Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26

hall In Brightwood Hotel, instead Of Van
Horns Hall. as formerly.
Golden Rule Tent No. has organized &
degree team, with NJ. b. Norman as degree
master.
w. G.. worrell, past commander of Mount
Vernon Tent No. 4. recently returned from
an extended visit to the worlds fair.
Golden Rule Tent No. 3 and King David
Tent No. IL have recently consolidated I'M
der the name and number of Golden Rule
Tent No. g.. Sir Knight d. 8. Notes 10
the present commander.
Columbio Commandery. No. i. X. T., ID
holding drills every second and fourth
Friday.
Fraternal Tent, No. 1245, Knights of the
Modern Maccabees, had the pleasure Tues
day evening of extending the hand OF fell
lowship to goodly number OF visitors who
attended the "old-fashoned smoker" given
by that tent. During the evening short
talks were given by Sir Knight George
Canniff of Modern Tent. Deputy Great Com
mander Thomas NJ. Rogers and others.
Several months ago when Fraternal Tent,
knights of the Modern Maccabees, was be-
ing organized in Washington, Deputy Great
Commander Thomas NJ. Rogers entered into
correspondence with Mrs. Frances L. Burns,
great commander Of the Ladies of the Mod
ern Maccabees, relative to that order ap-
plying for license for the District of CO.
lumbia. The matter was laid before the
1t was decided to enter this territory. The
matter of securing a license was placed IN
the hands of Deputy Great Commander
Rogers and on the LIST of November the IL
cense was issued.
Mrs. Ada c. Latham has been appointed
deputy and placed in charge of the work
in this Jurisdiction. She is now securing
applications for charter for the first hive
In Washington, which will be instituted
some time in December.
The fraternal benevolent societies are UP
against a hard proposition in Virginia, and
one destined to put them out of business
In that state. Like most OF the other states.
Virginia had law specifically applying to
fraternal benevolent societies, similar to the
one in force in the District Of Columbia but
last March the law was repealed. This was
not known by any society until about three
weeks ago when Thomas NJ. Rogers, deputy
great commander of the knights OF the
Modern Maccabees, went to Richmond to
learn why the applications of several So
cieties for blanks required to be filled out
under the law had not been acknowledged
He was informed that the law had been
repealed. and that the auditor of public ac-
counts, who has charge OF the insurance
department of Virginia, held the opinion
that fraternal benevolent socities were
nothing more nor less than life insurance
companies, and must, under the general
laws of the state, deposit at least SO 600 in
acceptable bonds with the state treasurer,
pay license fee of $500 year, and also
be heavily taxed upon their gross receipts.
Upon his return to Washington Mr.. Rog-
ers reported the condition of affairs to the
great commander of the Knights of the
Modern Maccabees, and that officer imme-
dlately took the matter up with the presi-
dent of the National Fraternal Congress
and the president of the Associated Frater-
mites of America. Last Wednesday Benja-
min ID. Smith, general attorney of the Mod
ern Woodmen; Olin Bryan, general attorney
OF the Improved Order of Heptasophs and
Thomas M. Rogers. deputy great COM
mander of the Knights of the Modern Mac
cabees, acting as a committee for the So
cieties members OF the National FraternaI
Congress and the Associated Fraternities of
America. met in Richmond and called upon
the attorney general of the state. OF whom
an opinion upon the question had been re-
quested by the state auditor.
After an oral hearing the committee was
asked to submit a brief to the attorney gen.
eral, which they did that evening. The opln-
ion or ruling of the attorney general will
probably not be rendered for ten days or
two weeks. If that officer sustains the con-
tention of the auditor IL will undoubtedly
seriously cripple all the fraternaI beneyo-
lent orders now doing business in Virginia
as their licenses expire on December II and
prevent any other society from entering
that state as none of them can afford to
meet the requirements of the general insur-
ance law.
The brief of the committee attacks the
conStitutfOnality of the repeating statute
and also takes the position that IL they are
subject to any existing law 1t is that one
referring to assessment companies, and IL
this be true one of the sections of that law
specifically exempts fraternal societies from
the provisions of that act. Consequently
there is no law in Virginia at the present
time applying to these orders.
The members of Central Lodge No I,
1. o. o. F., with their families and friends,
spent most enjoyable evening Friday the
25th instant, in celebration of the seventy
seventh anniversary of the institution OF
Central Lodge
The exercises were held in the lodge
room In Odd Fellows Hall on 9Th street
northwest. Immediately following the clos
ing of the lodge, and consisted of a piano
solo by Miss Marie Little barytone solos
by Mr.. Harry Caskey of Baltimore. Md,
accompanied by Mrs. Caskey; soprano
solos by Miss Nettie Wallace and Miss
Maude Emerson, the latter being accom-
panied by Mr.. Charles r. Bartlett. and
Rotations by Mr.. George Speidel, jr.
The numbers were received with great
enthusiasm by those assembled, Mr..
Speidels humorous selections especially
captivating his audience. Upon the com
pletion of the program all adjourned to the
blue room. where refreshments were served
and a social hour enjoyed.