The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-09-20
DELEGATES TELL
OF MEETING
Odd Fellow sReject B. j.
Davis.
Good Beginning Had Bad Ending
Near Riot at Times-Polce Had
to be CaIIed-Davis Tactics
Not Pleaslng-obIectlon to
Charges for Credentials
and Programs Grand
Master Morris Bolts.
(By Cary B. Lewis.)

(By Cary B. Lewis.)
Atlanta, Ca, Sept. IA. (SpeciaD-I
The 10th Biennial Session of the G.
U. o. o. F. America came to a close
Saturday morning at 4:3O a. m. amid
confusion and contention for the SUI
premacy for the Order. Never before
in the history of the Order was there
so much pickering dissatisfaction
and lack of harmony during an elec-
ton. When the name of Grand Mas
ter e. FL Morris was presented, the
delegates from various states march
ed up and down the hall frantically
yelling and carrying banners. 1t
was done to stampede the conven-
ton, but this failed. 1t was thought
by the majority of delegates that Col.
Morris would not run, and that the
name of Mr.. B. j. Davis would be
the only one presented for Grand
Master of the Order.
Notwithstanding the fact that
Grand Master E. H. Morris stated in
his Biennial Address There would
never be time when disunion would
come to the lodges and that the let
ters of fire are blazing over the gates
leading to the Temple of Friendship,
Love and Truth" yet the scenes on
that morning made his address seem
just the. reverse, for when he re-
fused to have the roll of Georgia's S
delegates called, disunion, turmoil
and pandemonium reigned supreme.
After the session ha, gone on
smoothly for five days the election
of officers was the cause of the con-
| vention adjourning "sine die" 1t
came about this way: Morris was
nominated and so was Davis. Depu-
ty Grand Master H. L. Johnson took
the gavel States were called And
when it came to Georgia's, Morris
took the gavel. and refused to let
Georgia cast her vote by the chair
man of the Georgia delegation or
even to hear the name of each dele
gate called from the Georgia roll.
From every observation it was seen
that Mr.. Davis had the vast MAORI
ty of votes for his own state and
several Southern states were pledged
to him and votes were scattered
elsewhere, but Grand Master Morris
refused to hear the roll called, and
finally decided that the honor was
big enough for him for Tile next two
years and adjourned the convention
sine die"
The delegates sat in the hall from
ten o'clock in the night until 49O
the next morning. They amused
themselves by singing, marching and
reciting. Some went out for lunch,
and others had lunch sent to them.
Every now and then some delegate
would yell vociferously roll call "
Again and again conferences were
held to harmonic things, but the
"old warrior stood pat" With the
adjournment, the same men will hold
office until the meeting the next two
years, the place having not been Sc
lected.
The most important matter trans
acted was the retention of the Su.
preme Court headquarters to remain
at Philadelphia and a Bureau of En-
dowment for the states in which there
are none.
Grand Secretary reported 10,75C
financial branches; 1927 dispense
tions granted by the S. c. M. during
the last two years; numerical
strength 492,905; total assets $194,
00S15. j. c. Johnson, Grand Treas
urer of the Order, read his report
which contained an itemized account
of all receipts during the years 1911
and 1912, July 18th. L. N. Porter
Chairman Grand Auditing Committee
read his report Grand Master E.
H. Morris delivered a Biennial ad
dress, as well as Hon. Harry s.
Cummings, Attorney General for the
Order
There was the grand parade with
10000 people in line This was
followed by a drill at Ponce de Leon
Park, where the Patriarchie of Pitts.
burg won first prize, Indiana second
honors and Chicago third. The same
night a grand bali was given at the
Auditorium which was attended by
5000 people The local committee
headed by Mr.. b. J. Davis, was re-
sponsible for the preparations made
to entertain the delegates and visi-
tors, All were greatly pleased with
the hospitality and courtesy extend
ed them, and claim that the Biennial
session here was the grandest and
most prosperous and successful con.
Order.
The Odd Fellows in the past two
years, from statistics show a greater
progress than any period of its his
tory It has spent more money for
widow AVID orphans, paid out more
money for the burial of its members
and erected more halls and lodge
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