The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-08
COURT IS DIVIDED.
Foresters Are Excited Over
the McNally
Claim.

Court Thomas E. Cunningham, F. of
A, is divided into two hostile camps.
The dissension is due to a division of an
opinion in regard to the payment of the
claims of NJ. j. McNally for sick benefit.
There were meetings of two factions
of the court last evening. The first
was the regular business session. AS a
result of this meeting the recalcitrants
held another meeting that held forth
until aSter midnight.
This second meeting was in a measure
in defiance of the rulings of the courts
deputy, p. B. Ronayne Chief Ranger
James A. Quinn having refused to en-
terrain motions put from the floor by
the opponents of McNalIy at the second
meeting. he was formally deposed from
his office. This action was taken in the
main for his decision in suspending the
financial secretary of the court, James
E. Rourke.
In consequence of this, on the ground
that the second meeting was not legal
ly called, the fiat has gone forth that
Daniel F. Fitzgerald, grand chief ran
ger of the Grand court of Massachu-
setts, will suspend the recalcitrants I'M
less they retract by tomorrow.
at he business session last night the
opposition was given an opportunity to
retract, but those who voted at the
previous meeting against the payment
of the bill stood by their guns and re-
fused to retract.
Many members who were not present
at the last meeting wished to put them
selves on record as being opposed to the
payment of the bill and not afraid of
being suspended, but, it is said were
not allowed to vote.
p. b. Ronayne, deputy of the court
in statement to The Spy reporter said:
There was a canvass made by the an
tim cNallyites in the hope that the ac-
tion taken at the summons meeting of
the court in regard to the claim might
be reconsidered The records of the
previous meeting, as read last evening,
were n,;t true, as l was quoted as say
ing as deputy that all members voting
&gainstvthe acceptance of the mandate
Of the grand court should be suspend
ed. l said tEat if the court, by d ma
jority vote, refused to accept the man
date, those voting in the minority should
be protected as members Of the order
and made members at large of the
Grand court, paying dues and receiving
the benefits CT the Grand court"
A communication from the grand
chief ranger was read which gave mem
bers who voted for the acceptance Of
the mandate, opportunity TO RECONSIDER
their vote if they saw fit. None of them
changed their vote. The communica-
ton further stated that every member
present or not should go on record as
either accepting or rejecting the man
date. The grand chief ranger ruled
that all men voting in the negative
should be suspended, A motion was
made that a committee be appointed
to present the claim of the court
against McNalley for further considera-
ton by the executive committee of the
grand court, was not entertained
At this juncture McNally and Tho
mas F. Dean got into a lively alter
meet one another, much after the fash
ion of the stars of the ring. Members
of the court rose in their seats, when
Deputy Ronayne, by authority vested
in him, commanded all to be seated.
Chief Ranger Quinn refused to appoint
the committee of three, and Mr.. Dean
called for the resignation of Chief Ran
ger Quinn. Mr.. Quinn refused to en-
terrain the motion and positively refus-
ed TO resign. Deputy Ronayne told
The Spy reporter that the meeting clos
ed in legal form. Adjournment having
been taken, Mr.. Dean called meeting
of the -McNallyites. William ].
Swallow, sub-ranger Of the court, acted
as chairman of the meeting, and John
j. Brosnihan, secretary. They proceed
ed to declare the office of chief ranger
vacant and appointed a committee con-
sisting of Thomas E. Dean, ]. J. Bros
nihan and T. j. Carney, to present the
claims of the i-McNallyites to the
executive council of the grand court.