Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-10

ACTION TAKEN BY GRAND LODGE
Judge c. T. Granger Pleads Against
Amendment Which Sought to EspeI
Those Who Had Already Been Ad-
mitted to the order-Davenport
Gets Next Meeting.


Sioux City. June 1o.-"I do not be-
lieve in forcing all the good men in the
state of Iowa out of the saloon busi-
ness and turning our saloons over to
the scoundrels," declared Judge c. T.
Granger in his defense of the White
amendment to the Masonic code, when
the matter came up before the grand
lodge session Thursday.
Judge Granger is a past grand mas
ter of the Iowa grand lodge, and is at
present the chairman OF the commit
tee on Masonic jurisprudence. He is
also retired Judge of the Iowa SUE
preme court. His opposition to the
Fellows amendment and his defense of
the White amendment. probably saved
the Masons OF this state engaged in the
saloon business from expulsion from
the Masonic lodge.
No More Admitted.
Mulct law saloon keepers and those
selling intoxicating liquors In accord
ance with or in violation of the laws of
in the Masonic fraternity in the future.
excepting pharmacists who are legally
selling liquors under the permanent
permits. Those already members of
the Masonic order will not be molested,
requested to change their occupation or
otherwise liable to trial or expulsion so
long as they continue In such legal
sales.
Such decision was reached this
morning after two hours of heated dis
cussion. For awhile the grand lodge
was unequalled by the Iowa legislature.
Judge Fellows OF Lansing foueht foi
.his original amendment, declaring
that it was a Masonic offence to sell
liquor and that those now engaged in
the traffic were liable to trial and con-
viction on such charge and he further
desired the penalty upon the establish
ment of guilt to be fixed at expulsion.
Not Law violator.
In Grand Master Clark's annual ad-
derss he reported his decision In re-
gard to the eligibility of mulct saloon
keeper, saying that 1t was brought be-
fore the grand lodge for the reason
that II the code is not sufficiently de-
finite on the point presented it should
be made so
The grand masters decision that a
mulct saloonkeeper was eligible, as he
was not one engaged in the In
territorial sale Of intoxicating liquors in
violation of the laws of Iowa." was a
great surprise to some, who supposed
that section 297 above referred to- of
the code excluded those of this class.
But the grand master had found that
when that section was enacted pro-
hibition was in full force and saloon
or in violation Of it, were ineligible.
But with the adoption of the fearfully
and wonderfully constructed mulct law
the case was changed.
Mr.. Clark ruled that mulct saloon
keeper was eligible under the Masonic
code, because he was not selling in vio-
laticn to the law of Iowa, but In strict
accordance with the mulct saloon law,
but he asked that the petitions of such
profanes be held until after this ses-
sion of the grand lodge.
Would Exclude All.
Past Grand Master Fellows, of Lam
sing prepared an amendment to the
code at once and it was reported by
Judge C. r. Granger as chairman of the
committee on Masonic Jurisprudence.
This amendment provided that "the In
territorial sale of Intoxicating liquors in
violation of the laws Of Iowa, including
sales by all persons engaged in the sale
of Intoxicating liquors to be used as n
beverage whether permitted by the
laws of Iowa or otherwise constituted
Masonic offense."
This amendment also fixes the penal
ty of expulsion upon conviction thereof
which would result in the members
engaged In the liquor traffic at present
being expelled from the lodge.
Sam White, of Davenport, reported
his amendment to the amendment to
the committee on jurisprudence. de-
claring that the above section shall
have no reference to members legally
engaged in the sale of intoxicating
this amendment so long as they con-
tinue in such legal sales" and further
that "no lodge shall knowingly receive
or act on the petition of profane, who
may at the date of the said petition, be
engaged In the traft1c OF selling liquor
either in violation of the law or other
wise. excepting pharmacists who are
legally selling liquor under a perma-
nent permit issued under the laws of
Iowa
Mr. White argued that as matter
of fact, the admission of a saloonkeeper
should rest with the local lodges. They
can be kept out by a vote of the lodge
the same as any other profane whose
petition may be presented His oppo-
sition to the original amendment was
based on the ground that the grand
lodge had no right to legislate the
members of the Masonic order out of
the lodge who were engaged in the
traffic of selling liquor at the time of
the adoption of the amendment. He
mentioned several cases which would
be affected by the amendment to the