The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28

Supreme Lodge VIII Again Take Con-
troll of the Rank.

When the Journal printed the report that
General Canadians salary might be cut in
two many wondered how it was to be ac-
complished inasmuch as the doings of the
Uniform Rank were not in any way under
the control of the Supreme Lodge. All sal
aries of officers in the Uniform Rank are
paid by the rank, without any reference to
the supreme body. While there has been
no protest concerning the finances of the
Uniform Rank in public way, there has
been a feeling that in the process of re-
trenchment inaugurated by the Supreme
Lodge it should be sweeping enough to in
clude the Uniform Rank. While there has
been public scandal connected with the
disbursements of the Uniform Rank funds,
there is pronounced feeling among MEM
bers of the rank that there has been too
much money wasted. Under the existing
laws governing the administration of the
affairs Of the Uniform Rank the powers
in control of the finances are accountable
to no one except the executive committee in
a general sort of way. Until now there has
been a self-perpetuating arrangement by
which the same officers were elected term
after term, and there was apparently no
broken.
A way has been found. however, by which
the combination can be overcome. When the
Order of the Uniform Rank was organized
twenty years ago, it was placed under the
control of the Supreme Lodge and remained
so for over six years. Since that time, how
ever, it has been allowed to conduct its own
affairs without interference from the Su-
preme Lodge. For several years there was
no occasion for the members of the rank to
wish to make a change, and in The mean
time legislation was passed by which 1t was
found, when the time came for making d
change, that it was impossible to do so.
Some Of the thinking members of the rank
studied over the matter and came to the
appeal to the Supreme Lodge at the present
session., asking it to again assume control
over the Uniform Rank
That the thing is to be done without any
delay the public has the word of Frank
Bowers, keeper of records and seals for the
Grand Lodge of Indiana. In discussing the
matter yesterday Mr.. Bowers said the Uni
form Rank existed only by suffrance of the
Supreme Lodge, which could legally as
sumo control of 1t again at any time 1t saw
fit to do SO. The fact that it is now govern
ing itself does not indicate that it is beyond
the powers of the Supreme Lodge, but that
the Supreme Lodge allows 1t to do so. The
moment the Uniform Rank seeks to get be-
yond the control of the highest legislative
body of the order it ceases to be a knights
Of Pythias organization. Continuing, Mr..
Bowers said there was no doubt that the
Supreme Lodge would again take the Uni
form Rank under control at this session
and include it in the present policy of gem
eral retrenchment along with the Supreme
Lodge itself. In this way fl will be possible
for the Supreme Lodge to overcome the
clique which has had the control of the
Uniform Rank for so long and fix definitely
the salaries and accounts of the rank to
the satisfaction Of all the members. Ac-
cording to the general programme all the
Uniform Rank salaries will be cut down so
per cent. and the expense accounts will be
restricted.