Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-06
RATHBONE SISTERS.
NaugatuCK Woman Gives Inside His-
 tory of Trouble.

Hartford, June 6.--Sarah T. Beech CT of Naugatuck, supreme repre- sentative of the Rathbone Sisters, writes to the Courant regarding the trouble ill the order here. Her side of the story is as follows: Some time ago the grad chief received "a commun- ication saying that number of la- dies and Knights of Pythias desired to form a temple in Hartford, and ask ing for blanks and information. The grand secretary sent the blanks, copy of the bylaws and other infor- nation. They held several meetings, appointed officers and then Instructed their secretary to send the money for the outfit, saying they would like to be instituted as soon as possible.
 The grand chief said that if con venient she would institute Tuesday, May IF. The grand secretary re- ceived word that the hall was engaged for that evening, but could be had for the 18th, 18th or 20th. The grand chief instructed the grand secretary to say they would be there the 18th and to inform the grand officers through the state, inviting them to ac- company her. It is understood that all but three of these officers pay their own expenses. The grand chief planned to visit neighboring temple May It, the regular meeting night, and sent word to that effect. The of ticers of the temple made preparations i for the visit 1 In the meantime the grand chief re- ceived word from Hartford that on account of the G. A. R.s festivltie l they would like to postpone their in | kif secretary then notified the grand off cers not to go on the 18th, but she and the grand chief and the grand senior, who had not received her com munication, visited the temple as l planned. On their return they stop ped ill Hartford and saw number of l women interested in the new temple. The women said they were anxious to be instituted. Then the grand chief said We will be here the 25th." One l of the women said. What will we do l if we cannot have the hall?" The grand secretary replied. Hire another l hall for that evening" They said they would do so.
 The grand secretary then wrote to 1 the grand officers again that the tenn pie would be instituted in Hartford May 25 and they made preparations to go. On the 23d she received an other letter saying that some of the women did not want the officers on that date, also saying that hall had been secured and that some of the wo- ] men were anxious to have the new temple formed. The officers were at loss to know what to do and asked the opinion of a prominent Knight of I Pythias, who advised us to go. The letter concludes:
 We went. You know part of the rest. I am afraid some of the ladies who were interested in the new tenn i pie are untruthful, or have defective memories, either of which is deplor- able. If k. of P. has written some of the articles published, he certainty lacks the great principles of friend ship, charity and benevolence. These vituperative items do no good; they hurt both sides and may ultimately I prove boomerang. When the state ment is made that the grand officers were looking for free entertainment during the G. A. R. festivities, think it is going step too far. If such were the case, why did they not in sist on going when first planned? would like to state there were eight Il SIdIlu OHlCtIS pIGSCllLs DSSluGS ulySSII. We did what we thought was right, telling them that if they did not wish to have some of the ladies they did not like have offices to join and by their numbers outvote their oppon. ents; this they refused to do or tc withdraw their names from the char ter list. We have written to the su- I preme chief. If We were wrong we will gladly acknowledge and make what reparation lies in our power.''