The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-05
MAY HURT PYTHIANS
SUPREME CHANCELLOR BLACK
WELLS EXPRESSIONS Condemned.
Conservative knights Say His Denun-
citation of Germans Was Too Strong
and OvershOt the Mark.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.--There is still
danger Of dissension and trouble in the
Supreme Council of the Knights of Pythias
over the recommendations contained in
the report OF Supreme Chancellor Black
well with regard to the expulsion from the
order of those German lodges that have
adopted a German ritual and also the mem
bers of the order who are in any way con-
nected with the saloon business. There are
many expressions of regret from the con-
servative members of the order that the
supreme chancellor should have become so
radical in his treatment of the question.
There are many who do not hesitate TO
say that the supreme chancellor has ui-
terror motives for the play he is making
and that he wants to line the order up as
A. r. A society sort of Know
nothing organization. One member says:
His expressions in his report very
radical and uncaled for that they have re-
ceived the condemnation of the very men
who would have stood by him in his fight
for what he calls the principles of the or
der had his recommendations been couched
in the language called for by the basic
principles of the order, friendship, benevo-
lence and charity There is nothing of
friendship, charity or benevolence in his
remarks. He characterizes the Germans as
an impediment to the progress OF the order
stating IN an interview that the order
would be better off if the Germans were
out of il. This declaration is made in the
face of the fact that while the lodges
composed exclusively OF Germans are not
numerically, the strongest in the order
the numbers of Germans scattered in 9TH
1o1r- A.
Importance. When the drill committee in
charge of the prize drills was soliciting
funds to pay for the prizes. two of the
German lodges of this city put up $500 of
the prize money. The committee offered
nearly 5000 altogether for prizes, but
when the time for paying the money came
around acknowledged that there was only
5000 available. Much of this came from the
paid admissions TO the drills, so that the
two German lodges of this city subscribed
nearly as much to the fund as was re-
ceived from all other sources together
And yet Mr.. Blackwell believes that the
order would be better without this ele-
ment.
The supreme chancellor takes the ground
that no man who cannot understand and
read the English language is fit to become
enough In its way, but there are others
who take the broader ground that the or
der Is not merely for those Americans who
erations. but is intended also to make
American citizens of the new material COM
ing daily into this country and which can
be gathered into an order like the knights
of Pythias and eventually wrought into
/ intelligent and patriotic citizens
A member Of a lodge in Wisconsin. in
talking over this subject with your CORE
spondent to-day, said: In our State the
order is very strong, but we are reaching
% ana g bbe ons sf the it until
grand lodges In the country. Here, how
ever, we find that there thousands of
cases where we could take into the lodge
inen who have been but little while in
this country and who anxious to be
come patriotic American citizens-men who
are daily becoming more intimately woven
into the warp and woof of our national
fabric, and who will in time be among
the best and sturdiest of our population
Their naturalization would be FASTENED
hundredfold If we could take them into our
order and let them meet every week with
typical Americans, whose talk and thoughts
would run mainly in the lines of American
patriotism and the love of our country
They would become infused with the same
spirit that, actuates the members of our
order The principles of friendship, char
ity and beneyolence would become 10 them
the guiding principles of life, and they
would become bound to their brethren in
the order by such fraternal ties il would
be impossible 10 form outside of the order.
Many of these men, however, could not
understand the. ritual If read to them in
English, for while they might understand
the English language we'll enough to carry
on an ordinary conversation it would be
impossible for them to grasp the abstract
ideas of the ritual unless in familiar
tongue. Given the ritual in their own
tongue, however, they would soon master
it's intricacies and would no longer need to
read IL in their own language. That this
Is so horrible crime as to call forth the
fiery denunciation of the supreme chancal-
lor is to incomprehensible l can only
believe that he is making a grandstand
play for popularity and is giving the or
der a large dose of buncombe."
Many other of the conservative members
| of the order take the same view and are
| beginning TO regard Mr.. Blackwell as insin-
| cere and theatrical in his attitude. The
| question will come up for discussion next
| week and there are many of the members
| of the Supreme Council who believe that
| the recommendations of the chancellor will
| be rejected. At Kansas City the resolution
providing that the ritual should be printed
| only in the English language was carried
| by only one vote, and If the matter comes
| up again the Supreme Council is Likely to
| reverse it's action.
The supreme officers spent to-day in
| further consideration of the new constitu-
| ton.