Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-07

fraternal and this has led to all the
trouble.
Mr.. Bell made a personal investi-
cation Of the aeries in all the states
| under prohibitory law where there has
been more or less trouble and in this
State he found that number Of aeries
had been prosecuted by State authori-
ties. Assuming that there must have
beer some cause he issued his man
date. He was not satisfied with the
way that the Maine aeries were hand
ling liquors.
His order has been generally re-
ceived with a great deal of favor and
the members Of the order have recog-
niIed that il will be beneficial. ! have
visited or communicated with all the
aeries in the State since the mandate
was given out and can say that for
the greater part the members think
that it will be beneficial to the welfare
Of the order.
There may be some diSgruntled
members in the State who have lost
sight Of the fraternal side Of the order
and nave it in their minds that the
first purpose Of the Fraternal Order
of Eagles is sociability. They are all
wrong. 1t is a fraternal order, first,
last and all the time.
81 deny emphatic that there is
any organized movement among the
Eagles Of Maine towards withdrawing
from the main body and forming an
independent organization. AS said be-
fore, there may be a few dfsgruntled
ones IN each aerie who may have join
eG for the social features that the or
der affords and for that alone who is
dissatisfied. and the sooner we get rid
Of such members the better it will be
for the order. There has been no talk
Of withdrawing among the Bangor
members.
II believe with President Bell that
we should have a larger membership
in the State of Maine and that the
quicker the fraternal side of the order
predoninates over the social side the
quicker we will grow, and to grow the
men: Ders must lose sight of the social
benefits.
My personal opinion is that a
speedy campaign of elimination of the
undesirable members, which will be
brought about by Pres. Bells order, SO
that any and all citizens will look up
to US and deem it an honor to join the
order, will mean the making Of the
F'raternal Order of Eagles i'll the State
Of Maine
Those who join for the purpose Of
securing liquor TO drink which is al
lowed On the club locker plan are no
help to the order and the quicker we
can get rid of them the better. In our
eagerness to grow the right people
have not beer selected in some cases
In the. West the most prominent men
are members of the Fratrnal Order of
Eagles.
Pres. Bells order is mandatory and
any. aeries violating 1t will lose its
charter Without ceremony. Some of the
aeries Of Maine have liquors in the So
cial rooms but it is on the strict
locker Plan. 1t Is my duty as the head
Of the order in Maine to see that the
order is compiled with.
1T Is the earnest desire of the Grand
Aere and especially Of President Bell
THAT the order in Maine enjoy the
standing Of the order in other sections
OF the country and it Is believed that
we should gain a large mem bersfip
here The only way to do this is to get
down to a solid basis and live right up
to the principles OF the order. and IL
1t is necessary to eliminate the unde-
sirabie members, then we shall do so.
Tor the good Of the ORDER