The sun., 1916-11-30
STATE LODGE OF 'P'S'
SPLIT IN BITTER ROW
Secret Anti-Catholic Organiza-
ton Rent Into Three
Factions.
HOT FIGHT FOR CONTROL
New York Divided Into Two
Divisions in Hope Of
Peace.

There Ia disruption In the New York
state Lodge Of the "P's." called the
Patriots. Professionals and Pathfinders, a
secret anti-Catholic organisation, which
Is an ofTshoot Of the Guardians Of
Liberty.
So bitter has become the fight and no
rent is the organization that the Supreme
Grand Lodge has divided the State lodge
into two different divisions with the hope
OF ~harmonixing still another faction that
seeded in the fall.
Heading the faction from the western
part Of the State 10 II. II. Van Natter Of
Buffalo. who. according to his opponents.
has sought to control the group Of anti
Catholics In this city and who also has
fought h Supreme Grand Lodge. On
the other side are the Rev. Augustus Il.
Barnett, Supreme Registrar Of the ma
tional lodge and pastor OF the Church Of
the Redeemer in Philadelphia ex-Con-
gressman Charles d. Haines and the
Rev. william Milton Hess. pastor Of the
Trinity Congregational Church at 176th
street n Washington avenue.
Fight for Control.
The controversy II waged over Jay
w. Forrest. formerly a political leader.
ally Of "Bill' Sulzcr and lawyer Of Buff
falo. with the minor question under
meath as to whether the Western men,
bers Of the organization shall direct the
activities In this city. Messrs. Barnett.
Haines and Hess are en- ger to bring
Forrest to this city to begin an organic
ing campaign here. but Van Natter has
protested Inc has been backed by his
friends In the western part Of the State.
Forrest. who recently has been work.
Ing In Newark. after a years organizing
work in Philadelphia. figured In an anti
Catholic movement in h o G~ubernatorial
campaign two years 6 He sought. TO
round up the a~nti-Catholics against Gov,
Glynn and In favor OF Sulzer. An or
ganization was effected. but the mem
bers voted to swing to Gov. Whitman
and after the election there was a
~squabble over the registration fees OF ).
per head. In that fight Forrest n Var
Natter we're pitted against each other.
The present fight has been brewing for
several moths. and began In the national
convention. held in Cleveland In Septem.
Der. when the Western group sought &c
effect control Of the New York situation
and lost out. Then there was a State
meeting at which some OF the members
voted 10 secede from the Supreme Lodge
Next the state organization sent WORD
to its members TO pay nc attention tc
! the orders of the Supreme Lodge. where
| upon the Rev. Mr.. Hess issued a printed
statement this week to III members ant
brought the night to a square Issue.
Only 400 Members Here.
In that statement MIR. Hess says tina
the organization has only 200 member
In This city. whereas II should have 900
600. and he soundly attacks a Natter
When seen yesterday afternoon III
sought to beiittle the strife. saying tina
II had all been settled.
The Supreme Lodge said he. "haI
divided the New York state Lodge int
a Western and an Eastern lodge. an'
now everything is harmony. We believe
that the men in Buffalo should sta!
there and develop their part OF IN,
state. We wish to remain here to bull
up our organization. We intend to d
II, and we have opened headquarters Il
this city for hat purpose.
Our organization Is very, very sc
cret." he continued. "a man who join
does not know who the other member
are. We are fighting rum and Roman
ism. Tammany Hail and the Catholl
Churcn. l started out 10 HEnt rum. an
7 found that to do II 7 had to night tn
Catholic Church because II Is in polite!
II is our purpose 10 drive the church ou
OF politics.
Forrest Is coming to New York I
take charge OF the organizing work M
aus he is an able man. n We are nc
going to he interfered with by the Wcs'
crn fellows"
II was said yesterday In various qua,
ters that the entire organization through
out the State was in such condition thu
scores OF members were dlsgruntled an
were leaving the fold,