Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-07-28
BIG DAY FOR BROTHERS
 OF FRIENDSHIP
Much Business Disposed of at the Third Days Session of COlOred
 Grand Lodge Here.

At g. a. n. Wednesday morning the grand session of the United Brothers of Friendship convened at the Mas onic hall with M. R. Perry, the grand master, presiding.
 The session was opened in the us- ual ritualistic form after which the house was announced in order for business.
 Resolutions were offered by the fol- lowing members: E. w. Hamilton, w. w. Jones, L. R Harris and Dr. H H Phipps, all of which were re- ferred to the committee on resolu- tions.
 The grand lodge took recess for 30 minutes and the grand master ap pointed committee of three to in- form the Grand Temple that the Grand Lodge would assemble in their hall at il a. m. at which time the the grand officers would submit their annual reports.
 Grand Temple Session At 9 a. m. the State Grand Temple was called to order by the Grand Princess. The session was opened in the usual form. Mrs. Alice Ham, mond instructed the grand temple in the signs and in addition gave some valuable instructions on the proper manner of rendering the opening ode which was followed by others.
 The proceedings of the previous sessions were read and adopted
 A committee from the grand lodge was sent to inform the grand temple that join session would be held in heir hall at II a. m. at which time the grand officers of both bodies would submit their annual reports A committee On condolence was appoint ed, after which the grand lodge and grand household assembled. After a few introductory remarks the Grand Princess Lucy Simmons introduced Grand Master M. R. Perry. who among other things said:
 Dear Brothers and Sisters since our meeting in Fort Smith our great meeting in St. Paul, Minn., has come and gone. Great problems con- fronted us at this meeting; problems that involved the very life itself of our organization. For three years there had been strife and turmoil in the National Camp; men full of am- bition, filled with greed, long immun- ed from punishment because of posi- tion and favor were checked up and called to an accounting, had deter mined to continue in their career of graft and usurpation of power or break up the national organization.
 The times called for men and tried and true and loyal; men who loved the order, men of ability and means, who were willing to spend and be spent. Yes, to make any sacrifice, that the customs, usuages and laws of the order should be protected and held in tact. Such were the condi- tions that confronted us at our nat ional meeting Four states had withdrawn from our national union leaving us with nine loyal states, and three states through their grand master undecided just which way to cast their fortune, Through prudence and careful hand ling these states were held in line in the regular organizations; the leaders were routed; but not beaten. They went through the farce of electing full set of national grand officers; got oIt articles of national incorpora- tion and set themselves as a rival body and proceeded to appoint deput- ies in every organized state in the jurisdiction of the order
 "The national brand lodge foresaw such steps and took action to defeat them. A long and bitter legal fight had to be carried on through the courts in every state where rebellion existed
 To meet this issue a special ten cent taxation was assessed on all loyal members. Every grand master present pledged his support. The money was to be raised at once as the battle was on and the treasury was empty. How loyal Arkansas was the reports will show"
 The grand secretary's report show ed that the grand temple had con- tributed $11935 and that the grand lodge $52.5O. Total $171. S5 to the special tax referred to in the grand masters report The secretary made his report, showing balance in treasury Of $1.43S .S6. Other officers reported corroborating the report
 It being time to adjourn the meet ing was called off until D. m.
 Afternoon Session
 Promptly at 2 D. m. the grand %ov,,u1o occop,hlod Affor tho ,cNal