The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1917-06-23

Waco, Texas.-I have seen something
new or I have been dreaming. I am
not prepared to say what it is. Have
my eyes and ears deceived met If
they have I am going to get rid of
them right now and if possible get hold
of some more, for I will need them.
am in Waco now, and I am here
attending the annual session of the
Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias,
North America, South America, Eu-
rope, Asia, Africa and Australia, and
more if you can find it. This is one of
the greatest meetings I have ever at
tended. 1 went down in the bushes
and paid man to initiate me. He
dipped me in a mud puddle three times,
put new song in my mouth, and told
me to get off to the grand lodge, and
knock at the door twenty times, and
when a man came to look him right
in the eye and say to him oliver and
onions" and he would admit me to
the meeting.
I did not remember the signs, but
1 got here, and in getting in town
I met Prof. w. s. Willis, a young
man, a scholar and gentleman, and
then I met one of the greatest men
in the African Methodist Episcopal
church, Prof. A. S. Jackson, who is
in charge of all the educational work
being done by the church, and he him
self is some pumpkins. He was con-
nected with Paul Quinn college until
he was called up higher, and then he
just looks after the educational work.
I want to congratulate the church for
selecting the right man, and then I am
sure that they are proud that they have
such a man as that. He is a man every
inch of him, and then he is not too
educated to get close to the common
people. He just received me like !
was one of them educated men, and I
just went right along with him in his
automobile. He has one of the latest
style.
He recognized me, and introduced me
to many of the Pythians, hence I had
some one to vouch for me when the
time came and had no trouble in get
ting into the affair. The Grand Lodge
opened Tuesday, and I heard them do
what they did do and then Wednesday I
heard the Grand Chancellor deliver his
address. He is the man who is at the
head of affairs, his real name was DR..
A. N. Prince, one of the best doctors
in the country, saying nothing about
race or color. He is polite, friendly,
and believe me honey he is a real pre-
siding officer.
Now this brings me to that some
thing new. DR.. Prince has been at the
head for IL years, and he could keep on
being elected, but in the closing of his
address notified the people that he was
not in for reelection, and would not
stand for it. He thanked them for
keeping him there SO long. There were
many regrets expressed at this and
some declared that they were going to
elect him, but he told them that he
would not serve, but felt that it was
his duty to look after those who needed
the services of doctor. He is indeed
a great doctor.
Time will not permit me to tell you
all the big men met and what went
on each session of the grand lodge, but
there was something doing. I will
come along, and tell you that when
DR.. Prince announced that he was not
before them for reelection then others
got busy. Men who felt they were
divinely called to the office, told God
that they wanted to be used, and others
told the men that they were best fitted
for the place. Among the candidates
were the vice grand Chancellor Simp-
son, then Undertaken Frierson, Editor
W. E. King, and the secretary and
treasurer of the endowment. Each man
felt that he was going to be elected on
the first ballot because God was in the
plans. Meetings were held at night
doing what they called lineup work,
and getting the ducks in the pond.
Time came for election, and then I tell
you there was some speeding and
speechifying. I don't know when ]
have heard such oratory. Them fell
lows who have been dead hundreds of
years, the men who almost brought
oratory into the world, must have
turned over in their grave.
Prof. L. B. Kincheon, of Bolton, a
scholar, a teacher and q man placed in
nomination, Prof. W. 8. Willis, and ]
tell you it was q speech, that would
have been q credit to placing in nom
nation q man for president of the