The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-25
GERMANS .MqsI OBEY LAW.
SUCH is THE GENERAL OPINION OF
THE SUPREME L6DGEtMEM-
BEERS. &a 81
MINNESOTA MEN WANT TO KNOW.
The Removal of the Session From
Minneapolis to Cleveland to
BE Investigated.

AlSSOn, VINO Is a memDer or the knights
of Pythias, today issued special pro-
clamation welcoming the visiting
knights to the city and calling upon
the people to accord them generous
hospitality. The session Of the supreme
lodge, which begins tomorrow is like
ly to be very interesting The chief
question for consideration, It Is said,
will be the German ritual Interviews
with a number of supreme lodge rep
resentatives, published this afternoon,
show that opinion is pretty unanimous
in opposition to restoring the German
ritual. Supreme Keeper of Records
White said: I'm my opinion the Ger
mans have either got to obey the law
or get OUT The general sentiment is
that the English ritual ought to be used
i'll this country, where English is the
language almost universally spoken. It
Is binted by some representatives of the
supreme lodge that the Germans are
agitating the subject now because Of
their feelings over the action of the
order in refusing to permit members
to engage in the business Of liquor SELL
ing. 49,
Another question which is to come up
is the incorporation of the uniform
rank. The supreme lodge and the en-
dowment rank are both Incorporated,
and it Is insisted that the uniform rank
ought also to bel4incorporated.
PYTHIANe REPORT.
The following is an abstract of the report
of Supreme Chancellor Walter B. Richie:
feel that, in the light OF business stagna-
ton which has been general throughout the
world, the showing made by our order is
bob No a IS 11.~.r
initiated is proof conclusive that the subor-
dinate lodges of the country are active and
earnest. We have lost some membership by
reason Of legislation on the German question,
but it is pleasure to say that the loss thus
accrued has not been from the better class
of Germans-they have been loyal and true.
domains materially affected us. We have lost
some for another reason In great many Of
the domains the lodges have set about the
wedding out process and are permitting mem
bers who have proved undesirable to quietly
drop out. In addition to- this it may be
said, in many grand domains the provisions
OF the old constitution as to arrearages work.
ing suspension was disregarded, but the
mandatory provision of the supreme statutes
has resulted in the lodges complying there
with and has very materially added to the
suspensions as there. were many members
| whose names had simply been left on the
| books for years after being in arrears 49,.
The enterprise in the erection of castle
| halls, in securing elegant working properties,
in the higher regard for the Membership
| have all proven Of untold benefit. And L can
safely say that the order was never upon so
safe a basis as now The receipts, for the
| year ending Dec. 81, 1894, were $4,000 2S5, and
| for. the year ending Dec. 81, 1885, 81 0S2 sos,
making total for the two years of S. 053 09O
This shows net gain in the cash receipts of
the subordinate 7lodgesYef $96, S42 The sub
ordinate lodge assets Deco 81 1S9Ss We're
81, 068, 054 and Dec. 81 1896 81, oil, Ill. show
ing an increase in the past two years of
| $942, 657. The expenditures for relief in 1894
were 81 243,67S and in 1895, 81 $50, 695; total,
| ~, an increase during the past two
years of s115, 600
| The number of subordinate lodges on Dec.
81, 1893, was 1898, and Dec. 81 1885, 6 494, an
| Increase in the two years Of 1876 The num-
Der of members Dec 81, 1893, was 443. SIS;
| Dec 81, 1894, AGA 539, making net gain of
2O.s24. AS evidence that the subordinate lodges
| are at work, the number of initiates during
| the years 1894 and 1895 was 1903 1872, This would
indicate what the growth of the order would
| be, If it were not for that. more serious ques-
! ton of suspension for non-payment of dues.
| During the two years ending Dec. 81 1895,
the suspensions, practically all being for nom
| payment of dues. amounted to 81, IA. These
| figures are startling. In my Judgment the
| suggestion Of the payment of the master Of
| finance percentage upon dues, fines and as
| sessments collected would be beneficial. With
a master of finance who would haye f1nani
cial interest in the payment of the dues. the
| presentation of the matter to a member
would, as a rule result in his dues being
paid, and the removal Of the feeling which
| is ever present with "a member who is in
| debted to his LODGE and the saving to our
order eacn year of many thousands of mem
| bers.
The growth and prosperity of the uniform
| rank in the past has been far beyond the ex-
| lodge in 1877 and 1878 advocated SO earnestly
| its establishment. Its growth is largely due
| to the fostering care given it by the supreme
lodge, as well as to the efforts that have been
In direct control of its management and work.
The receipts from all sources were: For the
fiscal year ending March 81. 1895, sS,7sS.o5;
ending March 81, 1885, s1O497.03. The reve-
nues have been sufficient to meet the current
expenses. The increase in new divisions for
the two years ending March 81, 1896, has been
104. Since March 81. 1896. and up to and
including July %. there has been received
twenty-three applications for additional d.
visions. which have been approved, and these
divisions will soon be Instituted.
RITUAL TROUBLE.
Following the legislation of 1892 with refer
ence to the printing of the ritual in the En-
| giish language, goodly number of the mem
| bers of the German lodges insisted that the
| question should be resubmitted to the su-
preme lodge at it's convention in 1894 with
the hope that the action of the supreme
! lodge in 1892 would be reversed. The action
of the supreme lodge In 1892 was affirmed by
vote so overwhelming that do not believe
| 1t will come up again. Fully 95 per cent Of
the foreign membership Of our order prior
| to the adoption Of the new ritual are loyal
today. No doubt some good men may leave
US, but, as within the knowledge of all who
have given this subject study, very large
per cent who did not regard our tongue, our
laws and our customs, who have withdrawn
on account of the ritual, turns the apparent
loss to gain. Our. order is better off, our
country Is better off without those who care
not for it's tongue, it's laws and its customs.
For month or two after the propaganda
to the effect that the sacrament should be
refused by the Catholic church to all who
retained membership In this and certain other
| orders there was much agitation. 1t Is a
| question that does not need discussion upon
! our part. Our position is well defined, and
it is matter to be disposed of entirely by
| the Individual members, who. belong to the
| Catholic church. The result of this, no
| doubt, has been a considerable loss of mem
! states where the Catholic membership was
| large, that we have been Eisibly affected by
Of it OF this Dc R0 + eompana 10
| following the dictates Of his own conscience
| but he should stand upon one foot or the
other. Under this edict tiitj is impossible. in
| good faith, for him to stand upon both.
The report OF R. Ii Gu White. supreme
1854 there were subordinate lodges and rs
members. and in 1896, ,504 subordinate lodges
| and 464, 339 members S TheI state in which
| the greatest gains were made were: Ohio,
1853: Illinois; s,sl7; Indiana, 2.757; Iowa,
North Carolina, 1,404' Maihe, 1914 Texas,
| 1,219. There was less Of 1907 in Kansas
/ and 4,166 in Pennsylvania. sfThere were gains
/ in 3S states and territories, land q loss in 16
In his report, Thomas Gil Sample, supreme
master of the excheqqer, Congratulated the
| order upon the healthy Condition of its
finances. The receipts for ithe biennial term
| ending March 81. including a balance Of
| $29 ,059. were s1S3,600, and the expenditures
sl4l, 703 leaving balance Of $35.S97.
The report of Maj. Gen. James R. Carna-
han. commanding the uniform rank, showed
| that the revenues had been sufficient to meet
| all the expenses of the management. The
| income for the biennial term was SIS, 9Ss and
| the outlay 1888. The rank has made a steady
and substantial growth Some of the divisions
had not been able to hold together on account