Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-22
ALEbF OF UNPUBLISHED HISTORY.


IH ~ lLlt W 0FtOp-tOitlb lii0
How the Late Jesepn Pyle Dispensed with
a Session OF The Great Council of the
I. UnIfed states, Imp. q. of Il. ~.
The late Joseph Pyle was elected
Gffat Incohonee Of the Great Council
OF the United States, Imp'd. o. r. Nj,
10 September, 1861. 1.-THE term of office
then was for one year. The sessions
1T tho G. O.. U. S. we're held annually
in Baltimore
Owing to the Civil War then in pro-
gress, and Baltimore being IN objective
point toward which all parties wsro
directing their attention as base Of
military supplies, tue holding OF any
national gatherings in that city for
peaceful or benevolent purposes was
very grave uncertainty at that time.
\ BY what was thep asserted TO he a
bold stroke of policy" the Great
Incohonee, Joseph Pyle, declared that
there would be no council fire OF the
Great Council of the United States
kindlod III corn moon, q. s., 5623,
September, 1867. He was thus the
first Great Ineohonee TO hold that
pusition for two years.
In demnlishing the old MariH Build.
Ing at Sixth and Shipley streets, which,
1T will be remembered. was at one
tina the Office of tho Great Chief nj
Records of the'HUnited States, an old
letter copying book was discovered,
containing tppies OF the official cores
pondence al Great Incohonee Pyle.
among whiSh appears the following
letter, explanatory OF his action, which
YVES Afterwards approved by the Great
Council OF the United States.
Ewdin Hirst.
Office OF q. Ineohonee. i. o. II. NJ.
-Wilmingiop, Cold Moon 14th, Sun
g. 4. 5623.l James Young. G. S. of
u. q. Of Maryland. Dear Sir and
Brother j received yours dated the
18th sun, asking me by what authority
the annual ssssion of the q. G.. Nj. S.
was postponei. and requesting respect
fully my reasons for doing so. am
aware of thh constitutional time for
holding the session, aud also know
that tho contribution may SET time
for meetinc, yet cannot compel the
attendance VI representatives. You
may think that had no right To
| presume thatrepreaentatives would not
he 10 attendance. Under ordinary cir.
cumstancss would not so presume.
| Bot remember, brothers. OF the con-
dition OF affairs just at that time of
\ the excitement in your city and State.
owing to the invasion thereof by tho
"Reiels;n the suspicion with which
every stranger was held: the prospect
of immediate martial law being pro-
claimed in ybur city; the prospect OF
the hotels bang closed, and the recoI-
lection OF burned bridges heretofore
and consequent stopping of the cars
| the at that lime demoralized condition
| of the natiobal army, scarcely able to
| protect the sapitol OF our country. |
4 say, recollect this and then ask your
selves il yod were placed in the no
sition OF representatives from distant
States, woui you have attended the
session, all things considered?
| But | DID not rely upon my own
| judgment il this matter, for letters
from members high in the order, adj.
vising me to postpone the session, were
received. AT first / was opposed to
any postpondment, for | assure you !
did not want to serve another G. S. /,
but as the time drew near, and it be-
came more and more black and ominous
Of evil, ! assumed the responsibility,
backed by letters from other State
Great Councils and representatives.
Again, the wampum belt was low,
the representatives of the former SEES
sion not paid, and no prospect OF being
SO soon, and no hopes Of a quorum
being there. thought that, all things
considered, | wo'fld do right in post.
poning tho session, and thus relieve
the G. G. of unnecessary expense, OF
at least the representatives from paying
the same. Although not strictly con.
stitutional. did | not do right? Would
ynu have not done the samee | am
glaa you have asked the question, and
nope / have answered satisfactorily
to You for have always met with
kindness from my Baltimore brethren.
and hope to always enjoy their appro
baton. and shall endeavor to satisf,
them. | think if you are not satisfied
now, when you see the correspondence
thereon you will he. / hope you will
write me again upon the matter al
suon as your G. G. meets, and let me
know exactly how you like it, whether
it meets with your approval or not
and whether | am to expect support u
opposition from the g. G. of Mary laud
You will please excuse the seal OF thI
G. g., for | have no paper sealed OF
hand, and as l make it point t,
} answer communications Immediately
! will have to write on common not
paper.
/ am, truly, yours in +. F. & O.,
tr ,JOseph pyla q Ineohonee