The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-01-20
Lodge Takes Lead
In Charitable Work, Says Rev. f.. r.
Jones, Grand Master of Masons In
mississippi Who Have Spent
Thousands Of Dollars Among Wfd-
LOWS. and Destitute Members. ,f.'
. { HOrace D. Slatter.l

that in his opinion they were the
worst enemies Of the church. In
support OF his opinion he cited GER
, tain facts which he declared showed
that individuals who were at the
same time lodge and church members
would invariably neglect their church
work to favor the lodge. .o.,vrn,. 81 ,,.,-r 90 q.
III contra diction of this view comes
the Rev. DR.. Z. p. Jones who is one
or the most prominent ministers Of
the south and declares that instead OF
being an enemy to the church the
lodge Is one strong arm, for he
claims no religious organization in
America does the same amount of be-
nevolent and charitable work as any
one strong and we'll regulated secret
order ~
wv excfaims, no man ts
admitted to secret order who does
not admit he believes in the Supreme
Ruler OF the universe, and in all our
rltualistic cerem onies, guidance and
support is earnestly prayed. Just for
example note the men who are at the
head OF, all our strong organizations
Fney are not only strong men, men
or character and unquestioned integ-
rlty, but they are men who are like
wise Identified with religious and ed
ucat1onal institutiens.-Tha strongest
and most earnest craftmen, make
the most earnest ana devoted chris
tians and vice versa" - INK. :.
incidentally, it might be, remarked
that the Rev. Mr.. Jones knows what
pc 1sS talking; about, He Is the head
to aall issstea ts aufds pa fayuaes,
Elsathe largest; ana. strongest fraternal
organization In the country. The
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
for the jurisdiction of Mississiupi,
throngh it's financial arm, the Odd
FelIoWs Benefit Association, does
more charitable work, spreads more
sunshine, relieves more widows and
orphans in their Distress than any
other one organization. Now, who
ls at the head of this organization?
Surely no one could accuse DR.. Jones
FOR being any less g. church man be-
cause of his connection with this or
der. Those who know Of his connec-
ton with the State Baptist Conven-
tlon and how zealously he works for
the cause of Christ on all occasions
would surely understand that he Ia
actuated to move In this direction
more for the actual good he Is able
TO accomplish than for any. other rea-
son. Prof. E. H. NICK issack. the sec
rotary and treasurer OF the associa-
ton Is perhaps the most prominent
laymen In all the conferences Of the
colored Methodist. Episcopal Church
and for years he has held an impor-
tant position at Rust University at
Holly Springs ~
Now for the actual work this Or
ganlzatlon is doing. During the past
year alone Prof. McKissick paid out
| efctaries. A quarter of million dol
lars paid out in one year to the wild
| oWs and orphans in the state Of Mis-
sissippi will do much to redeem
mortgages, save homes from des-
truction, relieve want and misery aud
teatteate- children Durtng the
past ten years during the existence
or the order more than O. million dol
lars nave been paid out in just this
way. Now the Odd Fellows are bay
ing the largest endowment Of any or
| ganlzation Of it's kind and the sur
prising feature in connection with the
conduct Of this mammouth concern,
Is that the business is conducted at
an expense Of less than 5per cent.
DR.. Jones Is also Supreme Master
OF tile United Reformers, an organi-
cation Of which he Is founder. 1t
was organized and chartered in the
( state OF Mississippi in 1903, during
the administration Of Governor Lon
g1nc There were those who hon
estly believed that the advent of the
new organization into the field that
was then well occupied was unneces-
sary and who predicted for. it com
lDletc failure. DR.. Jones evidently
thought that the field was broad
Ienough and that there was plenty OF
room for another organization, the
I purpose Of which was to benefit man.
KIND, to open up new avenues for his
development as well as to relieve
his suffering. TO create a brotherly
spirit, to teach the value Of pure anC
upright lives and to better the ma
+ ter1al condition Of it's members were
the primary purposes Of this organ
lzatl0n. Whether it has succeeded o.
! not-can- be ascertaincdi in p very sAer-
J while. In the six years of it's exis-
tencc 1t has paid out to widows anc
, orphans, who had claims upon III
benevolent department, nearly 800,
10000 and the record o fthe pas
year Will show total Of more tina.
100000 to its widows and or
phans. The maintenance of q wei
directed educational institution b,
- the United Reformcrs and the Wild
ows' and Orphans Homes by th,
GRAND United Order Of Odd Fellow
are methods that these two organi