Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-07-04
Supreme Conclave Session Heptasophs.

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George E. Pierson, of Woodbury., VIII
represented Provident Conclave, No. Al
H. o. H., at the recent session of the Su
preme Conclave, presented his report Of tn
proceedings of that session at a meeting c
Provident Conclave held on Tuesday even
ing last, June 25, giving detailed de
scription of the most important bushes
transacted, as follows -
i The Supreme Conclave was opened a
2.30 on Tuesday afternoon, June IL, il
Copley Hall, Boston, Mass. Charles II
Ramsay, Supreme Treasurer, called th
Conclave to order, and introduced Suprem,
Archon Morris G. Cohen, who then intro
duced Thomas A. Mullen, member o
South Boston Conclave, No. 433 who hat
been selected to make the address of wei
come. At the conclusion of Mr.. Mullen'l
address, Mayor Hart was introduced by
Mr.. Cohen, who extended to the visiting
representatives the freedom and hospitality
| of the City of Boston. James A. Munk
ley, the very efficient Deputy Suprem,
Organizer, who had charge Of the hote
arrangements of the visiting delegates
presented Supreme Archon Cohen with {
/ beautiful gavel made Of wood from
Admiral Dewey's flagship, Olympia.
The Supreme Archon then called thu
Conclaye to order, when his annual report
together with the reports of the other Su
preme officers, were presented and referred
to the Committee on State of the Order anC
Distribution for reference to proper com
mittees. This action comprehended abou
all the proceedings of the first day.
| On Wednesday morning the Supreme
| Archon presented and read his special re
port on the fraudulent admission of mem
bers i'll Chicago, on which action a law suit
is now pending. The report was received
and approved. This case refers to admis
sion Of persons over age, and a compromise
may be offered, if such members will accept
new table of rates applying to their actua
age when admitted.
Nominations for Supreme officers were
next declared in order, when nominating
speeches in a goodly number, and with fail
ability were made for several of the offices
This business occupied the most of tht
morning session. In the afternoon the
Committee on Laws reported on the Su
preme Archon's decisions, which were
generally approved. Legislation proposing
changes in reference to suicides was ordered
to lie on the table, and later on in the
session was defeated, leaving the law as il
now stands.
The Committee ON Laws and Appeals
was instructed to prepare a law creating
the office of Supreme Counsel, provided
that said Office shall be made elective
This law was afterwards introduced and
adopted
The selection of the place of the next
meeting excited very spirited contest
| Eloquent speeches were made by the
advocates of Richmond, Va, and Milwau-
| kee, Wis, but the former was selected by
the close vote of 178 to 163 This action
closed the business of the second day
On Thursday morning the election Of
| Supreme officers was in order. The pre-
| liminary election had been actively prose
cuted since the converting of the representa-
tives, and was conducted by the contend
ing factions by the circulation of cards
containing the names of the several
candidates. The election resulted as
follows: For Supreme Archon, Morris G..
Cohen, Pittsburg, 274; Philip " Fennelly,
Buffalo, 1877; S. A. Will, Pittsburg, 80.
Supreme Provost, Roswell B. Farren, New
Haven, Conn, 214; c. G. Boland, Scran-
ton, Pa, 225. Supreme Organizer John
w. Cruett, Baltimore, Md, 1858; Frank P.
Tyler, New Haven, Conn, 173. Charles A.
Greer was reelected Supreme Prelate by a
vote of 1913 to SO over E. J. Kuhn James
T. Gault, of West Chester, Pa, was re-
elected Supreme Inspector over Adolph
Schmidt, the incumbent, by vote of 1919
to 148. Samuel H. Tattersall, Chas. II.
Ramsay, DR.. ]. III. Christian and Joseph
Noblitt were respectively selected Supreme
Secretary, Supreme Treasurer, Supreme
Medical Director, and Supreme Warder
without opposition. Harry Goldman and
E. S. Wade were respectively elected as
Representatives to the Fraternal Congress.
The principal legislation of the balance OF
the session may be thus enumerated and
briefly described.
Per diem of Supreme officers, Committees
and Deputies was fixed at S. per day for
seven days attendance at sessions, with
mileage at &c. per mile each way.
The recommendation of Supreme Archon,
providing for scaling of certificates of new
members hereafter admitted who die with
mission to membership, was adopted, pro-
viding first year that only fifty per cent. of
certificate shall be paid; second year sixty
six per cent, and third year eighty per cent.
The Supreme Archon's plan of rates for
assessments was finally adopted, after much
argument and determined effort to secure
increase at the rate of thirty per cent. on
the present table.
The table adopted has been scientifically
demonstrated to be correct, being adjusted
upon the expectancy Of life at each age.
1t requires only one assessment a month,
while providing for more if absolutely
necessary, but it is confidently believed it
will produce balance for the Special Fund,
which can be used in an emergency to pre-
vent more than twelve assessments year.
Provision was made for the investment
of moneys from the special fund, which
may accumulate from assessments, by the
Supreme Executive Committee, in govern
ment, State county, school or municipal
bonds. Safeguards have been placed about
this fund so as to make it secure, interest
bearing, and available for use in paying
mortuary benefits if more than twelve
assessments in any one year may be re-
quired.
There was determined effort made to
abolish the Deputy Supreme Archons
which failed, but an amendment was adopted
prohibiting the Supreme Archon from
making any appointments and requiring
Districts to elect or be prevented from
representation.
A proposition to change the basis of
representation from one for each Conclave
to one from grouped district of Conclaves
was proposed, but defeated, leaving repre-
sentation as at present.
A proposition to levy an expense as
sessment of $1.40 on each member was
presented, but excited so much hostility
that the same was withdrawn, and pro-
vision was made for funds for expenses by
adopting recommendation of Supreme
Archon TO appropriate seven per cent. OF
the mortuary assessments for that purpose.
The new table of rates was ordered to
take effect July 1, 1901, and all other new
legislation August l, 1901.
An effort to strike out the issue OF certif-
Gates for $4,000 and $4,000 was ably dis
cussed, but no change was made, the law
now restricting issue of these certificates to
applicants under As years of age. Provision
was made for the issue of certificate for
$780,
Hereafter, however, it will be necessary
for new applicants for $4,000 and $4,000 GER
tificates to submit to two medical examina-
lions by different physicians, one of whom
may be any other reputable physician, if a
Conclave has only one Medical Examiner.
A general grant of authority was given
the Law Committee to so adjust the new
legislation with the present constitution as
to make them harmonious whole, with
out conflicting provisions.
A proposition to admit females to mem
bership in the Order was introduced by P.