Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-01
THE NEW CONSTITUTION
The Supreme Lodge, Knights Of Pythias,
Have Busy Session.
The Question of the Recognition
of the Pythian Sisters and other
Matters of Interest.

The Supreme Lodge, knights of Pythias
convened at 10 o'clock this morning and
after receiving the reports of several COM
mittees resumed the discussion of the new
constitution, which was suspended yester-
day. The committee on law, composed of
p. 7. Colgrove, chairman; Stanton L. Car
ter Of California, Tracy r. Bangs Of North
Dakota, Frank H. Clark Of Wyoming and
]. H. Disque Of Alabama, presented its
report, which was ordered printed. The
committee on the Uniformed Rank, consist
ing Of D. j. Turner Of Virginia, chairman;
A. NJ. Haywood of Georgia, F. s. Merstet-
ter Of Kansas, e. F. Durand Of Connect
cut, w. l.. Heiskell of Indiana, also re-
ported. and the report was ordered to be
printed. The report Of the committee on
appeals and grievances was also ordered
printed. This committee is composed Of j.
H. Shepherd Of Louisiana, chairman; ]. r.
Rutan of New Jersey. Webster Street of
Arizona, j. B. Tucker of Delaware and E.
NJ. HARDER of Missouri In conformity with
the rules of the body reports Of commit
tees must first be printed before considera-
ton, and cannot be considered the day
upon which they are made, so none of the
reports will come up before Monday.
Past Grand Chancellor Fitch c. Cook of
Illinois was recognized and then the body
went into committee Of the whole to re-
sumo consideration of the constitution.
Each section was voted upon separately
and up to the hour of adjournment of the
morning session but one-half had been
disposed of.
There are three principal questions now
before the body to be solved, viz, the ques-
ton of admitting saloon keepers and bar
tenders to membership, the recognition of
the Pythian Sisters and the German ques-
ton. Each question Is in the hands of sep
arate committees, the busiest Of which has
been the committee on the latter question.
This committee is composed Of Mr.. Carter
OF California, chairman, and Messrs. Meares
Of North Carolina, Hurst Of Minnesota
Meyers of Arkansas and RusEe OF Indiana
The committee has it's headquarters at the
Ebbitt, and is the only committee holding
sessions and listening to the arguments of
Pythians on the different phases of the
question.
The Pyth1an Sisters.
Lieut.. Gov. A. P. Riddle Of Kansas is
the champion of the Pythian Sisters, and
is making strenuous efforts to have them
recognized. Nothing will be done to get
recognition In the way Of interfering with
the adoption of the constitution, as 1t is
recognized that 1t is not a constitutional
question. The efforts are being directed
toward the committee or board Of admin
istration, which as yet has not decided
upon anything definite though the opinion
Is that separate resolution will be re-
ported by the committee, the purpose of
which VIII be to lift the han OF unrecog-
milton from the Pythian Sisters and allow
Pythians to Join If they SO desire. This
Is also the view OF the question main
tanned 10y the supreme chancellor, who
advocates this method of action.
Mr. Huff. chairman of the committee on
the state of the order states that nothing
has been done by his committee yet re-
saralng the saloon question. but win be
early next week.
The Session Yesterday Afternoon.
When the Supreme Lodge reassembled at
O'Clock yesterday afternoon the special
crder the new constitution, was discussed.
Representative Schmitt of Illinois and Rep
tesentative Kline of Pennsylvania placed
themselves on record as opponents Of the
new constitution. as they advocate recogni-
ton OF the ladies, and the new constitu-
ton does not provide for either recognition
of the Pythian Sisters or the Pythian Sis
terhood. Representative Schrlstt sought to
have dis ussion of the new constitution
stopped lsy raising the point Of order that
the matter could not be considered at that
time unlfss by unanimous consent The
supreme chancellor decided tat the point
was not :wel taken, and representative
Schmitt again arose and appealed from the
chairs dettsion. but the appeal was not sus-
tanned.
Representative Kline who is chairman of
the committee on the question: Of constitut-
ing or recognizing sisters rank of the
Pythian order, then arose and presented
the following resolution: THAT in the event
of the final adoption of the: constitution
about 20 be considered (ether IN it's present
or modified form the same shall not go into
effect until 1t shall have been ratified by at
least a majority of the grand lodges subor-
Dill ate to the Supreme Lodge" The paper
was signed by Representative Kline and
Representatives John II. Carr and Thomas
Perry. This resolution was ruled out Of
order by the supreme chancellor, but Repre-
sentative Kline determining to use all par
means appealed from the de-
cision. The supreme chancellor was sus-
tanned, AMI for the time opposition to the
new constitution ceased. on motion of s.
X. r. S. White the body went into a COM
mittee of the whole to consider the new
constitution, and Representative Colgrove
took the chair At $50 O'clock nothing
definite having been decided upon the COM
mittee arose and the Supreme Lodge took
a recess until this morning.
The lodge reassembled at . o'clock and
resumed discussion of the constitution.
Later In the afternoon a large number of
Pythians left for Old Point, where they
Will spend Sunday, returning to Washington
on Monday.