Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-07-20

TAIL WACG|NC THE DOG
SAYS TYLER or The:
ODD FELLOWS
(By Ralph w. Tyler.)

(By kalDn w. INlCr.)
Grand Master Il. G. Morris, of the
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows,
by virtue OF some authority, constitu-
tionally provided or assumed called
off the regular bi-annual meeting of
the order for this year Ben, j. Davis,
representing another faction, insists
that the regular bi-annunl meeting
cannot he called off, and is preparing
to convene his faction in regular con
vention at New York
This apparent breach in the ranks
Of an organization which at one time
WAS numerically and financially the
most powerful fraternal and bcnevo-
lent colorcd order in the country-a
breach that has grown from Il tissue
at tAlanta in 1912, TO u deep, yawning
chasm in 1913 suggests the question:
"1s this tho beginning of the end, or
the first step towards res, Grafton?
During this intcrnccinc strife in
this once bcnciciently strong order,
the membership has dwindlcd to Il
shrunkencd total, and its finances to
n negligible treasury, causing the rank
and nlc,-thc common people with
out a grieVancc-to wonder whether 1t
Is best "to suffer tho outrageous filings
or fortune, or, by opposing to end
them; "whcthcr OF not the old ship,
covered with the narnaclcs Of greedy
and selfish manipulatOrs, should be
abandoned to her fac. or sent to the
drydock scraped and repaired for an
other fruitful oyagc.
Without entering into tho causes for
tho split between the Morris and Davis
factions. or vouchSafing an opinion rs
30 which Is right end which is wrong,
there are two facts which stand out
in bold relief.
First the larger and most fsustai
ing membership in the Order is in
the South--Gcorgia, Mississippi and
Alabama alone mastering II division
that dwarfts the total membership In
the North. 1t is hardly to be supposed
that the dog will contentcdly permit
the tail to continue to wag him.
Second. 1t must be admitted that
Ben. ]. Davis has displayed more con-
structiveness than any one single man
who has arose to prominence in the
Order. The record Of achievements Of
this nervously energetic, tirelcss
working, far-sghted genius for organ
ization, and intrepid fighter is an open
book.
Go to Georgia, when Ben j. Davis
was an uncncompassed protector and
administrator OF Odd Fellow affairs,
and call the roll of the nearly one
thousand financial lodges in that State
alone. Go to Georgia and behold that
Odd Fellow Temple at Atlanta
grand. magnificent, silent, but poten-
tial in affirming his Wonderful con-
structive genius Go to Georgia and
note the influence; the heroically
brave utterances OF The Atlanta indie
pendent, the weekly organ OF the Or
der--and the race in Georgia, edited
by Ben. J. Davis. Go to Georgia and
review the successful battles he has
waged for the maintenance Of the Or
der, and then ask these questions:
Has Ben. J. Davis been sinned
against, or has he been SHINING? Is
Ben. J. Davis the arch-enemy Of con-
structivenesS, or the victim Of the
bolo welded by buccaneers who would
beach tho ship for the treasures she
carries?
I have no d isposition to assail the
virtues OF Ben Davis enemies, if they
have any. They are at liberty to write
their own epitaph-to itamize their
good achievements. I am simply con-
tent to point to the fact that at least
Ben. J. Davis has beneficiently achiev-
ed for others, and the record stands
in a one-time fourshing membership,
financial growth and constructiveneS s
The Grand United Order Of Odd Eel
lows was never designed to be an auto
cracy with a king to rule Indefinitely
through an assumed divine right. The
order was founded OH the principle
that tho majority should rule, and the
keystone in it's arch was benevolence
for the many, rather than angrandize
ment for the few.
Perhaps it is we'll that the Ben. J.
Davis faction, representing the many,
should hold a bi-annual meeting at
New York this year and force the
issue to a finality, establish the sur
vival Of the fittest, give the dog the
right to wag the tail, and NOT the
tail to wag the dog
Personally I have no scores to set
tie with either faction. I am simply
venturing an opinion that is prompted
by an admiration for the great orders
past, and hope for its restoration for
beneficence to the MANY.