Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-03-20
SECRET SOCIETY MATTER.
District Supreme Court sustains Viz
oinia kniuhts OF pythias.

District Supreme Court sustains Viz
oinia Knights Of Pythias.
The supreme court In Washington re-
Gently refused to grant the plea Of the
supreme lodge, Knights OF Pythias. that
the suit Of the grand lodge. Knights Of
Pythias Of Virginia, be dismissed with
costs on the plaintiff and decided that
the action Of the supreme lodge,
knights Of Pythias. N. A. s. A.. e.. A.,
A. and A.. In session In Baltimore. Nd.
Aug. $3.50, 1913. in revoking the char
ter Of the grand lodge, knights Of
Pythias Of Virginia, and ordering the
dissolution. was unconstitutional and
unlawful. E"nEa
1t issued sweeping injunction re-
straining the supreme lodge the su-
preme chancellor or their agents any
where in the United States from inter.
fering with the grand lodge, knights
of Pythias. on account of any such
alleged revocation of the charter. 1t
forbids the issuance or circulation Of
any proclamation or letters by the su-
preme chancellor or his agents based
upon the alleged revocation Of the
charter and dissolution of the grand
lodge. knights Of Pythias of Virginia.
Mr.. Justice Gould announced that
the question Of the constituuonality Of
the tax levy by the supreme lodge
upon the members of the several grand
jurisdictions would be finally decided
by the court. This will result in
complete review Of the case by compe-
tent authority and the constitutionality
Of the enactment Of the new constitu-
ton at Baltimore. Nd, will also DO
settled. .- -r.
John Mitchell, Jr, grand chancellor
Of the grand lodge. Knights Of Pythias
Of Virginia: Thomas NJ. Crump. G. X.
Of r. and S.. and r. G. Mitchell were
present during the deliberations. The
grand lodge was represented by Hon.
Clarence II. Wilson. Paul e. Lesch.
Esq, and James +. Minor, the latter
making the argument, and the SUI
preme lodge by Mr.. James A. Cobb
and Henry p. Davis. Esq. the latter
making the argument.
The full text of the injunction Is ~
follows:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ...@
Holding an Equity Court.
Grand Lodge OF Knights Of Pythias OF
North America. South America. Europe.
Asia and Africa. corporation, plain
tiff.
The Knights Of Pythias of North Amer
lea. South America, Europe. Asia. Afri-
ca and Australia and others. defendants
Equity No. s22a.
This cause coming on to be heard upon
the bill Of complaint, the affldavits In sup
port thereof, the rule to show cause, and
the answer, It Is, upon consideration
thereof, this second day Of February. 1914.
by the court . .as5t@.
Adjud sed, ordered and decreed that the
defendants and each Of them and their
officers, agents and attorneys and all 9th
ers on their behalf be and they are here
by restrained during the tendency of this
suit or until the further order OF the
court from declaring or treating the ira
ternal charter of the plaintiff corporation
as revoked and from declaring or treat
ing the grand lodge, knights Of Pythias,
Of the Jurisdiction Of Virginia as dissolved,
and from declaring or treating the lodges
subordinate TO the plaintiff In the state
of Virginia and the members attached to
the same as not entitled to the rights
and privileges Of members OF the order
of tho defendant corporation and from
calling on members elsewhere to regard
and treat such subordinate lodges and
members as not so entitled. and from at
tempting to enforce the decree or enact
ment OF the supreme lodge, purporting to
revoke the charter Of the plaintiff and to
dissolve the said grand lodge of the juris-
diction Of Virginia. and from circulating
any proclamations or letters addressed to
the grand lodges. subordinate lodges ana
members Of the order calling attention to
or calculated or intended to carry into
effect and enforce the attempted revoca-
ton Of the plaintiffs fraternal charter
and dissolution of said grand lodge. and
from setting up or attempting or purport-
ing to set up within the state Of Virginia
a grand lodge other than the plaintiff OF
the knights Of Pythias Of the order OF
the defendant corporation, and from do
ing any other act or thing on the as
sumption that the said grand lodge OF
the state Of Virginia has been dissolved
or that Its fraternal charter has been re-
voked ASHLEY M. GOULD. Justice. y
[Seal.l 49,.
A True Copy-Test e.. l.
]. r. YOUNG, Clerk. by r. e. Cunning
ham. Assistant Clerk.