The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-11-17
All Fraternities May Aid
In Welfare Movement
Secretary Baker Has Broadened Scope
Of Social Observation-Disclosures and
Secret Meetings Are Barred-Many
Organizations Represented at Con-
ference.

Ties IOr the recreatlOnal and social
welfare of soldiers in the army camps,
work hitherto exclusively intrusted
to the Y. M. G. A. and the knights of
Columbus, plans have been agreed
upon by which all of the big fraternal
organizations may participate in the
movement. 1t was stipulated, however,
that no limitations or secret meetings
Of any kind were to be carried on by
any society within the camps.
Following conference between Sec
rotary of War Baker and the executive
heads of the big fraternal organiza-
tions of the country, which was held
in the office of the Secretary of War on
Monday afternoon, and at which Sec
rotary Baker stated he desired to
start anew the plans for recreational
and other activities, an agreement was
reached Tuesday morning. This re-
ceived the unanimous vote of the heads
of the fraternities and met with the
approval of the Secretary of War.
This agreement was drafted at the
Scottish Rite House of the Temple by
committee appointed at the confer
the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for
the southern jurisdiction of the United
States, as chairman; Senator Morris
Sheppard, of Texas, representing the
Woodmen of the World; Frank G.
Goudy, grand sire of the Independent
. Order of Odd Fellows; Supreme Treas
urer Daniel j. Callahan, of the
Knights of Columbus; John J. Brown,
supreme chancellor of the Knights of
Pythias; DR.. ]. G. Pace, of the Modern
Woodmen of America, and Adolf
Kraus, representing the B'nai Birth.
Scope of Concessions.
The project worked out by Mr..
Baker in conference with representa-
tives of the societies is as follows:
Camp commanders will be directed
to permit the construction of buildings
on available land within the camp sites
by any fraternal organization individ-
ually or group of organizations acting
together; facilities of the camp for So
cial and fellowship meetings will be
extended and accredited representa-
tives from the various societies will
be authorized to visit the camps and
arrange for entertainments for the
men, either at the buildings thus erect
ed or in nearby communities.
1t was agreed, however, at the con-
ference that no limitations or secret
meetings of any kind were to be car
ried on by any society within the
camps; that existing we'll recognized
societies only should be accorded the
recognition, and that propaganda work
among the soldiers in behalf Of any
new society be forbidden.
The initiative in this matter was
taken by Secretary Baker in person,
after conference with Raymond B.
Fosdick, chairman of the War Depart
ment commission on training camp &C
tivities. The Secretary sent personal
letter to each of the fraternity SUI
preme executives, inviting them to
meet him in conference with reference
to the matter.
Organizations Represented.
Those who responded included Geo.
Fleming Moore, sovereign grand COM
mander of the Scottish Rite of Free
masonry for the southern jurisdiction
of the United States; Barton Smith,
sovereign grand commander OF the
rite for the northern jurisdiction of the
United States; Frank G. Goudy, grand
sire of the I. o. O. F.; John j. Brown,
supreme chancellor of the Knights OF
Pythias; Senator Morris Sheppard, OF
Texas, representing the Woodmen OF
the World; DR.. j. G. Pace, representing
tie Modern Woodmen of America; +.
H. Callahan, of Washington, d. o.
representing the knights Of Columbus;
Adolf Kraus, representing the Order
of B'nai Birth; George E. Corson, gen
eral grand high priest of the General
Grand Chapter Of Royal Arch Masons
of the United States; William 5.
Parks, grand commander of the Grand
Commandery of knights Templar OF
the District, representing Lee S. Smith,
grand master of the Grand Encamp-
ment; Joseph A. Burkhart, represent
ing the B. P. o. Elks; E. St. Clair
Thompson, representing the General
Grand Council of Royal and Select
Masters of the United States; j. w.
Ford, representing the Loyal Order OF
Moose; Edward S. Schmid, grand mon
arch of the Mystic Order of Yelled
Prophets; Charles E. Overshire, I'M
perial potentate of the Ancient Arabic
Order of Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine
Of North America; Louis S. Gottlieb,
renresenting the Hebrew Emigrant
Society: w. w. Mansfield, representing
the United Order of Commercial IraV'
o1ers. Solomon Schelinsky, grand mas
ter, I. o. B. A.; Max l.. Hollander'
grand secretary of the Independent
Order of Birth Benjamin; L. E. sisler
representing the Maccabees; E. W.
Bradford, also representing the grand
sire of 1. O. o. F.; James A. Flaherty
supreme knight, Knights of Columbus
Joseph Mclaughlin, representing the
Ancient Order of Hibernians.