The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-07-19
ODD FELLOWS ArFEcrKD.

An Important Decision Handed Down in
 Kansas-Can be Made to Pay Assessments
 for"Homes."
 Every member of the L O, O. F. in this city and state will be interested in an important decision affecting the or- der. which has just been handed down in Kansas. and will have its effect upon all branches of the order throughout the United States.
 For some years there has been dis pute among various lodges as to the right of the Grand lodge to assess the members for the support Of the home for the aged odd Fellows which have been established in many Of the states. The Sovereign Grand lodge at Port land in 1892 authorized lodges through out the country to create and main tain homes for their aged members, Under that action the Grand lodge of Kansas levied an assessment of si.b0 per capita upon the subordinate lodges UT Itht bthkt tHt VI a home which had been established. There, as elsewhere. there was consid- erable opposition to the assessment on the ground that the Grand lodge had no right to levy assessments and could not enforce their collection if assessed.
 To test the matter an injunction was brought against one of the subordinate lodges of Kansas from paying the as- sessment. The matter was given e hearing before Judge Hagen of Topeka, a judge of the superior court of that state. and his decision has Just been handed down. in which he holds that authorization of the Sovereign Grand lodge of Portland can levy an assess members for the support of the homes in Kansas and can compel its payment. The case has been appealed to the su- preme court of Kansas, and will be ar- gued in September and 1t Is expected that a decision will be rendered in Oc- tober
 This question has been the subject of considerable discussion in this state. The order here has a home at Groton, which is maintained not by the levy of an assessment. but by voluntary contributions from the various lodges, but there have been several of the lodges which have refused to make contributions on the same ground as that raised in Kansas. James Bishop, who Is a prominent Odd Fellow and secretary of the Odd Fellows Home toh nd the home at Groton, said yesterday morning that the decision had settled question which had been discussed here in connection with the, Groton home, but inasmuch as the home had been created and maintained by volun- tary contributions the decision would have practically no effect here. although the decision clearly demonstrated that if 1t was necessary for the Grand lodge to enforce an assessment 1t undoubted- ly could be done.
 "The members of the order in this state." he said. 'arec only asked to con-, tribute fifty cents per capita and this has in most cases been very willingly compiled with. so that most gratify- ing results have followed. In two years we have not only established home for our aged members but we we have also a fund of $1S0OO, which merely demonstrates with what unani-, mity the members efJtthe order have paid their contributions. I do not an ticipate that the Grand lodge will ever be compelled to resort to the assess ko box doubt, will have the effect of convinc- ing members of the order that the ,as- sessments can be laid and collected and will settle the discussion over the ques- tion throughout the country"