The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-01
is THIS FRAUD :?
Serious Charges Made Against
a Fraternal Society.
Officers of Ancient Order of
Pyramids Accused.
ALL ARE TOPEKA MEN.
They Disclaim any knowledge
of the Trouble.
SaIina Lodge Surrenders Its
Charter and Quits.
Claim One Family Has GObbled
NnarTv All Fat Positions.
Claim One Family Has GObbled
Nearly All Fat Positions.

Salina, Kan, July 1.-The Salina
Council of the Ancient Order of Pyra-
mids,a fraternal insurance organizat ton,
has voted to surrender its charter. This
action was taken, when an investigating
committee, appointed to examine the
workings of the grand lodge, made its
report. The committee stated that 1t
had found the affairs of the order in
very bad condition and accused the
grand officers of gross Irregularities.
Appended to the committees report
was the minority report of the last
grand lodge auditing committee, which
stated that $4,000 policies had been is
sued to grand lodge officers andsmern-
bers of their families, when only $4,000
policies can be issued according to the
constitution; that no dues had ever
been paid on these $4,000 policies; that
the grand scribe had made a. false re-
port to the insurance commissioner of
Illinois as to the expense of maintain
ing the order: that the books show ST.,
600 due officers for salaries, when the
officers publicly claim that the Organiza-
ton is solvent and do not give this
liability in their report. The minority
report then says:
Possibly you do not know it, but it
is a fact that a, banker who receives
money on deposit after he is aware of
the insolvency of his bank is sent to the
penitentiary for grand larceny"
The investigating committee further
reported that the grand lodge charter
revealed the startling information that
the grand officers serve for life can
vote themselves whatever salary they
please, have full control of everything
and pass on all laws with power to
nullify.
The Ancient Order of Pyramids is
chartered under the laws of Missouri.
Springfield, Mo, but all the officers live
at Topeka, Kan. The founder of the
order is E S. McCIintock, who is su-
preme manager; c. S. McClintock, his
&c iii Z
Long, nephew of z. S. McClintock is
royal scribe. This gives the N1cClintock
family the majority Of the five members
of the executive council.
In regard to the above charge of fraud
and insolvency. which the SaIina lodge
of the Ancient Order of Pyramids makes
against the head officers of this asso-
ciation most of whom live in Topeka;
the head officers have very little to
say except to deny the accusation.
A reporter for the State Journal call
ed upon the head officers and was ush-
cred into the presence Of a committee
composed of Mrs. E. S. McClintock.
medical director; Mr. D. r. Hite and
Mr.. D. L. Shelton, members of the
committee on laws. When shown the
dispatch, these gentlemen seemed very
much surprised that such a report
should get out and all were unanimous
in declaring that it was untrue in every
particular. They d1Scia1meG any knOWl-
edge Of such an existing state of af-
fairs and even asserted that no notice
had been received from the Salina lodge
nor had their Charter been returned.
The committee authorized Mr. E. S.
McCHntOck, royal prophet of the order,
to give out the following statement:
I'm regard to the matter Of the issuing
of certificates in the sum of 1000 it is
true so far as the grand lodge officers
are concerned, but in regard to their
not paying their assessments, 1 want to
say that we pay our assessments just
the same as any other members. AT the
time of issuing the certificates in the
sum of IS 900, any one either officer or
member could insure for that amount.
Since then. at our meeting in Kansas
City in 1897 the bylaws have been
amended prohibiting the issuing of GER
tificates for more than $4,000
In regard to the reports and state
dnents which the order has filed with
the insurance department of the states
in which the order is doing business, I
wish to say that they are true. There is
no truth in the report that we have
filed false statements. 1t is not true
that the books of the order show any
liability not shown in statements made
to the various insurance departments.
The books are open to inspection at any
time and are examined once a month
by the finance committee, composed of
Mr.. A K. Rodgers, DR.. J. E. Minney
and DR. NJ. R. Mitchell. Their report
together with vouchers, etc. were ap-
proved by the convention held in kan
sas City.
THE officers are at a loss to under
stand the report and the lodge has not
surrendered their charter. The last
time that we heard from Salina was in
regard to claim for disability"
When asked what probable action
would be taken in regard to the charges
of the Salina lodge Mr. McClintock said,
I'VE will take no notice of it whatever
unless the lodge surrenders its charter.
I think that I know where the trouble
lays We had a man in the Salina
lodge who was a. member OF the finance
committee. but he did not attend to his
lodge work nor show any interest in the
lodge, so [ removed him and appointed
another man in his place. 1 think that it
is for this act that these charges have
-, Dc orra i1S the order