The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-05-18
PROCEEDINGS OF coLoRED
GRAND LODGE X. OF p.

The exhaustive report of Grand
Chancellor W. w. Andrews of Jack
Isonville occupied the major portion of
the afternoon session of the grand
lodge, negro Knights of Pythias. in
session at the Metropolitan Bank
building yesterday. The grand chan
cellor covered all the operations OF
the year, paying particular attention
to the endowment department, and
other monies held by the grand lodge.
He spoke for three hours and ten min
utes and received the undivided at
tention of the delegates.
Supreme Chancellor S. w Green of
New Orleans presided while the grand
chancellor was giving his report
i In the outset the grand chancellor
thanked the officers and members for
the part they had played in the years
success, and declared that he could
have accomplished nothing without
their loyal support and aid at all
times. He touched only briefly some
Opposition that had been encountered,
dismissing it with the statement that
it was impossible to get along without
some opposition.
The remarks of Grand Chancellor
| Andrews upon the national situation
drew thunderous applause. "It has not
been and it is not now necessary to
try to work up spirit of patriotism
! in the breast of the negro, for there is
no negro who has not himself said
this is my native land Through all
the wars of these trying times, even
through the great civil war, the negro
was there and did his part like any
other man.
The grand chancellor reviewed his
official visits, reported infinitely the
activities of the endowment board
during the year and paid tribute to
the officers and members who had
died during the past year. With ref
erence to the endowment department,
he stated that the members were
learning to comply strictly with the
law so that it was seldom that a
claim had to be turned down
Eighty-seven death claims have
been paid during the year, aggregat
ing $29,220, and eleven remain un-
paid, having come in since the meet
ing of the endowment board in April.
Further the grand chancellor
touched upon the law suits that have
been filed during the year against the
department. stating that most of them
have been won. An account of his
official acts during the year and re-
sumo of the financial condition of the
order concluded his report.
At the conclusion of the report,
Grand Chancellor Hitto of Georgia,
who is visiting the grand lodge, de-
clared it to be one of the best reports
of similar nature has had ever
heard.
Court of Calanthe
The grand. court of Calanthe, the
woman's department of the order,
convened at o'clock Tuesday morn
ing in Mitchell's hall, with about 200
delegates present. The local court
opened the session and gave an infor-
NAL reception to the grand officers
and visitors. A beautiful lavaliere
was given to the grand worthy coun-
cellor Mrs. L. r. Reed, while Florida
souvenirs were presented to all the
other officers and the visitors from
the Georgia grand court. The speech
of acceptance of these courtesies was
made by Mrs L. e. Morris, grand reg
lister of deeds.
Mrs. l.. r. Reed, grand worthy coun-
sellor, presided. After roll call com |
mittees were appointed. Representa- |
tives from q new courts were present |
at the meeting and were formally Civ. |
en- place in the grand court Mitchell |
hall was found to be inadequate to |
accommodate the delegation and ar
rangements were perfected to meet |
today at nine o'clock in the Metropoli- !
tan theater
Supreme Worthy Counsellor Joseph
l.. Jones of Cincinnati was present at !
the session Tuesday.
TorchIight Parade
Officers of the grand lodge, members |
of the grand lodge, officers and regi-
ments Of the uniform rank, together |
whit local lodges formed a torchlight /
parade last night at eight o'clock and |
traversed the principal streets of the |
city. In addition the members of the |
grand court of Calanthe and the Off |
GERS occupied automobiles in the pa !
rade. 1t was an imposing and order
ly scene and attracted considerable |