Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-03-12
Brother Odd Fellows WouId Alleviate
Grandpa PoIIock.s Distress

Brother Odd Fellows would Alleviate
Grandpa Poiiocks Distress
The following communication was
left at the HERALD Office today. We'd
nesday by, w. F. orion with. the re-
quest that it be published in this
weeks issue of the paper.
To all odd-fellows greeting ana to the
public.
An editorial published in the Grant coun-
an unwarranted attack upon Edwa-d pol
lock, worthy member of the Mississippi
diley Lodge OF the Independent order OF
Odd-Fellows and through him upon the or
der at large
The article indirectly asserts that Mfssis
sippi Valley Lodge has a pauper fund ana
that f. Pollock received money fherefron1
TO pay expenses Of his smallpox sickness
when not his due and leaves the Inference
70 pc drawn that he is a man bad in prfn-
ciple, who would take money and wrong
MS lodge by accepting the same when moi
ms due and that he IS not now in good
Neither assertion or inference is in ac-
cordance with the facts.
pauper fund is not known in the Order
Such fund does not exist and II il an IN
dignity 70 charge 1t with maintaining or
One Of the cardinal principles Of the Or
der is the payment of benefits. also care and
nursing during sickness as a right not as a
cnarltv. 10 an member in good standing re-
gdfdlesS OF their wealth or income and the
dues are so regulated that all members nav
IN full tor the rights and the fraternal dpfV
extended to them. 1t does not war on ans,
sect, creed. society or individuals and Odd
fellows cannot understand why such an as
sauIt should be made upon it, With its
great cardinal virtue and its fraternaI duty
when the lodge learned that Brother n
Pollock had the small box that dutv was
extended TO him immediately as was his
flght, ms very own, the same as should be
extended 10 all members. regardless OF
wealth and not as a charity
That duty Brother Il. Pollock received ana
nothing more he did not even ask for that
Il came 70 him unsought and he never re-
celNed one cent from any fund of the lodge
r. Pollock IS member in good standing
and has always been since he Joined many
years ago. a good consistent member
think all men everywhere.
Therefore We the members of the Miss
issippi valley lodge, in lodge assembled. do
hereDY declare that said editorial of Febru-
airy eth. is utterly false and without found |
alton in fact, and we believe maliciouslv SO |
and we publish to all whom it may concern |
the facts and the truth
SIGNED.
Mississippi valley Lodge, No. SO. I. O. o. F.
ISEAL.l
In another column will be found an |
article which was in type before this
communication was received and /
which we think sufficiently explains
that we have only the kindest feel
ings for the Odd Fellows organization,
and that we appreciate its purposes
and work, and that we do not wish.
by word or deed, to in any way harm
Mississippi Valley lodge nor wound.in
the slightest degree, the feelings of
It's members. In using the expression
.pauper fund.- we had in mind the
of the man who re-
eeived the assistance and not the pur-
poses of the fund itself If ..benefit
iund" is the proper technical term,
hat is what we will call it. but that
Toes not change the facts of the case,
n the least, that Pollock did receive
money both from the Odd Fellows
odge and from the city treasury to
pay the expense Of his smallpox sick
ness. These are the essential facts
hat remain unchallenged.
1t does not follow that because
society is worthy and its objects bene-
ieient and grand that every member
5 the same. 1t is the history Of the
church and all fraternal societies that
n spite of the utmost care unworthy
will gain admission. The
of the Odd Fellows order
,ught not to take it as an assault
IN their lodge that the villainy of
/ ''black sheep" is partially exposed.
Did the gentlemen who prepared
he above communication consider
hat the quarrel Ed. Pollock has with
.he HERALD was of his own seeking
and that it has been prolonged be-
cause he would have it so? DO they
wish to announce that because he is a
of Mississippi Valley lodge
that he has a right to violate the avs
# courtesy and decency in the treat
ment of others2 Have other people
no rights that he is bound to respectp
When did Ed. Pollock receive a fran
ehise to yillify his neighbors without
rebukep Who granted him license
to poison public sentiment with false
hoods and slandersp, Surely being a
member of Mississippi Valley lodge
does not confer such unusual privi-
eges.
Isn't it barely possible that he is
not entitled to any more considera-
ton and of right has no more privi-
lodges than other editors? If so,
why wouldn't it have been in better
taste for the committee in charge to
have tried to reform their brother of
the Teller before criticising in public
the HERALD's action?
We desire to he at peace with the
world and will ever strive toward
that end, but will not meekly submit
to the insults aud sneers of Ed.
Pollock even at the risk of offending
Sntnn nf his Dllovvarc