The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-30
.LUKE'S CHILDREN
HAVE FAMILY ROW
Negro Order Splits in Twain at
Convention Held in
Richmond.
INSURGENTS vIeTo RloUs
Colorcd Lawyer Is Barred From
Meeting, but Wins His
Fight.

Politics, police, n complete split In the
order and division of the assets were
features OF the meeting of the Supreme
Grand Council of the Sons and Daugh-
ters of the independent Order Of st.
Luke. held in this city last week.
1t was the old story of struggle for
supremacy, in which the leaders or
the children of the apostle commended
for the mastery as strenuously as the
bosses of any white convention ever
did While the negroes of Virginia
do no, in these days exercise the
privileges of suffrage to any great eN-
tent, 1t is evident that they have not
forgotten how to play politics.
The real inside history of the meet
ing became known yesterday, when
Belle Christian. the secretary of the
Supreme Grand. etc. made report
of the meeting to State insurance
Commissioner Joseph Button Incl
dentally, the secretary showed herseit
to be no mean player of the game, ana
might qualify as a political power
when woman's suffrage arrives
Lawyer Did Work.
1t seems that the principal insur-
gent in the order was one Hewin' a
local colored lawyer. He was dissa l.
isfed with the administration of at
|
leading Son himself.
1t is said that Hewin made q rather
active campaign for his side OF the
question. securing the cooperation OF
a number of small lodges which mao
representation in the convention.
But Belle Christian and her party
We're not asleep. BY assiduous atten-
ton and close scrutiny Of the rules OF
the order they discovered that the
lodge which elected Hewin as dele
gate was not entitled to representa-
tion. This fixed the lawyers voting
and Speaking power.
| When the convention met Hewir
was relegated to a seat in the gallery
| From his lonely perch aloft, mere
spectator. he directed the course %
mouth. This was intolerable to al
| insurgent. So he. Belle Christian SAYS
| informed the police that many of th'
| delegates were drunk and raising ;
disturbance and that the presence o
| officers was necessary,
| The secretary of the Supreme ant
| the rest of 1t waxed indignant when sh
! told of this feature of the meeting
! Those niggers Were not drunk" sh
declared "They We're attending t
| business
| Insurgents Won.
After protracted fight on the foo
/ the insurgents forced a division tn
vote showing that the old guard ha,
i
| torious, albeit occupying a seat in TIL
bleachers instead of on the players
bench.
Thereupon an agreement was reach
ed that the order should be divided
Each side took about $500 membe-.t
the numbers being about equal TIL
insurgents departed, with the explicit
understanding that they were no Ion
ger insured in the Supreme Gran
Council of the Sons and Daughters o
the Independent Order of st. Luke
The supposition is that they will pro
coed to organize another branch @
the family. The ss,6oo In the treas
ury was divided.
4 Belle Christian told Colonel Butte
that she wished to proceed with tn
business for a month or two. to Sc
what the result would be- She WI
report later, being apparently perfect
ly willing to comply with the laws @
the State.
There is already an Independen
Order of st. Luke, besides the organi
cation OF Sons and Daughters 1t /
presumed that the insurgents will be
come the grandchildren.