Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-27
An Outline Of the Work Of the
National Organization.
SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS PENDING
The German Problem Promises to
Produce Trouble.
FULL ROSTER OF THE LODGE

This is to be the long parliament of the
Supreme Lodge. Knights of Pythias There
is no doubt in the minds of those who
ought to know that 1t will be the longest
convention within the history of the order.
Weighty problems are to be disposed of.
Among the many questions Of moment
which 1t Is now known will be discussed
are those of the constitutional commission.
the German question and the matter Of the
Pythian Sisters and of the Pythian Sister
hood. The Supreme Lodge will convene at
Builders Exchange Hall. with closed doors.
tomorrow at 10 a. m. The session will be
called to order by Supreme Chancellor W.
w. Blackwell, who will make a few re-
marks Prayer will be offered by the SUI
preme prelate. Rev. e. T. Blackmer of San
Diego, CAL. after which the report of the
committee on credentials,of which Supreme
Representative William Simmons of VIII
mington, Del. is chairman. will be pre-
scented. Following this will come the con-
ferrinS OF the Supreme Lodge rank on
those entitled to it, These Will not be less
than fifty, and will probably reach seventy
five, an unusual number
Following these ceremonies win come the
reports OF the supreme chancellor the su-
preme keeper of records and seal, r. L. C.
mite; major general, commanding the
Uniform Rank, Jemes r. Carnahan and
the supreme master of excheauer The
committee on finance will also make its
report This committee is composed of A.
T., f
Mcdonald, Ogden II. Fethers and Thos. ID.
Meares.
The Constitutional Commission.
The question Of the constitutional COM
mission will probably provoke the longest
discussion. This is the most CONSPICUOUS
matter to come before the convention. The
constitutional commission was appointed by
the Supreme Lodge at its last convention.
held at Kansas City in 1892, and is as fol-
lows: Geo. B. Shaw. P. s. c.. president.
w. A. Radcliffe, S. r.. Missouri; ]. al
Alexander, s. R., Virginia and NJ +,
Stevens, p. G. c., Maine.
This commission settled down to earnest
work soon after its appointment, and held
one Of its most important sessions at the
Wormley Hotel. in this city, very early in
the spring. The idea is to model the order
on the lines Of the most approved form Of
modern government, and in this way II
adheres very closely to the American idea.
AS at present constituted the order of the
knights of Pythias consists of but two
co-0roinate branches or government, that
Is, legislative and executive. The Supreme
Lodge Is the representative of the iegisia-
tive body and the supreme chancellor rep
resents the executive branch. The idea is
TO add third estate to the government of
the order In the nature Of judicial tribu-
nal, to correspond to the Supreme Court of
the United States, which shall bear the
same relation to the Supreme Lodge as
TALLY is a revision of the entire system of
the Jurisprudence of the order. 1t provides
a new constitution, as well as new code
OF statutes, covering all possible matters
en- whfch the Supreme Lodge can be called
upon to legislate.
1t was a grave responsibility which this
commission was called upon to face and
the result Of their labors is looked to with
expectancy and hope. 1t is believed that
their work will place this fraternal organi-
zatlon beyond others In the perfection of
It's government. Members familiar with the
work done say IL will place the order ON
more modern lines than either the indie
pendent Order of Odd Fellows or the Free
and Accepted Masons. 1t is very likely
that the report which this commission will
present VIII be adopted, though there are
some features which are certain to call
forth considerable discussion. The matter
which VIII create the liveliest controversy
WIN be the German question This problem
mas led 10 some confusion and trouble in
the order and is the most dangerous prob
lem winch the representatives will con-
'front.'. IT may even engender bad blood
Inc dltiiculty started at the convention
held in 1880. At the session of the Supreme
Lodge a new ritual was adopted and a
resolution was passed that this ritual should
De printed In but one language, and that
vas to be English. Prior to this, however
the ritual was read in German, French.
Spanish, Italian and Scandinavian No
trouble was caused by this resolution so
far as the Scandinavians were concerned
because there were but few lodges in the
order using this tongue. Nor did those who
| spoke the Romance languages offer any
strenuous objection. probably because they
were hopelessly in the minority With the
Germans, though, feryid objection was
| raised. 1t may have been only a sentt-
mental objection, but they were earnest In
lneir protest. AS there are about two hum
dred German lodges in the knights of Py-
thias, 1t looked for little while as though
the order would have to yield or the action
OF the Supreme Lodge be undone
The Germans.
In 1888 there was held at Chicago what
was styled the national convention of the
German lodges of the knights of Pythias.
Fiery resolutions were passed. and it was
unanimously demanded that the Suprene
Lodge should call special session to con.
slider the question of translation. 1t was
also threatened by the so-called national
convention that if the privileges asked were
not granted within ninety days the Ger
man lodges would take the case into their
own hands and translate the new ritual
INTO their language on their own RESPONSE
putty. The extra session was not called,
the ninety days expired. and it is now
charged that these German lodges have
surreptitiously translated the ritual and
thereby violated law properly enacted by
the Supreme Lodge. 1t is claimed that
enough votes are pledged to sustain the SUI
preme Lodge in its previous action. There
will be warm discussion, it is thought,
but the trouble will be settled and the Ger
man lodges will be forced to use their ritual
In English. It is stated by eminent au-
thority that nine out of ten of the German
Knights of Pythias are able 10 read En-
glish as well as German, and that they OBJ
ject to the improved order of things merely
on the ground of sentiment. There is no
question but that the German element Of
the order is in revolt, and that threats Of
secession are being freely made. The reso-
buttons passed by the national convention
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 by charters granted through
their various grand lodges, under the super
vision of the Supreme Lodge, and that this
right had been taken from them without
their knowledge or consent. The resolution
demanded that the obnoxious law should be
abrogated.
The Sisters% Lodges.
Another vexing problem which the Su-
preme Lodge will be called on to settle at
this session will be that of women's
auxiliarfes to the order The two bodies
which are struggling for recognition as
auxiliaries are the Pythian Sisters and the
Pythian Sisterhood. For the past fifteen
nf ha