Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-07

were business partners, and as master of
his lodge Winsor had raised him to the
degree of master Mason. In congressional
life the deceased conducted the contest
against Senator William A. Clark's election
in 1900.
The long legal battle between the Penn
syivania State Council of the Junior Order
OF United American Mechanics and James
G. Blaine Council of Philadelphia, which
continued four years, has terminated The
case Is of interest to local bodies of the J.
o. u. A. NJ, for 1t involves questions that
have been at issue in the Maryland and Dis
tr1ct of Columbia organizations of the order.
The court of common pleas revoked the
charter of Blaine Lodge and ordered the
lodge to turn over it's property to the state
council, but at the same time permitted 1t
to retain all dues and other funds collected
since 1903. This coyers the main point in
the case, and it Is practically the point of
difference between state and local councils
elsewhere.
The disaffection between the Blaine Coun-
Gil and the state council of the order dates
back to the year 1929, when the National
Council of Minneapolis adopted some
amendments. to Its constitution. Blaine
Council insisted that the attempt of the Ma
ttonal Council to force amendments without
a submission thereof to vote Of the order
was illegal. and that by reason thereof they
were unOeF no liability to obey either
tional or state council.
Accordingly, on September 10, 1900 the
state council adopted law fixing the per
capita tax for the ensuing year. Blaine
Council absolutely and unqualifedly refused
TO pay. This refusal resulted in the filing
of bill of complaint and the summoning
of the defendant council before the state
Judiciary, where it was decreed that the tax
had been properly levied and should have
been paid by the defendants. Since the
date of that decree the Blaine Council has
not been affiliated with the state or ma
tional council, but collected its dues and
used them to pay sick and death benefits.
In September, 1905 The name Of the coun-
ell was changed to James G. Blaine Coun-
ell, Order of Independent Americans" By
the decision all the receipts since the revolt
go to the rebellous lodge, which represents
other dissident bodies, the suit being a test
case.
At the last meeting of Canton Wash
fngton No. l, Patriarchs Militant, l. .. o.
F., it was decided to accept an invitation
from the jamestown Exposition Company
to visit the exposition in body and give
one or more exhibition drills. The Canton
will be quartered at the military camp on
the grounds and will leave here about the
last of September, to be absent one week
The Canton also voted the declaration of
chivalry to Mrs. Martha L. McNiel, wife of
past noble grand Of Dorcas Rebekah Lodge
No. f. Mr.. McNiel. himself a chevalier
has been transferred to the custom house
service at New Orleans and will leave in
a few days with Mrs. McNiel for their
new home. The decoration of chivalry Is
an honor conferred by the general COM
handing under authority of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, and is highly priced. The
ceremony is public Canton Washington
will confer the decoration on Mrs. McNiel
next Monday evening In the auditorium Of
Odd Fellows Hall on 7th street northwest.
The function will also be in the nature of
farewell reception to Mr.. and Mrs. Nc
Mel.
General Grand Chapter Of the Order Of
the Eastern Star met at Milwaukee this
week. Over 300 delegates. representing
every state in the Union with the excep-
ton Of Delaware, are present. In addition,
delegates are here from Canada, Hawaii
and the Philippines. Most Worthy Grand
Matron Mrs. Madeline B. Conkling Of Okla
homa city and Most Worthy Grand
Mo-. delivered addresses and presented
their reports at the opening session.
The revision of the constitution is one of
the most important things to be considered.
Mrs. Ella 8. Washburn of Racine, Wis, is
in line for most worthy grand matron.
has again been invaded by death in
the removal from his post at the
Joseph Henry Lyon, who died at
Saturday. August. II, 1907, and was
buried with Pythian honors. He was a
captain in the Union army during the civil
war and for twentythree years had been
the general western passenger agent of the
Missouri Pacific railroad. He was on
April g. 1906, appointed s. o. G., to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Brother
John w. Thompson. who had occupied the
position from 1876 to the date of his death,
February %, 1906, thirty years. Gen. Lyon
was duly elected at the session of the Su-
preme Lodge held in New Orleans. He
made warm friends of all with whom he
came in contact. He was true Pythian in
every sense Of the word
Next Monday evening Canton Washing
ton, No. 1, Patriarchs Militant, l. o. o. F.,
will confer the decoration of chivalry on
Mrs. Martha L. McNiel of Dorcas Rebekah
Lodge, No. 4, in the auditorium of Odd
Fellows Hall. 7th street northwest, by
authority Of Gen. NJ. A. Raney, general
commanding the Patriarchs Militant of
the world. The ceremony itself, based on
the days Of chivalry, will be an interesting
one. enhanced by the fact that Canton
Washington won first prize in each contest
before the Sovereign Grand Lodge at Bal
timore, San Francisco and Toronto,