Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-19
ASK FELLOWSHIP
MAN TO RESIGN
LEGAL AID SOCIETY IN FEAR
OF ABSORPTION
CHARITABLE socIETY's PREsI-
DENT QUITS
Reynold E. Blight, Close Associate OF
q. Fay Mills, Finds It Necessary
to Leave Head Of Organlza-
tlon "for Harmony"

Reynold e. Blight. prominent men,
Der and leader of the Los Angeles Eel
lowship, liberal religious organization
founded by Benjamin Fay Mills, and
who some time ago accepted the presi-
dency of the newly founded Legal AID
society, last night was induced to ten
der his resignation as leader of the lat
ter society because of opposition that
had been raised to his identihcation
with the former liberal body.
Mr.. Blight's resignation as president
of the Legal Aid society was rendered
to the directors at the regular meeting
in the Collins building, room 307. 1t is
declared by all members and officers of
the society, who could be interviewed
yesterday preceding the meeting, that
there has been no trouble in the society,
and that no personal enmfty for Mr..
Blight, among any of the members, is
back of the resignation: but although
no one was willing to admit he knew
from what source the opposition had
come, or by whom 1t had been directed.
it was freely denounced as "un- Chris
tan and un-American" to object to the
Leadership of a man because of his rela-
ton to liberal religious body such as
the Fellowship.
Resigns for Harmony
II have thought 1t best to resign"
Mr.. Blight said yesterday. because
some one has persistently spread the
report that 1 was endeavoring to iden-
tify the Legal Aid society with the Los
Angeles Fellowship, which is an unfor-
tunate misunderstanding. or miscon-
ception for in my duties as president of
the Legal Aid society. which is yet In
its infancy but which l realize has a
bright future in Los Angeles. filling a
49, lrsA TO-
the development and welfare of the So
ciety, apart and Independently from the
Fellowship
For some time the philanthropic
people of Los Angeles have felt the
need of legal aid society for the pur-
pose of affording legal protection to the
poor, ignorant and helpless, who may
be and often are the victims of cruelty
and greed. AS result of this desire. a
meeting was held at the Alexandria
hotel in January. 1908. Mrs Mary e.
Kenney presiding. large meeting re-
suited. at which Mrs. Mary Russell
Mills and Hon. Frank G. Tyrrell urged
the formation of the society, and a
committee on permanent organization
was appointed. 1t was patterned after
abe famous Legal Aid society of New
York, which counts among its members
President Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie.
Joseph Choate, Seth Low and Elihu
Root.
among the officers elected were Mrs.
Pearl Adams Spaulding. secretary; Mrs.
Leland Norton. assistant secretary, and
part of the board of directors. of which
/ was made president. There were still
left twenty-three directors to be
elected. Among our members who be-
long to nearly every religious organiza-
ton in the city, orthodox and liberal,
are such persons as Madam c. M. Sever
anoe, William A. Spalding. secretary
civil service commission; Clark r. Ma
han, attorney; DIR. John r. Haynes,
Miss Caroline Lankershim, Mrs, r. j.
Waters Russ Avery, attorney; Maj.
John H. Norton and Mrs. Lulu Pile
Little.
relationship Man Too Active"
ct at once took an active interest in
the society and set to work to do all
/ could for the furtherance of what L
consider a magnificent movement,
much to be commended. I regret that
my allegiance to the Los Angeles Eel
lowship has disqualified me to act as
president of the board, but such being
the case my resignation is a duty which
/ cheerfully will submit for the good of
the society,""
A prominent leader in the Legal Aid
society. which when organized will
work in conjunction with the Associated
Charities, Bethlehem institute and
other charitable organizations, said yes
terday that the trouble was due to the
membership campaign lately waged to
get funds.
This member refused to have his
name used in connection with the ex-
PLANTATION. but said:
"It is the desire of a majority of the
members, even those who belong to
orthodox churches. to have the Legal
Aid society absolutely non-sectarian as
a society That is, we want to extend
Ia 10 oil off Uh
Catholic, Mormon, Gentle or heather,
and to do this 1t is best to have our
officers and executives selected from the
best legal lights, and from the judiciary
and philanthropic ranks, so that moth
ing will SAVIOR of sectarianism
"FeIIowshlp Swallowing II"
"The main effort of the board of
directors has been to increase the menu
bership so revenue may be assured,
and no doubt the efforts of Mr.. Blight
TO gather in new members, many of
whom I understand he has procured
from the body of the Los Angeles Fell
lowship, gave out the impression that
the Fellowship was swallowing up the
Legal Aid society, or that the latter
was to be closely identified with the
former movement. This Is obviously a
mistake, and 1t is much to be regretted
that such a wrong impression evey'
should have prevailed. Mr. Blight has
been an earnest and conscientious
worker.
anyone with his influence undoubt-
edIy would have gone into other organ
izations to which they belonged and re-
cruited whatever members would con-
sent. and If all the membership rustlers
were as energetic there undoubtedly
would soon have been large repre-
sentation of all the religious and other
organizations on the roll of the Legal
Aid society"
At the meeting of the society last
night Mr. Blight's resignation was ac-
cepted with the understanding that he
is to become chairman of the execu-
tive committee.
A committee of three was appointed
to choose a president. The members
are Mrs. w. A. Wilkes, Miss Ellen A.
Lamb and Guy Eddy.
Perhaps some one you know