The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-30
THE PYTHIANS' DISPUTE
PETITION FOR RECEIVER FOR CAS-
TIE HALL ASSOCIATION.
Grand Lodge Complains of Friction
Office Building Contemplated
Would BE Improbable.

An dppllcdllOn Tor a receiver 1Of the CdS-
tie Hall Association was filed yesterday
afternoon by the Grand Lodge, knights of
Pythias, through it's attorneys Hanly,
Wood & Simms and John B. Cockrum. The
complaint asks an order from the Circuit
Court dissolving the corporation of the Cas-
tie Hall Association, an Injunction restrain
ing the association from letting contracts
for the erection of a new building, and the
appointment of a receiver to take charge of
and close up the affairs of the corporation.
The Castle Hall Association had proposed to
receive bids to-day for the erection of its
new building. April IA was fixed by Judge
Allen as the day for the defendants to APP
pear before him and answer to the COM
plant.
The complaint sets forth that pursuant to
the articles of incorporation the board of
trustees of the Castle Hall Association at
tempted to secure the subscription of a cap
ital stock of 100000, but that since Dec. 4,
1889, when the association was organized,
there has been subscribed only $3650. OF
this sum $4,000 has been fully paid. On the
remainder of stock so subscribed there has
been paid $12, 255. The sole assets of the as
ISOLATION are it's real estate at the point
of Massachusetts avenue and Pennsylvania
street. valued at $4,000 It's income consists
of the rental of two small buildings on this
property. 1t is alleged that the costs and
expenditures of maintaining the association
are in excess of it's income.
The complaint goes on to state that oppo-
sition and friction have grown up between
the board of directors Of the association and
officers of the Grand Lodge over the man
directors of the Grand Lodge over the man
agement and control of affairs. The board
of of inns of no
association have allowed the state, county
and city taxes to accumulate and become
delinquent in the sum of $2.2O3.1O. and Feb.
IA, 1898, it's property was sold for taxes by
the treasurer of Marion county. 1t is al
legged by the plaintiffs that the association
is unable to secure the subscription of any
more stock; holders of stock have refused
to pay anything more thereon; that it is
impossible to ever realize the purposes and
objects for which the association was i'm
corporated, and that by the terms OF the
articles of incorporation it will be impossi-
BILE for the association to erect building
upon its real estate that can be held, let
or rented for pecuniary profit. 1t is com
planned that members of the board or OIL
rectorS of the association have, over the
objections of the Grand Lodge, en-
and Specifications for the erection of
a building upon the real estate to cost not
less than $4,000, and that 1t is proposed by
the board of directors TO borrow this money
and to execute a first mortgage on the
property for the sum- 1t is alleged that IT
will be unwise and dangerous TO the inter-
ests of the stockholders of the incorporation
to erect building in any event upon TINS
property, for the reason that 1t has been
impossible so far to secure leases upon, any
of the rooms or apartments in the building
which it is proposed to build; that the build
ing site is located out of the business CEN
ter of the city, and that an office building
thereon rented
The effect of the proceedings for re-
oeiver for the Castle Hall Association Will
probably mean the abandonment of the
attempt TO erect a castle hall at the inter
section of Massachusetts avenue and Penn
sylvania street under the present plan. II,
in the future, the Grand Lodge decides TO
erect a building, it will do so itself without
the intervention of a subsidiary association
In other words, it Is said that there VIII De
no effort made to re-incorporate the Castle
Hall Association in, a manner that would
be a compliance with the law OF 1871 Both
the Grand Lodge alfdsthea Castle Hal AS,
ISOLATION have about $4,000 each invested
in the observation-disclosures land, besides
which stock is held by some OF the local
lodges and individuals. In the event the
suit of the Grand Lodge succeeds. the
money that has been accumulated Will re-
vert to the sources from which it came
One of the strongest objections to the
plans of the Castle Hall Association was
that they provide fora. building but -FOUR
stories high. 1t is felt that this would not
be in keeping with the dignity and impor-
lance of the lodge in Indiana, with It's
membership of 10000. Stress is laid on the
fact that the order isliabout as strong, as
the Masonic order, and yet the latter has h3,
those who have looked on a X. of 2. cas-
tie hail as desirable, that it ought to be
more nearly like the Scottish Rite building
in size and beauty If built at all. 1t is SAID
that the Grand Lodge could itself erect n
large building, as the necessary money
could be borrowed. 1t is possible that, II
the land is sold, the Grand Lodge Will bid
it in, in order to keep the site, regarded as
one of the finest and most imposing corners
in the city. This idea, however, has been
but little discussed and no definite decision
will be reached until the outcome of the suit
for a receiver is known,