The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-01
LODGE NEWS.
Select Knights Close an Import
ant Meeting.
Supreme Lodge Ends Its Labors
at Kansas City.
ORDER is THRIVING.
Officers Elected and New Plans
Inaugurated.
Other Lodge Items Of General
and Local Interest.

One of the important sessions of the
supreme lodge of the Select knights
| closed the latter part of last week in
Kansas City, Kan. There had been some
difficulties with the retiring president,
William Cross, who withdrew complete
ly from the order after gaining consid-
cradle notoriety through some alleged
| irregularities.
Under the old order of handling the
| financial matters of the Select Knights
| 10 per cent had been transferred from
the beneficiary to the general fund for
running expenses. And the first three
assessments from new members had
been applied to new field work of the
order. Both of these plans were aban-
dOned and all that is collected according
to the late ruling Is to go to pay the
death losses. 1t was decided to levy
special tax of 2s cents month instead
of the per capita tax of $1.50 a year pay
able semi annually
In the election of officers c. c. Regain
of Hartford was made president; Thos.
E. Sheard of Topeka, vice president,
and Edward Wheeler of Kansas City,
supreme recorder. T. A. Beck, of To-
ance committee. An advisory board
was elected, composed of George H.
Lamb of Yates Center. T. A. Beck of
Topeka, and T. E. Sheard of Topeka
in general supervisory manner. its
power being about coordinate with that
of the president.
1t will be understood that the Select
Knights and Ladies were a branch of
the Ancinet Order of United Workmen.
Some years ago the plan was Inaugural
ted of establishing a uniform rank of
the Workmen and it was denominated
as the Select knights and Ladies and
having the same relation to the parent
order as the Uniform Rank possesses to
the knights of Pythias. In the natural
expansion of the degree it was found
that there were a number of obstacles
in differing the branch and in generally
conducting the work. So, finally in or
der to obviate these difficulties, the or
der was established as one separate
from the A. o. U. w. Although COM
paratively young, it is in thriving
condition and now has on its rolls about
5000 members. While the majority of
its membership is also included in the
A. O. u. w. the lodge is gathering in
strength from other sources 1t has the
advantage of clear field before it,
whereas many of the other orders have
gone over much of the territory within
the limits of their respective jurisdic-
ton. The supreme lodge headquarters
are at 427 Minnesota avenue, Kansas
City, Kan.
Through the adjustment of the D. w
Kent defalcatiOn difficulty the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows of Kansas
may come into possession of sufficient
funds to found a home for orphans and
for the INDECENT members of the Odd
Fellows and Rebekahs. The rental re-
turns from the S0-aere orchard in Reno
county which Mrs. Kent decided to the
order are to be applied in this direction
and as soon as enough money can be
gotten together it will be determined
where the home is to be built The
Rebekahs are handling this matter and
already have about 5000 for this purpose.
! The securing of the Kent property will
greatly encourage them in their efforts
which they have been making for some
! time, and it is believed that in the
course of five or six years at the outside
the founding of the institution will be
a certainty.
Relating to the Kent matter and it's
apparent adjustment to the satisfaction
of Mrs Kent. it is doubtful if her hus-
band ever will return openly to this
state. There is a strict law against fell
onv in Kansas. and while the grand
lodge of the Odd Fellows would not be
likely to institute action against their
defaulting grand secretary there are
thousands of members of the order, any
one of whom might individually take up
the matter and push prosecution Kent
is understood to be in the employ of a
railroad company in Costa Rica and
thoroughly oenitent for his past errors
while holding position of trust with
the Kansas Odd Fellows.
There will be a meeting of members of
the Patriotic Legion of America a new
Or0er OF the Iraternal beneficiary class
lately instituted and having its home
office in Topeka, for the purpose of form
ing a local branch. The order has some
excellent special features and its Off
GERS are Known we'll in this state Gen
Wilder s. Metcalf United States pension
agent here, being the present supreme
general.
1t will be gratifying to many members
of local lodges who have been associated
with him to know that B. G. Baird, for
merly a member of one of the M w. A
degree teams CT Topeka, is recovering
from serious illness in Los Angeles,
Cal Baird formerly was employed in
the Santa Fe shops in this city but let
about two months ago and since then
has been in the company service at San
Bernardino, Cal. where he was taken
sick Mrs. Baird is at his bedside, and
| unless relapse occurs great hopes are
held out for his recovery.
One of the enjoyable autumn social
gatherings of the knights of the Pro-
held al Knights of Pythias hail. corner
of Sixth avenue and Quincy street
Tuesday evening. Refreshments were
served in the way of pumpkin pie and
cider. Prof. Worrall gave several piano
selections ard c. H. Kutz recited some
comic selections which increased the
general good feeling of the gathering
evening passed pleasantly. It is the
plan of the order to continue these
meetings. of a social nature purely
throughout the winter season, holding
them once a month The other three
meetings OF the month will be devoted
to regular routine matters of the lodge
40 T. W. lodge 3s1 initiated two can-