The Detroit times., 1909-03-12
FLYNN SURE HE'LL
WIN WITH GRAND
ENCAMPMENT
GRAND MASTER OF ODD Eel.
LOWS APPEALS FROM ExPUL-
SION By LOCAL BODY AND PRE-.
PAREs FOR BIG FIGHT.

William II. Flynn. grand master OF
the Independent Order vi Odd Fellows
In Michigan. who was expelled from
Ingersoll encampment No. 20. Wed
nesday night, has already prepared
an appeal to the Grand Encampment,
which meets In Alpena, next June. and
is confident that it will result in his
reinstatement as member OF Inger-
soil Encampment.
IT'S the state against one encamp-
ment." said Mr.. Flynn. Friday morn
ing. "and there is no doubt in my
mind as to what the grand encamp-
ment will do when the facts are laid
before IT, The charges against me
were not SUSTAINED by the evidence.
was merely victim OF lodge poll
tics and Of adverse sentiment worked
up by enemies who are trying To de-
feat me for grand representative when
become Il candidate next year"
Mr.. Flynn Is preparing circular
letter. which he will send out TO the
officers of all the subordinate lodges
in the state, setting forth the facts in
the case and giving his side OF the
controversy.
AS one result OF Ingersoll Encamp-
ment's action in expelling him, As
members OF American Eagle lodge.
who also belong to the encampment.
have demanded withdrawal cards from
the latter, 1t Is said, and others are
likely To follow their example, accord
ing to the story told All these As
members were present in the meeting,
Wednesday night. and voted against
Flynn's expulsion. The american
Eagle lodge Is the one TO which Mr..
Flynn belongs. and In whose affairs
he has taken most active part. The
$4,000 temple on Bethune-ave. was
secured largely through his efforts, 1t
Is said.
Discussing the loan OF $500 TO the
worthless security was given, and on
which transaction charges against
Flynn were based, Nj. Flynn said:
1T is true that the encampment is
cut the $500, but It need not have
been If 1t had gone about this thing in
a proper manner. IL II had put the
matter up to me In a decent and or
derly way, after II was found that the
security was worthless, instead OF
rushing off TO the newspapers and
stirring up a big fuss, I am sure the
amount would have been made good
by the relatives, but you cannot blame
them for not doing so after the story
had been aired In all the papers.
LAS for the loan. II was made In
absolutely good faith, and | myself
the bond offered by Robin
son to a broker and got an opinion
that II was worth 5000. The trustees
Il was one Of three-thereupon voted
to make the loan, as they had been
instructed to do by the encampment.
That was all in the testimony, but
those who voted against me apparent
ly were not guided by the testimony.
"a man in my position Is bound to
make enemies. made them when.
under instructions from the grand
lodge. | ordered saloonkeepers expell-
cd from all our lodges. ! was warned
then that unless | let up my scalp
was in danger. but ! followed my In
The trouble with Olive
Branch lodge made more enemies, but
there again l was simply doing my
duty as I saw It. had been instruct.
ed by the grand sire to break up all
illegal organization among the lodges,
and I did It, Olive Branch did not
obey my instructions at first and !
found IL necessary to suspend the
lodge temporarily"
Mr.. Flynn takes vigorous exception
to a remark credited to one OF his
critics to the effect that he owes his
election as grand master TO defects In
the appointive system.
1T don't always follow that a man
receiving an appointment In the grand
lodge works up TO be master. | had
FIVE opponents when l was elected
grand warden" he said
The encampment in the Independent
Order OF Odd Fellows corresponds
somewhat TO the chapter In Masonry.
IL Is composed OF third degree mem
bers of the subordinate lodges. The
grand encampment. in turn, Is com
posed OF representatives from the var
ious encampments throughout the
state and Is separate from the grand
lodge.
AS matter OF custom, the retiring
grand master becomes a candidate for
grand representative to the SOVEREIGN
grand lodge Of the order. This is the
position to which Mr.. Flynn aspires
next year, but candidate for the
Office must be in good standing, both In
the encampment and the subordinate
lodge TO which he belongs. Unless he
is reinstated he canont therefore be
come a candidate. He Is not worry
ing. however.