Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-12
TaE Il. OF p. SPLIT.
The Local German Lodges viii Join III Q
new Branch.

The Local German Lodges VIII JOIN the
new Branch.
Humboldt and Germania Lodges, K.
of p, of this city, numbering nearly
one hundred mbers. will refuse TO
give up the German ritual. as was re-
CURED by the Grand Lodge, at the ses-
sion in Kansas City, two years ago, and
will cast their fortunes with the In
proved Order. organized at Buffalo De-
cember 18th and 10th last,
In manifesto issued from Indianap-
oils December %, 1894, the Supreme
Commander Of the Improved Order,
George Sedenstricker, says;
Not quite thirty years ago. the
City of Washington, ID. c., witnessed
the birth of beneficial order based on
the principles Of friendship, charity
and benevo!ence. Civil war had devas-
tated our fair land and hatred and pas
sion ran high between contending sec
tionS of this country. Extending the
olive branch Of peace TO the North aud
South, aud being founded upon the uni
verSal brotherhood Of mankind, the
new order appealed strongly for sup.
port not onlysto the recently beilgerent
factions, but by reason OF It's ll6eralltY
and tolerance, attracted TO its ranks re-
cruits from all nationalties. The In
fancy of the new order OF Knights OF
Pythias was beset with many hardships
and vicissitudes, and In its adversely IL
knew no truer and more steadiast
friends than those members who come
to our hospital shores from other lands.
Intoxicated with the later success
of this order, its supreme officers at the
session held at Kansas City, Missouri,
two years ago, adopted measures which
egisated lodges using other than an En-
glish ritual out of existence, and set the
seal of approval upon this action in its
recent session at Washington, d. c.,
this year. The protests Of Lodges
using rituals other than the English
were treated with silent contempt; their
appeals for the right OF existence were
denied exceptupon the in exorable condi-
tion.that the English ritual must be used.
Abuses of various kinds have also crept
into this once cherished order, actuated
bv the same intolerant spirit Of class
legislation. Being thus brought face TO
face with the alternatives Of dissolution
or remuneration, the German Lodges of
the United States, choosing the latter
course, organized a new order In the
city of Buffalo, n. Y, on Decent Der
Is and 10, 1894, based on the princi pies
of liberality, friendship and beneVo-
lence.
Conscious OF the justice OF our cause,
and encouraged by guaranteed member
ship, we ask your aid and assistance In
building up the new order, on the lines
indicated. Believing as we do that
avowed principles must receive their
lust Interpretation by the acts OF those
protesting them, we condemn the ex-
qualification Of friendship by the old
order as a hollow mockery and sham.
We do not believe that patriotism can
be instlled into members OF an order by
teaching them to disaVow their mother
tongue, no more than we can believe that
PRAYER directed TO the Divine Being
can be less effectual II offered in lam
guage foreign TO this country. Liberty
and tolerance have been watch words OF
our great country since its birth have
attracted to our shores the ancestors OF
all those who are now American citi-
zens."
The next session of the Grand Lodge
of the Improved Order is to be held in
Detroit, July 8, 1895.