The Washington times., 1894-08-29
SUPREME LODGE SESSION.
Little Business Transacted the First Day
Matters TO Come Before the Body.

Matters TO Come Before the Body.
A very brief session of the supreme lodge was
held yesterday forenoon in Builders Exchange
Hall, ON Thirteenth, near street, the early adj
iournment having been made out of respect for
the memory of the Late Past Supreme Chancel-
lor Shaw
The chair on the right Of Supreme Chancellor
blackwell, which would have been occupied by
Mr.. Shaw had he been present, was draped
heavily in black, and tribute Of flowers was
laid upon il. The hour for tine meeting was
fixed at 10 O'clock but before the formal open
ing Mr.. White, the supreme keeper OF records
and seal, called the assembiage 10 order.
Supreme Chancellor Blackwell was pleasantly
surprised by two magnificent presents, which
brought him TO his feet III happy response and
speech OF thanks
Representative J. w Daniels, Of Idaho, in be-
half of his grand jurisdiction, presented gavel,
with head OF solid silver and handle of mahog-
any.
Representative Walker, OF Montana, then pre-
sented jewel made of gold and silver taken
from the mines of Montana, forming the setting
for handsome diamond. This beautiful en-
blem was to have been presented 10 the supreme
chancellor on the occasion of his Intended visit
TO Montana, which he was, however, unable to
make on account of severe sickness.
Repre- sentative Fethers, OF Wisconsin, spoke
with much feeling of the death of Past Supreme
Chancellor Shaw. He presented series Of reso-
lutions and a memorial. which were adopted by
rising vote of all the delegates present The
reports of the supreme officers were presented
and were referred 10 committee consisting OF
Representatives Talhill, of Massachusetts;
Burns, of Ohio and Hunt, of Minnesota The
report of the board of control referred TO the
committee on endowment rank.
MANY DEGREES CONFERRED.
The supreme lodge rank was then conferred
upon eighty-one past grand chancellors Those
from the District were L c. McGill, y. Bunch, j.
NJ Kline, and A n. Thompson; from Marl land,
William Mesel, F. W. Kraws, II F. sterner,
Charles Z. Whelan, and George Leidlick; from
Virginia, II. L. Chace, w l. Oliver, and gorge
n Richter
The meeting was adjourned until 10 o'clock
this morning
tastefully draped with 1ags and bunting and
many emblems and insignia of the order hang
about the walls. In the auditorium are arranged
long rows of wide commodious white pine desks,
fitted out with pen and ink, paper and envelopes,
and various pamphlets for the guidance and aid
of the delegates, The names Of the States
pasted the desks in large letters, and the hall
is completely filled by the chairs and desks. On
the raised dais, beneath a dropping United
States flag, are placed the chairs and desks for
the supreme chancellor and the supreme
officers
The present convention of the supreme lodge
viii, IL is thought be one of the longest known
in the history of the order there are many
momentous questions which viii require long
and careful consideration in order TO bring
about a satisfactory conclusion. Most proml-
nent among them is the German question. the
matter of the Pythian Sisters and the Pythian
Sisterhood, and the subject of the admission OF
bartenders and saloon-keepers. The question
of the constitutional commission will probably
provoke the longest discussion. This is the most
conspicuous matter TO come before tle conyen-
ton The constitutional commission was ap
pointed by the supreme lodge at its last con-
yention, held at Kansas City in 1892.
REMoDEITNG THE CONSTITUTION.
The idea is TO model the order on the lines of
the most approved form of modern government,
npdi in Il nd rpr oil lv IN fha
American idea AS at present constituted the
order of the Knights of Pythias consists of but
two coordinate branches of government, that
is, legislative and executive The supreme lodge
is the representative of the Legislative body, and
the supreme chancellor represents the executive
blanch. The idea is to add third estate to the
government of the order in the nature OF Judi
cial tribunal, TO correspond TO the Supreme Court
OF the United States, which shall bear the same
relation TO the supreme lodge does the court
to Congress This substantially is q revision of
the entire system of the Jurisprudence of the
order. 1t provides new constitution, as well as
new code of statutes, covering all possible
matters on which the supreme lodge can be
called upon to leJfslate.
The matter which will create the livellest con-
troversy will be the German question. This
problem has led to some confusion and trouble
in the order and is the most dangerous problem
which the representatives will confront. The
difficulty started at the convention held in 1890
At the session OF the supreme lodge q new ritual
was adopted. and resolution passed that
this ritual should be printed in but one Ian
guage, and that was to be English. Prior to
this, however, the ritual was read in German,
French, Spanish, Italian, and scandinavian
There is no question but that the German ele-
ment of the order is in revolt and that threats
| OF secession are being freely made. The resolu-
tions passed by the national convention in 1893
of German lodges, Knights of Pythias OF the
United States, set forth that the use of the ritual
in their language was right vested in them ~
| charters granted through their various grand
lodges, under the supervision of the supreme
I lrav -, lie yfvlat had tolya
them without their knowledge consent The
resolution demanded that the obnoxious law
should be abrogated.
Some OF the minor questions TO be discussed
are the failure of 5. j. Wiley, supreme master
of the exchequer; the subject of bonded officers:
the Pythian Life Association of Omaha; the re-
vision of the official digest; permanent rank
word for grand lodge rank; the proper mark
ing of the grave OF the founder at Forest Hill
Cemetery at Utica, n. Y, aud the term Of office
of tho major general uniform rank.