Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-09-25
TROUBLES In new JERSEY
CONTINUED from First Page.l

~ T. I .
l. jurisdiction over the members, and
in accord with the Constitution and
By-Laws Of the G. l., state OF New
Jersey. authorized by the S. l., Article
9Th, Section 2, which authorizes the
committee on investigation in their
duties.
''It shall be their duty to obtain from
the complainant or others such infOr-
nation as shall be made TO them TO
come to a proper understanding of the /
circumstances, and should they, after |
full investigation therein, deem the |
grounds sufficient to, prefer a charge, |
they shall authorize the complainant
to bring the case before the G L but
if it appear that the charges were pre-
ferred without sufficient ground. or in
consequence OF some private or bust
ness transaction, not in direct viola
tiOn of the established principles or
customs of the Order, but in their
opinion prompted by desire TO iDjUre
brothers character in the estimation
OF his fellows, then the committee
shall report to the Lodge, charging him
with the design to destroy the peace
and harmony thereof"
The committee did not go so far as
to present charges against Sir w. II
Needles, but simply ignored the
charge, and exonerated Sir ]. 4. Huggs
which report was adopted as aforesaid.
We therefore, claim that no law of the
Supreme or Grand Lodge has been vio-
lated, and in no sense has Sir W. II.
Needles any right of appeal. In all
eases, especially of a criminal charac-
ter, the ri ght of appeal belongs to the
defendant, and not the plaintiff in the
case.
CoGENT REASONING.
Second.-Sir w. II. Needles claimed
to prefer his charge in the interest of
the @. L. and when the Grand Lodge
accepted his charge for investigation
the g. L. became the complainant, and
Sir w. Fl. Needles was eliminated from
the case. and the g. l.. having accept
ed and adopted the recommendation
of the committee as plaintiff in the
case, and Sir J A. Huggs accepting as
defendant, there was no legal ground
for appeal, hence there was no ground
for action on the part of the S. O., as
he had no Jurisdiction under the cir
cumetances, and any action taken
would be an infringement on the
rights and privileges Of the G. L. which
we have sworn To protect, and also in
violation of the obligatory usages of
the Order in accord with Article III,
Section ,, S. L Law.
The following communication was
received from Sir w. II. Needles, Fri
day, 29th of January. 1897:
MAJOR GKNERAL NEEDLES WRITES.
BURLINGTON, N. j., January 20, 'eI
Sir John A. Hugs:
Dear Sir and Brother-I write yor
this letter, hoping by this time tha
you have considered the matter tha
we were talking about just before W,
parted, and have made up your minC
TO do what is right. Now for a littl,
chat to place before you just wherl
you stand, and what the out come viii
be. On the 9th / made my report Il
the s. c., of the action taken bv tn,
q L., in New Jersey The converse
tiou and arguments between he and
are too long to set forth here. 1t il
only necessary to speak of the results
and what can. and what cannot b.
done and that lie this: That you i'm
mediately call Especial session of tn,
Grand Lodge, and obey the order. anC
then for you to take an appeal TO tn,
Supreme Lodge in person, getting som,
one to present it after you get there
A pointer: Do not let that som,
one be either Morgan or Williams
And while feel that the committe,
on appeals and grievances will repor
to sustain the 5. c., l feel, that in view
of the fact that you have filled one
half OF your time as Grand Chancellor
they will recommend that you receiv,
the s. L. degree and be admitted 60
seat. That is a way out of bad fix
Now, will give you the other side
TO FORM NEW GRAND LODGE.
If you do not obey the order, tn,
Grand Lodge will be expelled and no
suspended, and all Loyal Lodges viii
be asked to meet at an early date anC
form a new Grand Lodge. The Courts
will be asked to do the same. The \
O. writes me that he has the assuranc,
of several Lodges that they will no
stand by the action of the Grand Lodg
at Trenton. Friendship Lodge, at it
meeting last night, decided that i
would not stand by the Grand Lodgt
if she persisted in disobeying the Su.
preme Lodge. Can you afford to b,
brought in your own Lodge for violat
ing your oath and obligation Sin no
obeying the s. c.? If he is not RICH
appeal to the Supreme Lodge. Their
is one thing that all of us must under
stand, and that is, that the Suprem
Lodge is an Incorporated body, ant
what we as individuals and Subordi
nate Lodge or Grand Lodge obligat
ourselves to dc, the s. Lodge cal
force US to do it by process of law. ]
those brothers that signed those paper
in your caucus had understood tina
they we're signing paper that woul,
give the g. the right to eonfiscat
all the property and funds of the Gran,
and Subordinate Lodges of New Jersey
don't think they would have signe,
it.
TOO HOT HEADED.
John, do not know what course yo
will take, but feel confident. that
it had not been for your advisers 20
would have done according to law
That is just what have told you, an
was one of my objections of your bein
G. Chancellor that you were led ava
by others. Were too hot-headed an
did not weigh the matter with you
own cool judgment. If you have de
cided to call meeting and obey tn
S. @. you must write him over you
own signature on or before Tuesday
February 2nd, 1897. On my solieitf
ton he promised to wait until ths
date, and he said that if by that time
have not heard from you or Sir Hugo
I will issue the order of expelling tn
Grand Lodge of New Jersey. AS 20
told me your object was to go to tn
Supreme Lodge at Richmond, Va,
think if you will obey the law and yot
obligation you will come out all rigt
in the end. Hoping that you will II
consider what you have done.
am yours in F. G. B.,
w. II. NEEDLES.
This advice was not needed by tt
Grand Chancellor and the followiE
mandate was issued by the s. @:
THE LAST WARNING.
OFFICE OF SUPREME CHANCELLOR,
o16 South 18th st.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Feb. 4, 1897
P. P. XXX
Brave and Dear Sir:-John A. Hugs
By official report before me, am a
vised that both yourself and the Graz