The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-03-03
THE COLORED I'YrHlANS LOSE.

(From the Atlanta, Ca, independent
On the 21st inst, the Supreme
Court Of Georgia handed down an
opinion, dcbarring the Negro knights
OF Pythias from using the name Of
PNthians or any colorado imitation
thereof as society name.
Without questioning the business
CT the decision the Independent is
pleased to remark that the end is not
yet; that the question has not been
finally settled, If we understand the
contention Of the Black knights. We
40 not question the integrity of the
courts. We believe they have decid-
ed the issue in the light of the facts
before them, but we feel that the
highest courts of our land ought to
pass upon this question and settle it
once and forever. We do not know
| whether Federal question has been
successfully laid by our attorneys as
| 1t seems from the decision of the Su-
preme Court that the judges did not
! pass upon that issue. 1t seems from
the records that our lawyers did not
contend that the estoppel of Negroes
| from enjoying the benefits Of benevo-
| lenc@ and charity among themselves
under the name of knights of Pythias
was 4 violation of the Federal Consti-
| tuition and of the rights of the citi-
ZenS hereunder. Whether or not the
question was laid, the issue in all
| likelihood will go TO the Supreme
Court of the United States.
We have always felt that the two
races could enjoy the blessings of fra
ternlty, separately and distinctly I'M
der any name without infringing up
| on the rights of the other. But our
white neighbors have thought differ
ent and have taken us into court and
| have whipped us on every point. We
are not in the confidence of the au-
|thorities Of our order in the state,
| therefore, We do not know what steps
Will be taken. Chancellor CressWill
some time ago said that the Supreme
Lodge had appropriated 100000
| to tax" the case 20 the Supreme court
at Washington, we feel that the end
| is not yet and the fight will be fought
out to the finish in Washington.
Meanwhile, The Independent begs
l
state not to flaunt unnecessarily their
embiems and regalia in the face Of
| the white order, and be coBscFva-
tive and reserved in all Of their act
ions. Let u5 not give our ncighbors
any unnecessary cause for offcnse.
lie us not make ourselves offensive CT
| Objectionable. If the matter is not to
terminate where it is, if the autbori-
ties are not going to take the case to
the Supreme Court, then 1t will be our
duty 10 desist from violating dcci5-
ion of the Supreme Court which IS
I ne# the highest law in Georgia
decision will have this legal effect:
1t makes effective and Of force the
fbtll passed by the last legislature
| which makes it a criminal ofgeHBe- for
any person or person to hold them
lselves out as members Of any secret
lorder, unless they can establish the
priority Of right and privilege to the
lsecrets, embiems and paraphernalia
of the society they hold themselves
tout as members Of.
/ We have not seen the decision Of
the court and we do not know to
what extent it will effect the order
therefore we can only caution our
brothers to be careful and cautious
in the enjoyment of what they feel
TO be their just and honorable rights
lin the different communities Of the
Estate, because, under the law passed
}by the last legislature and the decis-
ion Of the Supreme Court, If we are
taken into court, we are likely to be
convicted of misdemeanor for wear
ling the signs, embIems and insignia
of the order Of knights Of Pythias in
Georgia. The courts are the final ar
IbiterS and interpreters Of our law, and
we must, in the fitness OF things,
,acqujesce in their decision, whether
we feel that they are just or unjust.
{ReCklessneSs will not benefit us any,
and the only wise course to take is
Ito fight for our rights till the last
ditch, and then submit becomingly to
1.-THE decision Of our courts.
TEACHERS REVIEW COURSE
|, The Teachers Review OF the HaS
ljSh Branches will begin at the Wes1
Virginia Colored institute, Marcel
| Q ISL. 1910. BOARD two dollari
$1,000 per week. - =" ~
Fer further Information address,
Byrd Pri1lerman. President,