Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-21
Robbed, But Not Defeated

The American people conversant with
Odd Fellow affairs in this country, in
common with the members of the or
der, confidently expected me to be elect
ed Grand Master of the G. u. o. O. f.,
in America, at the Atlanta meeting.
The public had a right to rely upon
this result, for the reason that the dele
gates elected to the 10th B. NJ. G. were
instructed from nine-tenths of the
states to so cast their votes. The pub
lie understood that there would be no
opposition and the public, in common
with the craft, is entitled to an expla-
nation. The members of the order. too,
are entitled to know the real truth
They ought to know whether their rep
resentatives, instructed disregarded
their instructions or not, and | shall
endeavor to tell the whole truth. to
give the story as it was written by
the conduct of those who brought about
contrary results. The public well UNI
derstands that among the conditions
which no human thought can provide
against is a liar and a thief
There was some disregard for in
! structions among delegates, but this
disregard was not serious enough to in
any way affect the result the people
had a right to expect. And, to be frank
and fair with so per cent Of the dele
gates to the 10th B. NJ. c.. ! must con-
| fess ! have no complaint They did not
expect any opposition to me- any more
| than / expected it, for the reason that
| a gentlemans agreement existed be-
| tween the Grand Master myself and
every member of the committee, and
we had right to rely upon every mem
Der of the agreement as a gentleman
and brother. We had no right to sup
pose there was a Judas or traitor in
our camp and for that reason no pro-
vision or caution was taken against
the result recorded.
The Agreement.
We were misled because of our con
fdence and faith in the integrity OF
our Grand Master, who had begged his
way into the mastership by a solemn
promise and vow as a gentleman and
brother. In 1910 he made known to his
brothers in July that he wanted to sail
around the world, and, while enroute,
he wanted to set up several lodges in
foreign countries, and desired to be
the head of the order at that time, AS
ii would insure him attention that he
could not otherwise obtain.
At that time | was the choice of the
brethren for Grand Master. but, being
young man. acquiesCed and yielded to
the wishes of my senior and master
Meanwhile, he had introduced, through
Dawson Lodge No. Pass. the proposition
to establish the supreme court. with
the understanding that if the PROPOSE
ton were adopted and the court estab-
liShed he would not be a candidate for
Grand Master in 1912, and would seek
a place on the supreme court bench, as
that was mis- highest ambition. He
said he had no desire to be Grand Mas
ter for but a single term felt that |
deserved the place and ought to have
it, and would stand Loyalty by me for
| his successor in 1912. ! was not a
candidate for the bench, and only ac-
cepted the place after insistence from
him and the S. G. NJ. My friends final
| ly agreed that ! should wait two years,
relying absolutely upon his honor and
| integrity.
At Baltimore there was tremendous
opposition to his election. The order
| split as "A result, and several lodges
| followed Asbury. There | was mpor-
tuned begged and insisted upon to
break my promise to the Grand Master
and accept election myself ! had from
my own state more than half of the
votes. OF the $50 votes cast for Grand
Master Georgia alone cast 349. So it
is absolutely true that ! could have
! been elected with the vote of my state
| alone. but every vote in Georgia was
delivered to Morris. Half Of the dele
CATION from Maryland. Pennsylvania,
! Delaware. Washington, the entire dele
cation from Mississippi, Missouri and
in fact, 70 per cent OF the delegates
through their leaders. and personally
urged me to throw Morris overheard
and accept the election, but my word
was my bond and my honor my Sc
curity and ! refused to be a party to
the betrayal Of a brother or the vio-
| lation of a vow. So the 10th g. NJ. c.
| ended in the election Of Morris as
Grand Master and the establishment Of
the supreme court proposition, all
through the loyalty of Georgia based
upon the good faith and integrity Of
the Grand Master.
After the adjournment. before we left
| Baltimore, Morris again renewed his
/ VOW and promise Of support at Atlanta
at which time ! reminded him that If
| he desired a second term In spite Of his
/ promise, to advise me i'm time as | was
a young, man and we would try to reach
an agreement, but he assured me that
under no conditions would he stand for
! re- election and that | might go ahead