The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-30
CHAPLAIN s RIGHT.
TO PARTICIPATE IN
TRIALS DISPUTED
ANOTHER SCRAP IN WoMEN's
CATHOLIC ORDER OF FOREST
ERs-MRs. RODGERS oPPoN.
.EAEplckEo,


who have been elected chaplains OF
the Women's Catholic Order of For
esters shall have a voice In the trials
held by that body, now in biennial
convention In the Wayne casino. is
likely 70 prove fruitful of some lively
discussions ON the part of the dele
gates. This topic caused heated ne
bate last year when the trial of menu
bers of the Dixon. ILL.,. court, came be.
fore the high court officers In Chi
cago
At that time, IL Is said by one OF
her opponents, Mrs. Elizabeth Rodgers,
high chief ranger of the order, pre-
sided at the meeting and held that the
chaplains were not to be admitted on
the ground that while the constitu-
ton allowed them to attend the meet
ings, the trial was not q meeting, and
therefore. their presence was not ee-
sired. However, the Rev. FIR. Foley.
chaplain of the Dixon court, and sew
eral other 'clergymen. attended the
trial. 1t Is said that Mrs. Rodgers de-
clared when the priests entered the
room that she didn't expect to be
called upon to preside over mob"
A number Of chaplains, including FL.
Foley. FIR. Cleary, the temperance ora
tor from Minneapolis, and others, viii
be present In this convention, when
the matter will be thrashed out.
One OF the subjects that IL causing
much feeling on the part Of the dele
gates Ii the case Of Mrs. Kenney, ed
itor of the official paper OF the order.
which will come up for hearing.
Mrs. Kenney was elected editor OF
the official paper In the convention.
but when the contract was presented
for her signature she refused to sign
II on the ground that she had been
elected and that that Is all that vas
necessary" said Mrs. Timmany, chief
ranger of one OF the local courts. She
published the paper under protest and
in the very first issue published the
minority report of Mrs. Catherine Phil
lips, one of the auditors. This report.
the convention had ordered expunged
from the records. She then went into
the civil courts of Chicago to collect
her salary, but was beaten ut every
turn. | am not a party to any faction.
but simply want to see justice done.
There is a certain element n the or.
der that has been making trouble for
the last IL years. Some have been
anxious to secure ofiices and being un-
able to do SO keep everything In a tur-
moil.''
The faction In the order that is OPP
posed to the present regime. Is work
ing for Mrs. Rose ID. Rittman, of Min
nesota, for the Office Of high chief
ranger A supporter Of Mrs Rittman
said Wednesday,: We have grown
tired OF car rule. In the case OF Mrs.
Mrs. Rodgers was the defend
ant In the case and also acted as
Judge and jury. It's not fair and we
don't intend to let the matter rest UNI
til 1t has been duly settled by the con-
In these conventions, no
delegate known to be opposed to Mrs.
is given an opportunity to be
heard. so the only chance we have is
to have our side presented through
the press. | am sure II the delegat IS
understood the workings
of the high Offices. they would want
a change. Even there must be a press
established so that the
news OF the order il not printed In
our official paper unless a committee
favorable to the present regime has
passed on IT. All We want Is fair
play"
Another cause for complaint came
Wednesday morning when all MEM
bers OF the order. not delegates, were
excluded from the convention. on the
ground that as there were SO many
delegates the room was too crowded.
members In the city where
the convention was held. were allowed
TO attend.
The business of Wednesday morning
was given over to the enrolment of
delegates and an address by the Rev.
+. A. Moeller. s. j., OF Chicago. who
made plea for the deaf-mutes of
that city. A collection was taken nm
which netted nearly 5000 for the cause
There will be sessions afternoon and
evening until Oct. IA, and a number Of
social affairs have been planned for
the entertainment Of the visitors.