The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-09-11
THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAs
h order Holds It's own Despite var,ou.


CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 25.-Thero
were hundreds of arrivals yesterday
and to-day OF Knights of Pythias for
the eighteenth biennial session of the
supreme lodge and the national en-
campment of the Pythians and related
organizations. The only noteworthy
vents of this morning were recep-
tions of ~brigades, regiments and Wis
itors.
Supreme Chancellor Walter B..
Richie in his report dwells on the
fact that despite the business stagna-
tion the order has made a remarkable
showing. There were losses of mem
bership on account of the German rit.
ual and Roman Catholic questions
and because of the strict
wedding out of delinquents, but
the order is declared never on
SO safe a basis as now. The receipts
for 1894 were S $4,000, $50 and for 1890,
S4,032, 800, a total for the two years of
Us, Job, o9O. The subordinate lodge
assets, December 81, 1898, were 81, O6s.-
0o4 and December 81, 1898, $50 {, III.
showing an increase in the past two
years of s94s,G SGT. The expenditures
for relief in 1894 were S1,293, 67S and
in 1885, 81, $50, 069; total, S., 4Y4, 374, an
increase during the past two years Of
Sl1o,0OO. The number Of subordinate
lodges on December 81, 1883, was
DPS and December 81, 1895, 0,I34, an
increase in the two years of 400. The
number of members December 81,
1888, was 442, 615; December 81, 1894,
46i,53S, making a net gain Of 20, 92i.
The number of limitations during the
years 1904 and 1895 was 1O3, 1872. The
chancellor takes a pronounced stand
against propositions to extend the
order to other countries and refers
temporarily to the withdrawals of
Catholics because of the Pope's decree,
OVER so, 900 SUSPENSIONS.
During the two years ending De-
cember 81, 1885, the supreme court
chancellor says, 1.-THE suspensions,
practically all being for non-paymcnt
of dues, amounted to S2,444. These
figures are startling. In my judgment
the suggestion Of the payment to the
master of finance Of a percentage upon
dues, fines and assessments collected
would be beneficial. With a master
of finance who would have a financial
interest in the payment of the dues,
the presentation of the matter to q
mem Der would, as a rule, result in his
dues being paid and the removal of
feeling which is ever present with a
who is indebted to his lodge
and the saving to our order each year
of many thousands Of Members"
The supreme chancellor refers to
foa rn =, =, ~l-c hi a NV Nv, l. - -
of the Uniform Rank as far beyond
the expectations Of the men who in
the supreme lodge in 1877 and 1875.
advocated SO earnestly it's establish
ment. The increase in new divisions
for the two years ending March 81,
1896 was 1O4. Since March 81, 1895,
and up to and including July IS, there
have been received twenty-three ap-
plicalions for additional divisions,
which have been approved: and those
divisions will soon be instituted.
GERMAN RITUAL QUESTION.
Of the German ritual conflict, tho
supreme chancellor says: 1.-The state
ment was made that our order was
opposed to foreigners. This 1 resented
with all the force at my command.
Our order is Americana; it stands for
country and for order, and believes in
loyalty to flag and tongue. 1t well
comes those who come to us just from
foreign shores desiring to be Ameri-
cans, knowing our language, observ-
ing our laws and aiding in the pros
perlty OF our country. And using the
word country I do not limit 1T at all
to what is commonly called the United
States. Our order stands for Ameri-
canism. 1t says to those coming to
our country not caring to know our
language, not caring to observe our
laws, not caring for our customs,
thrice welcome will be the ship
tnat shall bear you back 10 tne
land from whence you came. This
order IN this country desires no nan
for a member who does not wish to
know it's tongue and does not care to
famlllarize himself with its laws and
has not q proper regard for its Gus
toms and institutions. Fully 2lnety-
FIVE per cent of the foreign member
ship Of our order prior to the adoption
Of the new ritual are loyal to-day. No
doubt some good men may leave US,
but as within the knowledge OF ala
who have given this subject study, a
very large per cent who did not re-
gard our tongue, our Jaws and our
customs, who have withdrawn on &C.
count of the ritual, turns the apparent
loss to gam. Our order is better off,
our country is better off without those
who care not for its tongue, it's laws
and It's customs"
The supreme chancellor closed with
pleas for progress in every way, and
opposed unprogressiveness IN the
subordinate lodges.
No Letter From Cleveland.