The national forum., 1910-08-20
MORE TROUBLES FOR ELKS.
DIR. Mills Issues Manifesto, Denying
Special Session and Union Pro-
ceedings, and Protesting
Everything.

SpeCldl oGsstoH dIlu ONioit = hO-
ceedings, and Protesting
Everything.
just when all looked serene and every
/. B. p. 0. Il. and his friends, even his
sisters, cousins and aunts, were con-
graduating themselves upon the fact
that the two factions of that body had
united for good and all, along comes n
lengthy manifesto from Headquarters of
the Improved Benevolent Order of Elks
of the World, 493 Butte street, Norfolk,
Va" in the form of "a Proclamation to
All Subordinate Lodges" After the GUS
tomary greeting, DR.. Mills says, by au-
thority vested in me as Grand Exalted
Ruler, proclaim to all of the subordi,
nate lodges that the proposed Special
Session Of the Grand Lodge that was at
tempted to be held in Washington, ID.
c., July 2d-20, 1910, failed of accom-
pIishment and after declaring there was
and could be no union, the session was
adjourned by me-"
DR.. Mills then proceeds under seven
heads to give his reasons, the essential
points of which seem to be that the un-
derstanding that DR.. Mills was to be
Grand Exalted Ruler after the union
was not carried through; that knowledge
of the $4,000 legal expense debt was with!
held from the Peace Conference in Will
mngton last January; that the Elks'
Home to be built in Richmond, Va, at
a cost of $4,000 upon land to which
''the Atkins following" possessed no
title; that the two propositions above
were unfair to that portion OF Elks
represented by himself; that because it
was the evident desire of the "Atkins
following to either "rule or ruin" and
inclined to exhibit an unbrotherly dis
position toward the members of my
Grand Lodge, decided that it was bet
ter that the two Grand Lodges remain
apart: that the fee Of $4,000 to Hon.
Alton B. Parker for conducting the liti-
cation before the courts of New York
with the White Elks, or $1,000 if Judge
Parker was not successful in winning
this case should be paid by the "Atkins
following" and in event OF that suit be-
ing lost it might result in both bodies
being driven out of the State of New
York, and, believing il "inadvisable to
lend aid in a legal fight in New York,
to which our Grand Lodge is not a party,
and is in no way concerned" These are
principally the reasons.
The document concludes with the fol-
lowing appeal:
Tn view of all the foregoing / now pro
claim to all the subordinate lodges of
the parent Bodys or Regular Order"
Sof EIks that they be and remain stead
\ lfass iu flieir lnyaity to the tsrand 4sndge,
operatiiig under the original charter and
copyrights handed down to this Grand
Lodge by b. r. Howard, Past Grand
Exalted Ruler.
I further proclaim, that all lodges de-
string to be free from the oppression of
the heretofore "Atkins following" may
freely unite with the Regular Order of
EIks' by making application to this Office
ON or before the 18th day of September,
A. d., 1910.
Yours fraternally,
tsipned) DIR. j. Il. MILLS,
Grand Exalted Ruler of the Improved
Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks of the World
What the result of this manifesto may
be cannot guess, but am certain that
the rank and file of both factions desire
union and peace and desire it strongly.
/ talked with delegates and visitors to
the convention from every section of the
country and each and all of them said
one way or another, II am sick of con-
tention; let lis get together" From
several members of the two local lodges
| secured the following opinions:
Charles d. Freeman, Exalted Ruler,
Columbia, S5, was the first one | found,
and he expressed his opinion thus. 81
consider the matter all settled. / think
every member OF both lodges is satisfied
with the results of the joint session and
pleased and satisfied with the officers
elected by the delegates and conclude to
dwell together in unity, | am surprised
that DR.. Mills should prove so narrow,
and do not think many Elks will be
guided ~ him in this affair"
| next saw John w. Truman Exalted
Ruler of Morning Star, 40, who said:
Il consider that every essential point
of the Peace Conference was ratified.
There,were subjects under consideration
which they could not in the nature of
their powers consider nor settle and all
fair thinking men know this and are
WILING 10 leaVe lieln W tle NIbHl
Lodge and subordinate lodges for final
settlement The utmost spirit of fair
ness governed all the actions of the dele,
gates in Convention, and the only ones
who were unfair were DR.. Mills and a
few of his friends and advisers. / do
not think there will be another split,
and this letter will not have much eff
feet / am sorry that for the sake of
little graft men will do such things"
| saw many members of both Columbia
and Morning Star lodges and all were
of the opinion as expressed by Moses HI
Dade: "That the great body of Elks de-
sire union and are satisfied that the
Convention accomplished the union of
both bodies and are satisfied and will
aceapt the union as a fixed fact. Dir
Mills action will have very little etfect
and he will soon find himself without a
following
A general impression prevails chat
Dr. Mills had publicly accepted the re-
suits of the Convention here, and it is,
rumored that he expressed himself as
being satisfied with the actions and re-
suits thereof. However, we will see what
we viii see.
"Infantile Paralysis"