The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-05
LODGE SUSPENSE
TREASURER BLAMED
Sensational Event in Oak City
Lodge Knights of Honor.
A DEATH CAUSED THIS
Treas. G. C, Mcdonald Collects Money
After Lodge Was Suspended,
HE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHARGE
Investigations Show That He Collected the
Money and Did Not Remit to Head
Officers Of the Nights
OF Honor.


The members of Oak City Lodge, No.
419, the local branch Of the Knights of
Honor yesterday found that their lodge
was suspended, the holders of the insur-
ance policy of $4,000 in favor of the
late Mr.. C. w. Lambeth founG that it
was q question yet to be decided IS to
whether or not they would get the money
and officers of the lodge state that this
is because Mr.. c. G.. Mcdonald, the imam
cial secretary and treasurer, has no. for
thirteen months past forwarded the
money he has collected to the main Cfsce
OF the Knights of Honor.
These sensational developments caused
meeting of the members of the lodge
yesterday afternoon. Oak City Lodge was
organized in 1882 and the present officers
are Jesse A. Jones, Dictator; N B..
Broughton, Vice Dictator; R. H. Bradley,
Reporter, and G. G. Mcdonald, Financial
Secretary and Treasurer. The members
who were supposed until yesterday to be
in good standing are: Messrs, ]. S. Pes
cud, j. w Lee, j. A. Jones, w. A. Gattis,
r. H. Bradley, c. w. Wynne, N. b..
Broughton, I. w. Allen, A. M. Powell,
Thomas Johns, T. N. Richardson, S. w.
Whiting, William Woollcott, w, r. Blake,
T. G. Williams, w. L. NOVEL;, ]. c. Me
meyer, j. w. Jenkins, Sam Merrell, w.
j.. Kendrick and c. C. Mcdonald. Most of
il,cse are insured for $1,000 each, so that
the amount of insurance carried is some
where near forty thousand dollars.
The knights of Honor is fraternal in
sGrance organization with assessments in
inc tra
of the members are men advanced in
years as the monthly assessments run
from $500 to $1,000 a month, about $500
being the average in the lodge here.
The developments of yesterday came
about when MIR. R. H. Bradley, The Re-
porter was endeavoring to arrange the
papers for the insurance IN the life of
the late Mr. G. W. LoInbeth. He was
informed by Mr.. Mcdonald that the lodge
was suspended. Ibis caused consterna-
tion among the members and an inyesti-
CATION was Tdered, the meeting being
held yesterday afternoon.
After the meeting was over it was
learned that the Reporter had been or
dcred to write to Grand Secretary P. c..
Carlton, at Statesvile, inquiring into the
possibility of the lodge being reinstated,
and that compittee consisting Of
Messrs. N. b. Broughton, William Wooll-
colt and r. II. Bradley had been APP
pointed to make further Investigations
into the collection and disposition of the
assessments which mad been made by Mr..
Mcdonald.
The members are very much wrought
up over the matter, as some of them are
beyond the age limit, or have, with adj
vaneing years, become unable to enter
other insurance orders on account of the
physical examination required Some of
these have paid into the treasury of the
order more than the total amount of their
insurance not including the interest on
the money.
Calculating the membership at twenty
one and the average amount paid by each
member at seven dollars a month for
thirteen months it was stated by one of
the officers that the amount collected by
Mir. Mcdonald would reach about $4,000
and that as this had not been sent the
main office his shortage would amount to
about that amount.
According to Reporter Bradley, it has
been the custom of Treasurer Mcdonald
TO send statements to him each month
for the past thirteen months of the re-
port TO the main office in order that he
might attach 70 the report the seal or
tae order. These reports were not sent
On and their monthly appearance before
Mr.. Bradley for the seal kept him and
his fellow members believing that they
were in good standing while during this
time the lodge had really ceased to ex-
ist and the funds the members had paid
in were in Mr. McDonald's hands, who
continued to collect month after month.
The officers and members who spoke of
the affair did not qualify their words, nor
mnce them in speaking of the matter.
They said that it was an outrage that
they had been kept in the dark and that
the responsibility was on Mr.. Mcdonald.
1t is reported that Mr.. Mcdonald was
at the meeting and that he acknowledged
that he knew the lodge was suspended
and that he had continued to collect. He
is also reported to have said that he
would raise the money to pay up the full
amount he had collected if the lodge
could be renstated.
To reporter of this paper who asked
for a statement from him last night, he
declined to say anything, save that the
matter would be arranged and that be-
yond this he had nothing to say for pub
lication.
Mr. w L. Novel;, one of the members
stated last night that he had paid Mr.
Mcdonald promptly every month for the
thirteen months past, but that when he
rendered the payment due June 30th il
was refused. He thinks this was be-
cause of Mr.. Lambeth S death and because
they treasurer knew that when death
occurred there was bound to be an expo
sure.
The assessments on the Lambeth in
sGrance were paid by the julius Lewis
Hardware company, and it was stated
that this had been colleced by Treasurer
Mcdonald through last December, bu
meme since that date though the none,
was there ready for him. Mr. Broughto1
says that his dues were always ready
but that Treasurer Mcdonald sometimes
elected them two months at a time
What action will be taken by the mem
bers OF Oak City Lodge is not known pend
ing the full Investigation and the answe
TO letters sent Grand Secretary Carlton