The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-16
MORE OUT Than IN
Supreme Chancellor X. Of p. I'm
His Annual Report
Says Suspensions Outnumber
Total Present Membership.
NONPAYMENT OF DUES
And Resultant Consequences the
Bane of the Order.
Uniform Rank Should BeDivOrc-
ed from Grand Lodge.

Louisville, KY, Aug. 16-The supreme
lodge which is the business depart
ment of the knights of Pythias opened
its sessions today at the Masonic the
alter. The attendance was large.
After welcoming addresses and re-
sponses the general meeting of the
lodge adjourned until night and the ac-
credited delegates went into executive
session to hear the reports of officers.
The biennial report of the supreme
chancellor. Tracey r. Bangs. contained
the following:
1.-The lodges under the immediate
control of the supreme lodge are the
same as two years ago. warrant
has been issued for a lodge at Farm
ham. Quebec, and blank applications
have been received looking to the in
stitution of lodges in Newfoundland
and in Porto Rico. The latest reports
received from foreign lodges show that
all of them are in fairly healthy con-
dition, and that Pytnianism is holding
its own in these foreign territories. At
the present time our ability to expand
is limited by the English speaking zone
Would it not be wise to take some &C
ton authorizing the printing OF the r1t-
ual in languages other than the Eng
lish?
THE military branch of the order
has been the cause of mucn concern
We have for years taken it upon faith.
and it strikes me that it is about time
to stop long enough to take stock and
endeavor to ascertain whether the uni
trolled is a benefit or a hinderance to
the order of Knights of Pyth1as. the
statistics show that we are going stead
lily backward in this rank. 1t appears
to me, therefore, that there is some
thing radically wrong with this branch
of the order. I am of the opinion that
one of the causes, in fact the great
cause for lack of interest, loss OF mem
l.afr~ irar-.af ion is
lack of home rule, and the fact that the
rank is Differed over-controlled
and has run to form rather than SUD-
stance. / believe that 1t is due the uni
form rank that 1t should be absolutely
and without reservation released from
any and all control by the supreme
lodge, limiting it's supervision to that
which it may rightfully exercise over
any man who is member of the order
of knights of Pythias-to insist upon
such conduct as will not bring d1scredlt
on the order
"One of the brightest spots of all the |
bright ones has been the earnest, active |
and yet conservative conduct of affairs I
by the board of control of the endoW-
ment rank The showing made 1t itself
a sufficient commendatfon of the work |
of the officers-the expense OF general
management reduced the membership |
increased, the outlay in the legal de- |
partment brought down to a minimum,
the work of the medical department /
done on scientific lines and with great |
care and great thoroughness. The re-
ownership of the City National bank OF
Fort Worth, Texas, has been closed, the |
total loss by the failure to the order
being $50, 1872 There is enough energy
exerted each year in the work of up
building this order to carry 1t beyond
and ahead of any other organization
were it not for the fact that the en-
ervating effects of the canker sore 'sus-
pension for non-payment OF dues so
weakens our body politic that our
se- rS1x I-afl az
more members of the order today non
affiliated because of suspensions of this
character than the total active member
ship. There is but one remeoy-Stan1p
out the disease. / do not mean to say
that there should be no suspension at
any time for non-payment of dues but
do say that it is not a matter Tor SUI
preme lodge legislation and that the
matter of suspension has become an
evil because of the fact that the power
to suspend is lodged in the wrong
body"
preme keeper of records and seal,
shows that the total number of subor-
dinate lodges December 81, 1908, was
1928 and the total membership 1884,
$50, a net gain during the year of
1913 lodges and 1855 members This
is the largest gain in membership
made during any year since 1SSz- me
bined, was 226 subordinate lodges and
54,745 members
There are SAC lodges in Illinois,
AS in Indiana, 400 in Iowa, 206 in
Kansas, 247 in Missouri. 237 in New
Y ork, CAT in Ohio. 453 in Pennsyl-
vania and 32S in Texas.
The total receipts of the grand
lodge were $4,S73,569, of which ST.
533, 435 was expended for relief.
The total suspensions for nonpay-
ment of dues in 1903 were 32,,7S1; the
total for this cause since 1869 is
SEQ, 424.
Thomas d. Meare- supreme master
Of exchequer. reports receipts of $164,-
SIS, and expenditures of $125,10
leaving $39,512 on hand.