Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-09-09
THE PyTA|AN AND CALANTHE ENDOWMENT
ADVISORY BOARDS ENDORSE ACTION Of
GRAND CHANCELLOR AND VOTE CONFIDENCE
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increase in membership from five
hundred to ten thousand, no addi-
tional Office force in keeping with
such an increase has been provided
and for moro than twenty years. the
private business place Of John
Mitchell, Jr. has been utilized for
Offices and storage without any COM
pensation whatsoever for such SER
vice and tho present salary has not
been increased for fifteen years or
more.
This has produced Il congestion,
an attempt to remedy (which was
made at our last annual session at
Bristol, Va, when an appropriation
was made for this purpose Just
prior to the session of the Grand
Lodge, Knights Of Pythias, on the
third Tuesday in June, 1922, checks
were drawn in favor Of tho Grand
Master Of Exchequer (treasurer) of
the Grand Lodge, aggregating ($2S,-
24a.64) Twenty-etght Thousand,
Two Hundred and Forty-nine Dol
lars and Sixty-four Cents, besides
death-claims, all OF which are paid
out Of this fund.
Tin addition to this amount,
checks in favor Of the Grand Court
aggregating ($14,351.40) Fourteen
Thousand. Three Hundred and, Fifty
one Dollars and Forty Cents and
payable to the Grand Worthy Re-
ceiver of Deposits (treasurer) had
been paid out Of the personal ac-
count Of John Mitchell, Jr. This
made a total Of ($42 COL. 04) Forty
two Thousand. Six Hundred and One
Dollars and -Four Cents. There had,
been a discrepancy In this account
before and tho Grand Chancellor had
previously suggested an audit Of his
personal account.
"IIe was uniformed late one after
moon by the Ctshier that there was
an over-draft Of ($2S,OOO O0) Twen-
account. AS he had deposited all
amounts received, by him to this
account and he carried no other
account anywhere else, he informed
the Cashier that he would hare the
order written and take up the over
draft. His clerks were behind In
their work and he could not find out
Mt once. the status OF affairs. He
suggested that a note be given, that
is made out for the amount Of tho
,over-draft to be held untih the orders
could ibe secured. Tho Cashier sta
ted that this was the end of tho
quarter and he had to close his
report sthat afternoon. The Grand
Keeper Of Records and Seal and the
Grand Master Of Exchequer could
not be reached at once. He then
took two checks and, Wrote drafts on
tho funds OF the Grand Lodge and
Grand Court equalling the amount.
stating that when he got the orders,
he would take them up and subs0-
lutte Checks for them until the mat
ter could DO adjusted.
"These checks or drafts were not
concealed, bit became a part Of tho
ofiiciAl records Of tho Grand Lodge
and Grand Court. A report on them
would, he made to the bodies at their
next annual sessions. The Grand
Chancellor, under the Constitution
and lBy.laws, Article vi, Section J.,
Page s, OF the Constitution had the
power and authority to do this. Flo
later directed that orders be written
for this amount. The Grand Keep
er Of Records and Seal expected. to
spend Ills vacation ut Atlantic City
and on his own motion called at The
PLANET Office and signed orders
ahead. Owing to the illness nnd
death Of his daughter, he did not SO.
"One tof these orders was used,
but 1t was sent to him to affi1 the
seal Of the Gfand Lodge. That or
der has not as yet been turned over
to the GSranu Master OF Excheauer.
In the meantime, the Grand Chan
of 'ENchequer his personal note for
Il Nho,,
Dollars to save the Grand. Lodge
from loss dn any event. He deiiv-
cred a note for ($1O;NOO.00) Ten
Thousand Dollars to the Grand
Worthy Receiver OF Deposits. The
Grand Chancellor was worth that !
amount.
I'VE recommend that this arrange
mont be accepted as satisfactory, !
that the Grand Keeper of Records /
and Seal be authorized and directed
to affix the seal Of the Grand Lodge i
to the order for Nineteen Thousand
Dollars or to duplicate Of the same |
and the Grand Master Of Exchequer'
be authorized and directed to write
a check for this amount and to sub
stitute the aforesaid check for the
draft OF Nineteen Thousand Dollars
upon the funds in keeping Of the
Endowment Advisory Board and that
the draft or check be returned to
tho Grand Chancellor.
eat the urgent request Of the
Grand Chancellor, we recommend
that at the earliest possible moment
a complete audit Of the personal
account Of John Mitchell, Jr. be
made by competent accountants.
eve re-aftiTm our confidence in 80
our Grand Chancellor and assure
the Knighthood that everything is
being done to advance the interests
Of Pythianism in this State.
1--WE recommend further that
Of five be appointed to
wait upon the Commemorative At
torney Of Richmond and request him
to drop further proceedings in this
matter against our executive head.
1--WE further recommend that a;
CT n ON ont mo iSs,,ed tn tho KOipht- ; {