Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-10

OMAHA. Feb. 9.-TO the Editor OF Inc
Bee: With a good deal OF regret members
Of the Fraternal Order of Eagles have been
reading recently assertions touching the
character of this organization that are
based On entirely false premise. Ignorance
of The real object and work of the Eagles
could alone warrant the preachments that
have been put forth. First. a sanity and
sinless critic of all other men, printing a
paper at Lincoln, felt called upon to throw
the first stone, apparently in order to get a
crack at w. j. Bryan. This Christ-like GO
Illumination, coming from the duly anointed
keeper of the conscience of Nebraska
church folk, has led to other papers taking
up the cry. and in this mornings Bee the
Sterling News is credited with an article
in which occurs these words THE Eagles,
the recognized order of the saloon-keepers,
brewers and distillers of the country"
This insult is purely gratuitous. 1t is
true that we do take in men Of any and
all callings recognized by law. We some
times make mistakes, as all fraternal orders
do, in accepting applications for member
ship; but we also expel and drop from the
rolls those we find unworthy. Rev. DR..
f. M. Sisson, formerly OF South Omaha, a
Methodist minister of high standing and
a~ttainments, was a member of the order
while he resided in South Omaha, and is
still. Other ministers in various parts of
the country are active members, and find
nothing in our tenets or practices TO be
ashamed of. We follow the theory that no
man falls so low but that there is hope,
and a way. if we have the will, to bring
him up again from the bottom of the hill.
Who will quarrel with that belief? We be-
lieve that money is accumulated in our
treasures to do as much good as may be.
Therefore, we bury the dead decently, and
before they die we have committees do all
that can be done to make their sickness
ana travail as easily borne as is humanity
possible. We spend vast amounts of money
every year for purposes of purest motive,
and not one cent for political or other sim
liar purposes: further, we make no boast
Of our expenditures along lines that the
whole world commends when the facts are
known, no matter what name the doer may
bear.
AS to Mr.. Bryan and his membership, a
Nlittle history will keep matters straight.
No one will accuse the writer Of being a
political friend of Mr.. Bryan, but in COM
mon with most citizens l may be permit
ted to admire him, ard to like him for his
many lovable personal traits. 1t was /, ac-
~ " AAN SSAONoA , oANN NV Bh1 sACA
ans of Lincoln Aerie No. 147, who went to Mr..
Bryan's home some time last summer and
took his application for membership in
the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was
thoroughly advised of what the order
stands for, what it has done. is doing, and
hopes to do. He was astonished when he
got the bottom facts, because he was not
entirely free from at least a faint of the
notions recently exploited. He had to be
shown, and it was only after being shown,
with eyes wide open, that We got his appli-
cation.
The question of time for initiation was
left in allegiance, pending the fight then
on; and / believe Mr.. Bryan would have
fulfilled his obligation to become actively ac-
ISOLATED with the order as readi II he had
been elected president as he did when defeat
was his portion. 1t was the judgment of
Past Grand Worthy President Bell, and of
the local officers, that Mr.. Bryan's initia-
ton should be deferred until after election;
and that rule would have governed with
any man of any party in similar eircum-
stances. We do feel that he will never
have cause to regret his action, whether as
private citizen or in possible official sta
ton.
President Roosevelt is. l believe. an hon.
orary member of the Fraternal Order of
- anu AAAaAA1 VI NAS 1haAAA BhI ~ /
clans, lawyers and business men of the
cities and towns east and west are loyal,
energetic members. Here in Omaha, we
include in our membership a great many
most admirable men in every walk of life.
Think Of the numberless aeries in the
smaller towns of the country-a saloon
never being known in a large proportion
where the general run OF citizenship is
fully represented. Thousands Of our MEM
bers are farmers, other thousands laboring
men, clerks and travelling men. Growth
OF the order is shown by statistics to be
phenomenal In the real sense of that word.
After having heard the lectures and ip-
structions of the initiation, Mr.. Bryan con-
cluded a notable little talk under the head
Good of the Order, with the words of a |
man all these vindictive critics of the Eagles |
profess to follow. Let him who is without
sin cast the first stone.' He who accepted |
the challenge may be without sin-and IL
so, Eagles will rejoice with the angels with
whom he assumes to hold daily COM
munion.
This communication is p~ardonable only
as a man may be permitted to state the
truth for those who may be misled.
JOHN j. RYDER,
State Pres, Fraternal order Of Eagles.