The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-29

majority of $4,000 American citizens in their
future management OF this great crderE
SHOULD BE AMERICANIZED.
'-The time has come when America
should be Americanized. and however hard
it may appear temporarily. the successful
accomplishment thereof will be worth all
it may cost. 1 have urged upon all our
brothers the necessity OF losing their ldeh-
tity as foreigners by adopting the English
language, becoming. in fact, American clti-
Zens. as they all profess they are, ana OF
eliminating from their names ana society
the prefix OF German-American, and thus
relieving themselves Of the unenviable dis
tinction OF being foreigners at all. Being
American citizens by adoption. they enjoy
every privilege Of one native born, and,
consequently, are American citizens pure
and simple. Why should they then de-
sire TO be still classed as Americans with
foreign predictions unless they have lurk-
ing beneath the cloak of adoption a secret
cultivating TO the detriment of the best
interests of this great country? Why
country desire TO be classed as a foreigner
of any kind when the designation brings
spectability compared with that OF simple
American, citiZenshipr Who are the
accepted by everybody? A certain dis
reputable scum from Europe that nave
twenty years. headed by anarchism. ma
faism, socialism, hoodlumism, deadbeatism
and a thousand other isms that are being
our country's interests.
"T have been accused OF chasing our
German brethren with the above, but, in
stead. have said to them, Il want to help
you lift yourselves entirely out OF such
an unenvfable classification by having each
indorse the English language Practice
what you indorse. eliminate any evidence
Clare foT a Standard of measurement that
Will require a reasonable understanding or
the chosen and recognized language OF the
ROI1nfrv in which Won live before confer
ring the right OF full citizenship upon any
man. Having pledged our loyalty to the
It our duty and hope it may prove our
pleasure to define that pledge to carry
its Ms'H chosen tr me and Rf0 Selected t RGaSSse believing.
as / do. that no foreigner, however in
in its fun accepted intent until he under
stands the English language. In difference
TO our pledge of LOYALTY let us engraft upon
ment that We will uphold, sustain and ad-
vance our country's language by hereafter
language for use in the United States and
Dominion of Canada. coupled with the
lands using a different language shall be
protected IN the right OF their national
10 Introduce our order therein. If our
German brothers are not willing to sub
are not the good citizens they profess. and
If not, the sooner we know IL the better.
HI LIQUOR QUESTION.
Some years ago this body granted per-
mission TO the German lodges to locally
legislate as they might desire upon the
saloon element question and the eligibility
of owners and tenders thereof 10 member
ship. Under this permission several grand
lodges have since declared saloon keepers
and bartenders ineligible upon the ground
of their business engagement having a
strong tendency TO the cultivation of i'm
mOralifv la ulpSSnpSS and other diSrpDuta-
bic habits in contradistinction to the teach
ings of our order. Surprising as it may
seem TO some, II is nevertheless demonstra-
bic that the grand lodges which have take
hold of this question and legislated 10 ex-
clude this doubtful material have not only
but they also stand as the most active and
progressive among the grand Jurisdictions.
If it was the wish Of the Supreme Lodge
TO experiment when permission was grant
ed grand lodges 10 locally test this ques-
ton; am sad to report the experiment
] convinced that the step is one IN the
interest of law, order, morality, respecta-
bility, better citizenship and a higher
knighthood that l am constrained to con-
clude that the time has come when We. as
a great fraternity. should put aside policy.
that may stand in the way and declare
ourselves the leaders of reform by man
declaring that no saloon Keeper bar
tender or professional gambler shall here
after be considered as eligible TO apply for
membership in any lodge of this order"
Many topics are discussed and recon-
mendations made concerning the work of
the order. Ii is that the
term of officers of subordinate lodges be
one year instead of six months. and that
me use of castle nails for burlesGue "side
ranks be prohibfted. II is suggested mat
a rule be adopted permitting such divi-
sions as may desire 10 exchange the sword
for the gun and thus bring the body more
in harmony with current military ideas.
II am strongly, of the opinion" says the
supreme sram swo enan TO GIn y would i SSr rin a en eresf
revival and influx of new members into
the military branch of our order. sug-
gest that steps be taken to obtain the
views of all the divisions upon this sub
ject. with the determination, If the ma
iorfty so wish, to make the change. | am
told that a good Springfield rifle. such as
we could use. can be purchased in lots
about as cheap as we now have to pay for
swords. i suggest a commission for the
purpose of investigation. Should the idea
prevail, 1 suppose it will be necessary to
obtain consent in each State to bear arms
as a body"
The report of the supreme keeper of rec
ords and seals. r. l.. G. White, says: THE
number of subordinate lodges Dec. 81, 1893,
was 6.OOS. and the number of members 43.-
615, a net gain during the calendar year Of
436 lodges and 29.26l members, and a net
gain during the years 1882 and 1893 of 1.007
lodges and S.691 members. While this gain
is not so large, either in subordinate lodges
or members, as that of the years 1890 and
1891, it is. considering the widespread finan-
cial depression during the past eighteen
months. both remarkable ana gratifying,
and is believed to exceed that of any other
secret fraternal order. Dec. 81, 1898, the
total amount in the treasures of grand
lodges was $3.50. and the amount in
those OF the subordinate lodges was ST.
Sc, Az. IS. The total amount of the assets
OF subordinate lodges at the same date was
$.O6S,054.47. The amount disbursed for re-
lief by subordinate lodges during the year
1893 was $l.905, 1883 while for the two
years. 1892 and 1893, 1t was 2.S7s.3741s.
The report OF Thomas CT. Sample, SUI
preme master of e~xchequer, for the year
ending March 81 last is recapitulated as
follows: Total receipts during the year,
81. los. Sc; total expenditures during the
year. S2.049.S1; balance April ]. 1894. $29.-
09.550.
The report of Maj. Gen. James r. Car
nahan, commanding the uniform rank,
says: 1.-THE work of organizing new divi-
financial depression and for the reason
that our Knights of Pythias. for the most
part. being men of moderate means. have
felt constrained to husband their resources.
Notwithstanding this condition Of affairs,
we have had a reasonably healthy growth.
During the two years ending with March
81. 1892. there have been received the ap-
proved applications for $50 new divisions.
We had on March 81, 1884. the close of the
last fiscal year, 1,10I divisions, representing
a membership of 4S.0S6. being a net gain
during the two years past OF $50. From
the best Information to be gained from
the reports as made. the value OF the
property owned by the uniform rank to-
day aggregates very nearly $4,000
Corbett Willing to Fight.
PROVIDENCE. r. l.. Aug. 2S.-The
Providence News has interviewed cham