Evening journal., 1920-06-24
|. 0. 0. REVOKES
N. J. CHARTERS
Lodges Refused to Obey
: Grand Body's Order to
Abolish German Ritual
ONE CARRIES
FIGHT TO COURT

TRENTON. June 2i.-To compel
compliance with the edict OF the Sow
'ereign grand lodge, Independent Order
OF Odd Fellows. requiring that all rit-
uals OF the organization shall be con-
Quoted in the language OF the country
in which the lodge Is situated, IL has
been found necessary TO suspend two
subordinate lodges IN New Jersey
which persisted In continuing to use
tie German ritual. These arc Schiller
Lodge, OF this city, whose charter was
revoked June 10, and West HObOken
Lodge, No. 23i, whose charter was
taken up last Monday.
REVOCATION OF The two charters re-
sulting from action taken by The Of
ncers OF the grand lodge OF New Jer-
sey disclosed an interesting situation.
About two years ago, while the war
was still in progress, the sovereign
grand lodge, which has exclusive con-
troll OF the rituals OF The order, de-
-cided 10 would be a benefit TO the
organization to prohibit the use OF
foreign languages in all subordinate
lodges. The mandate Of the sovereign
lodge, though 10 may have been
prompted by the sentiment against
The continued use OF German In this
country, was made applicable TO all
languages and 90 an countries. Thus,
for example, while the German ritual
would be prohibited in this country
the English ritual would be prohibited
The order affected 800 subordinate
lodces in the United States in which
rituals were conducted in foreign
languages. About one-third Of this
number were in New York State and
twenty-six were In New Jersey. The
order OF the sovereign lodge was OBJ
! served throughout the entire United
a number Of the German lodges
sought to evade complia &c with the
decree.
As a result OF this revolt George II.
Dalyrmple, grand master Of the Odd
Fellows in New Jersey, and Harry s.
Pine. Of this city, the grand secretary,
recently started a systematic move
ment to compel compliance with the
order Of the sovereign lodge. and az
a result Of their efforts only seven
lodges remained which have not abol-
shed the foreign rituals. Four Of
these seven 10 is believed will take
the desired action within a few DAYS.
Those which fail 10 do so will be
subject 20 the same penalty as that
imposed upon the Schiller and West
Hoboken lodges.
Indirectly, the controversy between
the Sovereign Grand Lodge, acting
through the Grand Lodge Of New Jer-
sey, and recalciirant lodges OF this
State, has found its way into the
courts through the action OF Wieland
Lodge, No. ii3, Of Carlstadt, which
decided 20 secede rather than abolish
the German ritual. Action was
brought in the Court OF Chancerv by
The Grand Lodge against Wieland
Lodge. which resulted in a temporary
Injunction granted by Vice Chancel-
tor Backcs, under which all the funds
of Wieland Lodge were turned into
court pending a nnal decision. Vice
Chancellor Backes remarked during
the preliminary hearing that the ac-
zion OF the Sovereign Grand Lodge
In abOlishing foreign languaces was
exactly in line with public policy and
NE countrywide effort being put
iorth Ia behalf OF Americanlzation.
Final argument In this case will not
be heard until November.