The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-07-18
OF DEFENSE TAX is ORDERED
BY HEAD OF NEGRO KNIGHTS
OF PYTHIAS. g.
Additional Funds
Are Required, He Says, to Defray
Expenses Incurred in Defending
the Order Before the Supreme
Court and in Fighting Other Cases.

New Orleans, La. July 15-S.
w. Green, Supreme Chancellor of
the Negro knights of Pythias, has
issued proclamation to his branch
OF the order calling attention to the
recent decision of the Federal Su-
preme Court upholding it in it's
claim to the right to use the name,
emblems, and regalia which was
contested by the white Knights.
The proclamation is addressed to
Iall grand and subordinate lodges,
grand and subordinate courts, su-
preme representatives, officers and
members Of the supreme lodge and
reads:
Greeting - -.
First-It is my delightful duty
as we'll as my inexpressable pleas
ure,i to announce to our Supreme
jurisdiction that the case first doc
keted in Fulton County, Georgia,
about the first day Of June, A. D..
1906, under the style and title of
Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias
of Georgia, VS.. Chas. D. Creswell,
et ais. ,. was terminated in the Su-
preme Court of the United States
on Monday, June 10, 1912, when
that Honorable Court by a decision
| OF seven for and two against decid-
ed that we werefentitled to use the
name, emblems and regalia of The
knights of Pythias.
Second-That decision by the
highest court in the land settles
inaar status as Pythians throug ghout
the Jurisdiction of the United
States Of America, and will serve
as a precedent for cases now pend
ling which question our right to the
use Of the name, emblems and re-
gala of this Order.
- Third-This decision may also
have the effect Of holding off other
suits contemplated or threatened
against us in other states, relative
to the same rights and privileges
now exercised by us.
"Fourth-The continued collec-
tion Of the Defense Tax now past
due for 1911 by Grand and Subor-
dinate Lodges and Grand and Sub
Iordinate courts, and the collection
of the Defense Tax which becomes
Fdue in November /, 1912, is neces-
!sary to pay off outstanding claims
for the suit just ended, as well as
to defray the expenses ia connec-
t1on with the suits now pending in
the states Of Alabama, Mississippi
and Tennessee.
Fifth-All Grand and Subor-
dinate Lodges and Grand and Sub
ordinate Courts now in arrears for
the Emergency Tax, or any part
thereof, for the years 1909 and
1910 must also pay same as ordered
by the Supreme Lodge.
Sixth-All honor and praise to
the loyal officers and members of
the Grand and Subordinate Lodges
and Grand and Subordinate Courts
who made it possible for our Order
to win this unparalleled victory
for right and justice, by faithfully
discharging their duties and re-
sponsibilities in collecting and for
warding the mites collected from
the several members Of the Order
in their Jurisdictions, which col
lections were the sinews of war
with which was stormed the cita-
dels Of prejudice and oppression,
and brought forth that justice and
fairness to which we were entitled
as a loyal law-abiding people.
"Seventh-Well may we rejoice
in this triumph of right over wrong
OF justice over oppression, Of truth
over error, Of light over darkness ;
and while rejoicing, let us not do
so Extensively, but, rather, let us
rejoice in that humbleness of spirit
and conduct that should character
ize the true followers of the loyal
and faithful Damon, and the brave
and self-sacrifcing Pythians.
"Thus done and signed at New
Orleans, La, this first day Of July,
a. d., 1912, and Pythian Period
the (33d) XXXIII.
s. w. GREEN, Supreme Chanccl-
ilor.
Attest; G. K. ROBINSON, Su-
Epreme Keeper Of Records and Seal.
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