Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-01

OAAlAIlAll6 Iii 8NN'
Supreme Commander. ]. A. Baden, NJ. d.,
Baltimore. Md; Supreme Yice-Command-
err, John T.. McCahan. Baltimore, Md; SUI
preme Assistant Commander, Charles Y.
Bargamin, Richmond, Va; Past Supreme
Commander. Oliver h. Craig, Baltimore,
Md; Supreme Prelate, Rev. ID. w. Gwin,
Atlanta, Ga; Supreme Secretary. A.
Stanlet Wier, Baltimore. Md; Supreme
Treasurer, Warren IL. Sadler. Baltimore.
Nd; Supreme Guide, G. 5. Prior, Atlanta,
Ca; Supreme Guardian, George l.. Currie,
Richmond, Va; Supreme Sentinel, George
c. Chambers, Pittsburg, Pa; Supreme
Medical Examiner, Thomas Opie, NJ. d..
Baltimore, Md.
Supreme Trustees-Vincent l.. Cook.
Brooklyn, N. Y; j. G. Seibert, Pittsburg.
Pa; A. c. Mustard, Charleston, S. c.
Committee on Laws-Charles III. Wier.
Allen Lawson, and William O.. Ray, all
Of Baltimore. Md.
Finance Committee-E. S. Allnut, j.
Glenn Cook, and Thomas Opie, NJ. D., all
OF Baltimore, Md.
Committee on Appeals-John f.. Me-
Cahan, /. r. Page. and .. Il. Craig, all
Of Baltimore. Nd.
Life members not holding ofioe-Rev.
G.. c. Biting, Philadelphia, Pa; Thomas
V. Kessler. Baltimore. Md.
State representatives are not required
to report until Tuesday morning, but the
following ave already reported: New
York, Vincent l.. Cook; Pennsylvania, j.
II. W. Anderson; Maryland, John c.
Simering; Virginia, c. W. Morriss.
HAVE NO PUBLIC MEETING.
II has been customary on such occa-
sions to open with a public meeting an
address of welcome by the Mayor OF the
city, addresses, etc, and each day TO
provide some entertainment for the visit
ing members and their ladies. Supreme
Observation-Disclosures Bargamin had pre-
pared a very elaborate programme Tor
this occasion, il being the wish OF the
local lodges 10 give their supreme Off
GERS O. sample OF real, old Virginia hos
pitality, but after mature consideration
and consultation with the other supreme
officers II was thought best TO dispense
with everything OF the kind on this par
ticular occasion. The ladies in attend
ance will be taken charge or by Mrs. Z.
Y Rargamin and her TWO daughters
Misses Therese and Ida Bargamin-who
will do all in their power TO make their
visit pleasant and agreeable, SO that at
least one portion of the visitors will be
fayorably impressed with the city and
the hospitality OF its inhabitants.
At the meeting of the Grand Lodge of
Virginia. held in his city last month,
resolutions were unanimously adopted
urging the Supreme Lodge at this session
TO effect some compromise between the
c~ontending factions, and not to adjourn
as long as there is the slightest chance
OF coming together ana Joining hands 10
work together for the good OF the order
az large. The members I'm Virginia be-
Iieye that the Hfe Of the order Is depend
ent on the action OF the Supreme Lodge
in this matter, and they appeal TO both
sides alike to recede from the stand they
have taken and TO meet each other half
way.
THE BREACH TO BE HEALED.
II has gradually become known that
ever since the meeting held in Atlanta
I'm 1896. the order has been either before
the courts or the Legislature Of Mary
land. and every effort has been made
by both sides 10 this contest TO keep this
knowledge from the members at large,
especially outside Of Maryland. This has
caused various Tumors to be circulated
with the usual exaggerations, That nave
been very injurious to the order. and IL
is now the desire OF the Virginia members
that the facts should De made pubic.
IL is a matter of interest 10 not only
the thousands of members OF the Order
of the Golden Chain. but TO the hundreds
of thousands of members OF all similar
orders. The facts. as furnished the Dis
patch. are these:
In 1896 the Maryland Legislature pass
ed a law governing all beneficial orders
chartered in that State. This law was
exceedingly antagonistic to the laws Of
the Golden Chain. Other prominent or
ders were not affected ny II. as they
were not chartered in Maryland One
clause OF this law allowed the State
eight representatives in the Supreme
Lodge. The Supreme Lodge law only
allowed there. At the Atlanta meeting,
which was held Immediately after this
act was passed, the officers Of the SUI
preme Lodge consulted the Attorney
General Of Maryland and the Attorney
General OF Georgia as TO its effect on
the order, and they, in a written opinion,
claimed that II could not be applied. On
the strength Of this the Supreme Lodge
refused admittance to the eight members
from Maryland, but consented to admit
the three who had received the largest
number Of votes. The three who were
entitled 70 seats refused to come in un-
less all were admitted. An attempt
was Their made to compromise. and the
supreme Lodge went so far as 10 con-
sent 10 admit the entire delegation If
they would come in under the laws OF
the order. but they refused all terms
offered them and demanded that the SD
nreme Lodge should be governed entirely
Inv the laws of Maryland. The Supreme
Lodge declined to accept that alternative,
and the delegation returned TO Baltimore
In a body. Ever since then the Mary
land delegation has been attempting
through the courts to compel the Supreme
Lodge to comply with the State law, and
the Supreme Lodge officers have been
attempting TO have the law repealed. The
| artive officers OF the Supreme Lodge have
had their time so occupied by this con-
trOversy that they have been unable 70
give the proper attention to the building
mp OF the order, and hence the falling on
In membership and the consequently In
creased number OF assessments. IL Is
confidently believed that with this matter
definitely settled, and the officers unem'
barrassed, so as to allow them 10 go or
with their proper duties, the increase In
membership will soon offset the recent
losses.