The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-13
WEST VIRGINIA GRAND LODGE.
F. C. Reynolds Fight for Grand
Prelate Forced the Issue at
this Meeting.
RAYENSWOOD COMPANY WINS
The Prize Drill Contest Over Sis.
tersville..Imp Drill, Banquet
and Other Features.

To-day is the last day OF the annual
meeting Of the West Virginia grand
lodge, knights of Pythias, in Wheeling,
and the most interesting feature will
be the election Of officers, and this
years election is of far more interest
than usual, for the reason that a de-
termined effort is being made to induce
the grand lodge to break away from
the custom (Which has become well
nigh an unwritten law) of rotating off,
GERS into promotion each year, from
outer guard up. The advocates Of the
plan Of filling each office only with re-
gard to the fitness of the asplrants,
and without following the arbitrary
rule Of the past, which could on occa-
sion place the highest office in the hands
of persons entirely united for import
ant executive duties such as devolve
upon the grand chancellor, claim to
have met with considerable encourage
ment In their campaign among the rep
resentatives to the grand lodge.
They have centered their fight on the
office of grand prelate, to which B. F.
sayre, of Grafton, grand master at
arms, would become heir II they should
fail in their effort to bring about the
new order of things. AS their candl-
date for grand prelate they have put
forward as strong u man as could be
secured, Mr.. F. C. Reynolds, of Key
ser, knight of conceded ability. 1t is
urged that the knights of Pythias' gain
last year was only 143 in West Virginia,
while other secret societies made much
larger gains, and some one well known
over the state is needed to bring new
blood into ON order that should Of it
self attract large increases every year.
Mr.. Reynolds. it is urged, is such a
man. His friends are not throwing
dirt at any other aspIrant for the Of
fee. but they claim that 1t is far bet
ter for each office to stand on Its own
bottom, and that there is no precedent
for the present rotative system Of ad-
vancement
For keeper of records and seals there
are two asplrants,, the present incum-
bent, Maner Jenkins. Of Piedmont, and
Charles o. Roemer, of this city. Mr..
Jenkins friends say he will win three
to one or more. On the other hand.
Mr.. Roemer is still confident that ne
will make a strong bid for the office.
Mr.. Roemer's canvass has been handi-
capped by the really excellent record
made by Mr.. Jenkins in the office dur
ing several years past, but the argu-
ment of his friends that the PythIan
Headquarters should come to Wheeling,
where those of nearly all the other or
ders are located, is strong one.
For the office of outer guard. which
means eventual advancement to grand
chancellor IL the rotating system is not
Knocked out to-day, there are several
candidates, including Morgan Jenkins
of Hartford City; Leo schaefer. of Sew
ell; Pack, of Moundsville, and P. H.
Lawyer, Of Berkeley Springs.
The grand lodge transacted little but
routine business yesterday. This morn
ing's session will begin at 8 o'clock, and
the business of the meeting may be con-
cluded at one session.