Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-09
SlUABB|E SPLITS
LODGE IN TWAIN
Trouble in Highland Mobiles
Lodge Causes a Rupture, and
Members Withdraw.
INDIGNATION MEETING HELD
Supreme Protector Is Summoned, But
He Ignores Faction Which With
drew--charses Are Preferred Against
the otticers-Lodse Adjourned to
Prevent Trouble.

Prevent Trouble.
Internal dissension and strife In Col
umbia Castle, No. 40, Highland MOBILES,
which began two months ago. and
which has been waged between the
contending factions ever since, has Gull
minated in an open rupture, number
or the members Of the order leaving
the lodge. This dissenting branch
claims to have drawn to itself almost
half hundred members of the Column
bla Castle, who will next Tuesday night
form a local branch of the Fraternal
Bankers Reserve, the headquarters OF
which Is in Cedar Rapids.
Attic the trouble, which began over
= trivial matter, having nothing to do
with the order, grew into strife and
bitter imprecations, and swelled to the
proportions of sensational charges
against the officers, has been constant
and of increasing volume, It has been
30 closely guarded within the walls
VI sSASSp CuSllSs lAdS ~ lldn JuoS ASaNVN
out Open rebellion was rife, and at
least one lodge meeting was adjourn
ed to prevent what might be termed
Q trough house"
Began Over Uniforms.
According to those representing both
sides of the controversy the trouble be-
gan two months ago over the uniforms
to be used by the Highland Hustlers,
drill team. which. altho not a. part
Of the lodge proper, has members who
belong to Columbia Castle. Women
members first took up the cudgel OF
differences over this question of skirts
and shirt waists. BY degrees 1t was
forced into sessions of the castle, where
1t spread with the rapidly Of d conta-
gious disease to the male members and
then the war was on. A climax was
reached when an attempt was made to
elect Noble ]. b. West from a meet
Ing OF the lodge on the ground that
he was not in good standing. Then
the dissenting faction withdrew to it,
self. and twenty-five Of its members
adopted resolutions and petitioned
Supreme Protector J. u. Rose of Des
Moines, to come to their aid and pro-
lection.
Adjourned Lodge to Avoid Fiqht.
The details of the West trouble. ac-
cording to officers and members. WAS
over matter OF dues, brought on bp
the differences started by the uniforms,
The faction which broke away claims
West offered to pay his Dues before
the lodge meeting. to Noble Secretary
Mary =. Atkins, who is a member Of the
opposite faction. They also claim the
secretary refused to accept the money
rendered. The other faction claims
West was in arrears and was not elig-
ible. West, when requested, refused
70 leave the room, which led to heat
ed discussion. and gave promise of
more sensational developments, when
Protector Will III. Hill adjourned the
session, wrongfully the withdrawing fac
ton claims, as the motion was lost.
Indignation Meeting Held.
In the meantime Supreme Protector
~. I. Rose had been summoned to
attend the indignation meeting to be
held by the twenty-five dissatisfied
members. On the same evening, last
Monday. a special meeting Of Colum-
bia Castle was called, and while the
lodge convened in the Odd Fellows
hall. the mobiles without the castle were
In session In Finkle's hall. Rose at
tended the lodge meeting and refused
to recognize the other faction. The
Finkle hall branch drew up and sign
ed the charges preferred by committees
against Protector Will H. Hill, Noble
Secretary Mary j. Atkins and Noble
Counselor Elizabeth Miller, alleging
Improper conduct, unbecoming an Of
icer and noble. against the first two,
in connection with the West incident,
and against Mrs Miller for using Ian
guage unbecoming a lady. AS Rose
failed to appear. there was no judge
before whom these charges might be
laid.
The other branch. at the Odd Fell
lows hall, was also busy on the same
night, and with Rose in attendance,
also preferring few charges. A com
mittee was appointed which exonerat-
ed the officers from all charges OF
misconduct, and another which brought
in charges against practically all OF
the members then under cover OF Fin
kle's hall.
Claim Meeting Wa. Illegal.
The faction which is out of the fold
claims the special meeting held by the
castle was Illegal and communication
was sent to Rose while the session
was on. protesting against it's being
held. The claim was made on the
grounds that the members were not
all notified Of the business to be trans
acted. as is said to be one of the rules
Of the order in case of special meet
ings. This faction also threatens to lay
the matter before the auditor of state,
as the order Is one in which insurance
Is prominent feature. The other fac
ton says those who have Withdrawn
are simply "bluffing," and claims that
several Of those who threatened to
withdraw have paid their dues and are
weakening, with every indication that
they intend to return to the castle.
STATE FEDERATION DAY.
Representatives Of Other Federation