The Denver star., 1913-03-22

Iect IN uexaS 1raternal circles IL tue
g14.OOO shortage in the Masonic grand
lodge Much discussion of the subject
has brought forth many untrue state
pents.
William Mcdonald Goose Neck Bid.
The secretary of the Texas jurisdiction
Of the Masons. gives in the current is-
sue of the Masonic Quarterly. the off,
rial organ of the Texas jurisdiction.
what purports to be the official version
Of the matter.
Mcdonald states that DR.. B. r. Blu
lit. the grand treasurer. rendered his
resignation TO Grand Master ]. w. Nc
Kinney on Oct 3. 1912. after admit
ting a shortage of S13.39I.26. which
was afterward found to be Sl3.91S.06;
that on Dec. 30. 1912. the Oklahoma
Bonding company. which was on DIR.
Bluitts bond for $4,000. was notified
that the grand lodge. Free and Ac-
cepted Masons OF Texas. was holding
that company responsible for the pay
ment.
As TO the collection OF the bond. Nc
Donald says: when the bond will be
collected don't know. | don't think n
living man can answer that question.
Although Mcdonald and DIR. Bluitt
have for years and years been close po-
litical. personal and fraternal friends.
in speaking further of the shortage he
says: Few men can realize the an
guish and pain that 1t gives me. cam
not find II in my heart TO excuse or
Justify the deliberate acts of Past
Grand Treasurer Bluitt-"
Stands High In Professional Life.
DR. Bluitt is the leading Negro physi-
clan and surgeon in Texas. AS the
recognized head of the Bluitt santa
rum he stands ut the head of his pro-
fession in this state. and his income is
said TO be proportionately larger than
that of any other physician of color.
He admits n shortage. but explains
that circumstances made 1t and gives
out the impression that il was created
with the knowledge of the grand lodge
officials. SO II is alleged. He states that
be offered to make good the shortage
and that he entered into an agreement
with the grand lodge officials 10 repay
the amount claimed; that the grand
master. ]. W. Mckinney. deliberately
broke the agreement.
History Of eiuitt's Official Career.
DIR. Bluit;'s statement Is rs follows:
1T is needless for me to say at this
time that l regret the uufort unate cir
cumstances surrounding my SO called
shortage as grand treasurer of the
Free and Accepted Masons OF Texas.
I hp hal Si,
and each year since that time my cleo
uon has been made unanimous. /
have always accounted for every cent
OF the money that the 1909 Masons OF
Texas have intrusted TO my care
Il have always taken n deep interest
in the race and have from time to time
invested my personal funds in stocks
which We're being foStcred by laudable
undertakings for the benefit of the
race-namely. stocks of the Penny
Savings bank. Dallas. and the Proyi-
dent Bank and Trust company of Fort
Worth. both OF which institutions fail
ed the early part of 1912.
Resides. had gone on personal
securities Of these banks to the extent
of several thousand dollars. and upon
the failure of these banks was forced
to pay of their claims in order to keep
myself in good light before the people
of Texas. How well have done that
Is known to all who are acquainted
with my affairs in this city.
Voluntarily Resigned as Treasurer.
''It is true that on Oct 3. 1912. vol
UNFAIRLY resigned as grand treasurer of
the Free and Accepted Masons of Tex
as. The causes stated above and the
fact that in July, 1912. the grand mas
ter made the following recommenda.
tion to the grand lodge placed me in
Il position in which was compelled
| to turn over NJ once all moneys due
the grand lodge which had been ac-
cumulated in various departments since
1S9S
THE resolution reads ms follows:
Resolved, That the Fraternal Rank
and Trust company. Fort Worth. be
made the depository for the grand
lodge OF the Free and Accepted Ma
sons OF Texas and that the grand
treasurer be required to deposit all
moneys which he has or may have in
the said institution
III was known throughout the juris-
Aiction that the grand treasurer was
the sole custodian OF all Masonic funds
and that as partial compensation for
his services he was expected to use
these funds as he saw tit since he was
able to properly meet all clai,ns pre-
sented to him.
Agreement With Grand Lodge Officers.
when offered my resignation l en-
tered into an agreement with the grand
lodge oitcers to pay them $l3.3a1.22 ~
In the following manner:
THEY We're tn allow me 1--WE years In
which to pay TINT sum. and l was to