The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-09-22

Richmond, Va, Sept. 15-Yielding
to repeated demands made by State
insurance Commissioner Joseph
Button for a complete change in
management, the Grand Fountain of
the United Order of True Reformers,
in biennial session in Richmond, yes
terday chose A. w. Holmes, Of this
| city, as grand worthy master, in
place Of w. l.. Taylor. w. P. Bur
rell, whose administration has been
entirely satisfactory to the Bureau
of Insurance, will be Neglected grand
secretary. The officers have been
selected by what is known as nom
ination: and will be formally elected
today
Probably the entire future of this
order, the largest. most successful
and most prominent among all col
ored secret societies in the world,
was involved in the choice of the
Grand Fountain Of it's president. Rec
ent troubles have brought, the or
ganlzation to a critical stage, due
mostly, it is believed, to ignorance of
business methods and partly, per-
haps, to the Vaccinations of more
intelligent Negroes who found in the
members Of their race easy dupes to
their plans.
remarkable indeed is the history
of the True Reformers, which for
nearly thirty years has held first
place in the respect and admiration
Of the colored population of America.
Its home office and central building
are located in Richmond, on Second
Street, near Leigh, where yesterdays s
sessions were held. The body, which
Is composed Of delegates, met on
Tuesday and will be in session the
remainder of the week.
On one occasion this Grand Foun-
tain: elected to represent the inter
ests of the members. %grayely and SOL
emnly bought It's own ritual, it's own
charter and its own constitution and
bylaws from it's grand master for
the sum Of $4,000, nearly 100000
or which was actually paid. This Off
clal, who is now dead, was the found
er- or the True Reformers, was a sal
aired officer, and actually had the
ritual copyrighted in order to
secure the consummation of his
plans. To add to his gains, his wife
for nine years had the exclusive
right to manufacture regalia for the
members and at last this right was
'sold' back to the order for s13,-
600.
This founder, w. w. Browne, it is
stated, presided in the meetings Of
the Grand Fountain in flowing robes,
to aid him in impressing supersti-
tlous reverence upon those who had
united with the organization. In fact,
II rumors be correct, vague ceremo-
nles Of this sort were practiced up
to very recent time
When an income Of nearly $1,000
600 year, hosts of claims amount
ing in the aggregate to more than
$4,000, remained unpaid at about
the beginning Of this year.
Numerous complaints Of the non
payment Of insurance claims, rang
ing from small sums -up- to $500.
we're made to Commissioner Button.
who ordered an examination. It was
speedily learned that the trouble was
not with the order, but with it's
depository which was known as
the Savings Bank Of the
Grand United Order Of True Reform
ers, was holding the checks without
paying them A little deeper was the
search conducted, and it was~learned
that the officials Of the bank and
those Of the order are the same. In
fact, the bank is an affiliated insti-
| tuition.
Cheeks were Held.
This was the method Of procedure
| The treasurer Of the order was cash.
ier Of the bank. The checks for pay.
, ment Of the insurance claims would
be properly drawn by the order, and
charged off on its books. This was
all regular. The order had the mon
ey on deposit. Then the cashier Of
the bank would put these checks
away in drawer and they would not
be paid. Tho records of the bank did
not show that the checks had beer
Oh, fine!
Immediate demand was made BY
IColonel Button for the payment o
the claims. The bank made it's ar
Loo, ,,r.,