The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-13
0. {. S. IN FORCE.
Many Eastern Star Delegates
Are Here.
All the Hotels and Restaurants
Crowded.
MRS. DAVIS ADDRESS.
Welcomes Visitors on Behalf OF
" Local Members.
MRS. DAVIS ADDRESS.
Mrs. Mary Crawford, Associate
Grand Matron, Responds.

The Eastern Star has settled over
Topeka and shines day and night up
on the city The Grand Chapter of
Kansas of the order formally opened
its thirty-second annual session at
Masonic hall at $3.50 this morning
Nearly one thousand delegates are
here today in attendance at the ses-
sions, the largest number at any state
convention of the order. All the no.
tells in the city are crowded with dele
gates and visitors. Everywhere on
the streets and in the corridors of
the hotels can be seen the five-colored
badges of blue, yellow, white, red and
green of the order. Besides all these
delegates and visitors, Beulah chap
ter of the Topeka, the largest in the
state, is out in full force to entertain
and care for the visitors. These
Eastern Star ladies are full of bust
ness and take wonderful interest in
the intricate and elaborate work of
their order. Business first, pleasure
afterwards, is their motto. No sight
seeing until after the final business of
Thursdays session. At that time ar
rangements have been made for an
automobile tour of Topeka and the
many points and places of interest in
and near the city.
w AlCAA AdllSIlIl6 LAWS VI pSN-
lab chapter began her address of well
come this morning in Masonic hall
this large room was crowded to the
doors. Mrs. May Crawford of Argen-
tine, associate grand matron, made
the response.
milton of past grand matrons and pa
irons took place. After this most
formal affair the reports of the grand
secretary and treasurer were read. A
great deal of routine business was
transacted during the afternoon.
Tonight the grand officers of the
lodge will exemplify the ritual work
of the order.
Thursday morning the grand chap
ter will resume it's sessions in rep
resentative hall in the state house.
Officers for the coming year will be
elected at the afternoon session. In
teryiews with many prominent dele
gates from different sections of the
state developed nothing in the way of
a fight for office at this years con-
vention. -'.----
The following are the present grand
officers: Grand matron, Mrs. Eliza
beth Reeder of Hayes City, grand pa
trop, c. w. Murphy of Lawrence; as
sociate grand matron, Mrs. May
Crawford of Argentine: associate
grand patron, T. L. Bond of Salina;
grand treasurer. Mrs. Elizabeth Magic
of Girard; grand secretary, Mrs. Del
la Bennett of Sylvia; grand conduct
ress. Mrs. Minnie, Burke of Fredonia;
associate grand conductress, Mrs.
Anna B. Morris of Oberlin; grand
marshal, Miss Elzie Macintosh of
Hayes City; grand chaplain, Miss Myra
Peters of Wetmore.
The associate grand officers are in
above them and 1t is expected, unless
some unlocked for contest should
arise, that the associate officers will
each receive promotion at the hands
of the convention. This plan would
place Mrs. May Crawford of Argen-
tine in line for the office of grand
matron. Many of the delegates were
in favor of the secretary and treasur-
er being reelected to their respective
offices. Mrs. Bennett has held the Of
flee of secretary for the past six years.
The delegates were enthusiastic over
the splendid condition of the order all
over the state. 1t is growing stronger,
they said, and was undisturbed by in
ternal dissensions of any consequence.
They are expecting a most profitable
session this year. All the delegates
spoke in terms of warm praise for
Topeka as convention city. They
have here the largest attendance in
the history of the grand chapter. The
city is caring for these delegates in
nice shape, with her largest hotel not
yet ready for occupancy. The dele
gates are looking forward with pleas
ure to a trip over the city tomorrow
afternoon,
In connection with the above har-
monious and well attended meeting of
Nthe grand chapter of the Kansas Order
of Eastern Star, Is one dissenting
voice. Being alone, this voice is all the
louder in tone and more insistent in
demand that 1t be heard.
About month ago printed circulars
were sent out broadcast by some lady
who had been denied admittance to
the Order of Eastern Star and in
which she made several charges
against individual members and the
conduct of business of the grand chap
ter, referring especially to Beulat
chapter of Topeka. in particular These
charges were indignantly denied at the
time by prominent members of the To-
cal chapter as groundless and ANNA
ted merely by spite. Now comes this
vention and writes another letter in
which she makes even more startling
declarations than before and signs hel
full name and gives her address. The
letter, which is of interest chiefly from
the startling claims of the writer, Is
Washington, D. c., May 5.
To the Topeka Daily State Journal
1 received a copy of your paper OF
April and read the article entitled
Eastern Star Dissension." Had ex-
pected to come to Topeka before this
time but find 1 cannot for the pres
ent, hence 1 write to ask you to pub
fish the other side of this matter and
thereby give both sides of this ques-
ton a fair chance. If you will, 1 will
forward to you If 1 cannot come in
person the entire secret work as writ
ten by one who is not nor has ever
been a member of the order and who
received 1t from a very prominent
member of Beulah chapter No. "a and
who is still member today. An6
prove the interview you had with
prominent members and officers Of
Beulah chapter as given in your pa.
per was false and in publishing same
YOU will then be presenting facts a.
regards Beulah chapter at Topeka