothers, out nave
no regrets 10 offer or apologies 70 make for the
| stand taken by myself, and feel that the pdt-
| lcity given this question can only rebound 20
| the dlscredit Of the German members who are
| prompting It and prove benencial ADVERTISE
| meui 10 the order universal
| WHAT THE SUPREME CHANCELLOR SAID.
The DISPATCH has also been handed a
| COPY Of the Wilmington On. g. NesSen9e,
| containg an article written IN defence Ol
! Mr.. Blackwell by Hon. Thomas ID. Meares,
one of the North Carolina representative
| i'm the Supreme Lodge. In this letter Dir.
! Meares gives this account OF the SIpremt
| Chancelor's speech:
| a. was present al the banquet a. which Nu-
| preme-C hancellor Blackwell Is charged with
| making offensive remarks OF such character a.
| 10 cause some Of his hearers 20 leave the natl
! AS was sitting directly facing the entrance e
the hall can say emphaticaly that no one let1
| the room while the Supreme Chancellor va
| speaktng and It IL a libel on The Germans pres
| cut 10 charge them with such dscourtesy. NOi
| was there anything in toe remarks OF aT. Biacs
well 20 invite such behavior. eretaing that thS
pff
himself nor any one else having power tocbangt
| it before the next session OF the supreme loige
| he went on 10 say that he believed that the ~
preme Lodge. while only intending 10 leglsiat'
| for the good II the order OF Knights " tythias
| ana having no intention beyond that, had an
| willingly blaZed tho FIRST tree IN the pain ina
| would lead TO n better idea o. American citlzen
| ship ana would teni 10 obliterate the sharI
lines OF demarcatiOn brought about by th'
| maintenance by any bodies OF men Of the cus
| toms, language. and habits ~ other countries
| that the adoption Of this country rs rerIna
| nent home by the subject of a foreign po"e
| should be the occasion OF his thoroughly accept
| ing II Ia all particulars; that the order %
| Knights OF Pythias was an American order, be
| ueying that the first duty OF It's members II
| America was 10 be American citizens IN th
| highest sense and would in no wise counte
| nance the introduction OF any foreign idea
| inimical to the we'll being OF tho American gov
| eminent; that ne believed the influence o
100000 members OF the order would Dc yer.
great aud that. under the inspiration OF the sol
| already taken, it would DO welded towards dls
| cuuntenancing the segrattOn IN communities o
| any portion Of our people speaking languas
| .snta A