Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-10-20
NOW AMENDED CHAIeFlGR IS 4
HOUSE OF REFUGE FOR
ODD FELLOWS.
(By Henry Lincoln Johnson.)

Monday morning, Judge George l..
Bell, III Fulton. Superior Court, hand
Ell down a decision In the last of the
long line Of litigated cases that have
obtained IN Georgia for the past two
years. The decision Of the Supreme
Court long ago and the decision of
Judge Bell Ill denying ain injunction
in the month of August cleared the
road of oil distractions for the meet
ing of the District Grand Lodge in
Macon, Ga, on the 14th OF August
last.
When the Grand Lodge met there
was never such a scene Of oneness of
mind and oneness OF purpose as was
manifested at that District Grand
Lodge. After electing its officers and
transactlng its other business, the
District Grand Lodge authorized and
directed that application DO made to
the Superior Court Of Fulton County
for the amendment OF It's charter
granted by that court, so that for all
time to come there would be nothing
left to doubt, but all men would know
that the Georgia Odd Fellows were
not only united, but that they pro-
posed to so hedge their great proper
ty and interest with the authority Of
the law, that for all time to come no
mean hand, domestic or foreign, could
threaten its vitality
And so after adjournment Of the
Grand Lodge, it filed It's application
for amendment of its charter through
It's attorneys; but before the court
granted the amendment, the same old
scaly barks. learning nothing by past
defeats, went into this court and
sought an injunction to restrain tho
granting Of this amended charter.
Monday morning, Judge Bell after he
had during the week before heard evi
dsnce and. arguments exhaustively, de
snied the Injunction sought and pass
$500 follo.aing yIdt = ! :.
foregoing petit I and
.ered. And 1t appe ..ts to tho
l 4rt that the petitioner has complied
with all the requirements Of the law
for such cases made and provided, and
1 the court being satisfied that the ap
plication for amendments proposed
y therein Is legally within the puryiew
and intention Of the code and author
lied by corporate action; 1t Is there
i fore ordered, adjudged and decreed
Il by the court that the prayers Of the
ton be, and the same are hereby
granted and mat the said charter be,
and the same Is hereby, amended as
set forth and prayed for in said petit
rtion."
With this Judgment there was
/ sounded the end OF this manifold liti
cation. 1t may IL here stated that
counsel on both sides agreed that un
I, der the law and practice from this
], adjudication of Judge Bell there Is
no appeal Therefore, we have reach
ed the end Of Odd Fellow litigation
. that has distracted Georgia for the
last two years. The District Grand
, Lodge of Georgia is victorious; the
misguided and misinformed Odd Eel
lows, who followed the far away
i slack o'lanteTn" light, stand defeat
ed in every respect. The new charter
. of the District Grand Lodge, as grant
/ ed by Judge Bell constitutes House
i of Refuge, into which we may now
enter and be absolutely free from the
Z attacks Of, unkind and unfriendly
4 hands.
4 The Georgia holdings by this dc
I cree have become absolutely STABILIZE
ed; and the holder of every Odd Eel
low policy In Georgia has had his
! holding m ide secur by this judg-
ment. Each and all have thus had
thrown around us the highest protec
St:son Of the law in our property rights
in our policy rights and in our frat
ernity rights. The cost has been great
The cost, however, was not self i'm
posed. 1t was q cost imposed upon
I the Georgia brothc.' - by unfriend
+ ly hands, and the Georgia brotherhood
will meet it as a patriot who pulled
out his pittance and said; millions
for defense, but not a penny for tri
butte"
We w Id rather that all this should
not have been; but still with resolute
Christian fortitude, we repeat that
"but If offenses must come, woe be
unto him by whom they come" After
all this world and civilizations march
therein has been but a constant sue
cession Of trials and tribulations. NJ
man, who has essayed to do grea
work and build lasting morti... Gil CT, Z
for the inspiration Of people has
ever had his pathway strown with
flowers; and, as much as we regre
the dire necessity that was forced
upon the Georgia brotherhood by {
foreign jurisdiction, the title to Who's
office stands clouded by fraud and III
fair dealings, still 1t exalts in tht
magnificent display of faith and 10,
atty in leadership that the Brother
hood in Georgia has hown and which
challenges comparison anywhere in
this or any other country. The net
pie stand uncrowned princes. IN;
Odd Fellows of Georgia have set on
q new mark and new standard which
their brothers elsewhere can emulat,
with profit. They have set the ex
ample Of q standardized loyalty to 3,
leadership that shall constitute tn,