The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-03
PROTEST Is. FILED
Select Knights and Ladies VIII
BaIk on Kansas City.
WICHITA FOR GRAND LODGE
Vigorous Letter From Local
Lodge May Stir the Order

There is decided unrest. and some in
dignation among the members gener-
ally. and the Wichita lodge particularly,
o. the order of Select Knights and La
dies. It seems that TWO years ago, while
the supreme lodge, Select Knights and
Ladies, was in session at Kansas City,
No, it was decided to hold the next ses-
sion october p. 1902, in Wichita. and now
comes an order unprovoked and unexpect-
ed from Supreme President VIM. Cross.
arbitrarily changing the place of session
T. Kansas City.
The officers and members of Forest
! City lodge No. 40 CWichita), are indig-
nant at this action Of the supreme presi-
dent, and do not hesitate to denounce il
! in unmeasured terms.
| The following is contained in a circular
letter addressed to members OF the order,
and shows very plainly the feeling in
the matter:
Forest City Lodge No. IS, in regular
session, sends you greeting. and begs to
/ announce that she will resist to the last
/ the attempt to subvert the viii of the
/ supreme lodge, by moving the coming ses-
! sion to Kansas City, Mo.
The constitution of the order wisely
/ provides that each session of the supreme
( Lodge shall select a place Of meeting for
the ensuing session, and in pursuance of
! this provision, the last session. by a vote
OF g TO A, selected Wichita, Kansas.
Nowhere in the constitution and laws
can there be found any authority for the
supreme president either fixing or chang
ing the place OF meeting; but it seems he
has arrogated to himself the authority to
do so, thus sweeping aside the rights of
the representatives to the last supreme
lodge session. and at the same time abro-
eating the constitution of the order. He
sets forth in his circular letter. that his
reasons are good, not even limiting at the
nature Of those reasons thus taking to
himself the right "a right always claimed
by despots) Of forming opinions for those
he would rule. If his reasons were good,
why did he not state them?
THE supreme recorder, in a letter to an
officer Of this lodge. says, I am sorry you
feel as badly as you do about this mat
ter. My understanding was that it was
done at your request, in order TO have
harmony in Wichita.
who. other than the supreme presi-
dent could have given Brother Wheeler
this understanding?
Whoever gave it, it could not be fur
Their from the truth, for neither the per-
son addressed nor this lodge had made
such a request. Suppose all the reasons
OF this would be dictator should prove as
false as this understanding
But we cannot go into detail. We
believe this attempt on the part of the
supreme president to change the place Of
Teeting to be prompted by a desire on
his part to avoid the consequences of va
rious violations of the constitution and
laws of the order, all Of which violations
viii be set forth in complaint to be filed
with the supreme lodge.
we also believe Wichita, Kansas, TO
be the only place where the coming ses-
sion of the supreme lodge can be legally
held. and that the courts viii sustain this
belief, and also the belief that any dele
gates assembling in Kansas City, Mo,
OF the date Of the supreme lodge meeting,
cannot legally be paid mileage and per
diem out Of any funds of the Select
Knights and Ladies.
we therefore ask the cooperation of
each lodge Of the order, TO the end that
all delegates may assemble at the time
and place legally fixed for the supreme
ledge meeting, and thus avoid any litiga-
ton which might injure the order
AS announced to the supreme recorder.
before receiving circular announcing the
alleged change of place of meeting. head
quarters for representatives will be at the
Carey hotel, and Garfield hall, the meet
ing place.
We ask that each lodge communicate
to our recorder the action taken on this
matter at the earliest possible date. in
order that arrangements may be COM
p'eted
Brothers and sisters let US rally to the
standard of right and justice, that one
man dictation may be relegated to the
rear in our beloved order"
That the Forest City lodge are in
earnest can be seen 10y the following GER
uhcate. which evinces complete una
nimity in the action taken:
Wichita. Kan, Oct .. 1872.
This is to certify that by a unanimous
vote taken in regular session of Forest
N-NS -N1SN. NJ 10 We were instructed 10
send the foregoing letter - the lodges.
officers. committeeman and representa-
tives Of Select Knights and Ladies. and
We hope for an early reply from each
ledge. officer and representative agreeing
that we are to have a legal meeting OF the
supreme lodge. FraternaIly.
e. 3. WALDEN. President.
Attest.
MARY SMITH, Recorder.
It is stated by those Of the local lodge
who are presumed to know. that If an at
tempt IS made 20 hold the session Of the
supreme lodge in Kansas City an injunc-