The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-08-19
ARKANSAS K. OF P. HOLD
ANNUAL GRAND LODGE.
(By A. N. P.)

Pine Bluff. Ark. Aug. 1.-THE
Forty-fifth annual session of the
Grand Lodge knights of Pythias, ju-
risdlction of Arkansas. was held at
Branch Normal College here last
week Henry Avant was reelected
Grand Chancellor. Fred d. Norris.
who delivered an eloquent address and
rendered an excellent report OF his
office, was reelected to the office OF
Grand Keeper of Records and Seal for
the sixth consecutive time. Mr.. Theo.
Bond of Madison was also re-elected
Grand Master of Exchequer but Mr..
N. w. Shelton. who has been Grand
Attorney for a number of years was
decisively defeated for that office
by Mr.. ]. r. Booker. one of the young
est and most successful attorneys In
the southwest. Much credit for the
remarkable growth of the Order In
this state Is attributed to the busi-
ness like methods and accurate ac-
counts of #, D. Morris, G.. X. OF r. &
s. Theo. Bond and Fred ID, Morris
We're elected Supreme Representatives
for the Grand jurisdiction of ArlSan-
sas to the Supreme Lodge which
meets In New York in 1928
Much interest has centered about
the Pythians of Arkansas because an
effort was made by the Insurance
place the Order in the hands of Re-
ceivers, but the Order won In the Cir
cult Court of Pulaski County and the
sioners to the Supreme Court of An
kansas, where II Is now pending. The
suit was filed against the X. of r.
because of the alleged Disappearance
of records in the office of the @. X.
of r, & s. and the contributing OF
funds to the Elaine riot prisoners.
This information was supposed to have
been given by members OF the Order
who were candidates for office at
this Grand Lodge. There were a num-
Der of members in a certain section
of the State who have been aspirants
for offices in the Grand Lodge and
who having failed to obtain these Of
ficeS through the ballot at the an
nua Grand Lodge session. next sought
to lave removed the present incum-
bents, whose offices they were seek
ing. In their efforts to discredit thef
officers against whom their gu'1s
we're pointed they tried TO make II
responsible For the disappearance OF
certain records that were wanted by
the Commissioners, whereas testimony
given in the court conclusively ex-
nection at all with the disappear
ance Of records III question. Two
months prior to the lawsuit the In
surance Commissioners had made an
exhaustive investigation or the of
ice and books Of the G. r. OF r.
s. and rendered very commendable
report with respect to This particular
office. 1t was then only after the ie-
port made by the Comm ssioners that
the members who were disse tisfied
with certain officers carried the Order
In court and endeavored to introduce
such evidence as might reflect upor
the. integrity Of some officers Of the
Order.
The jurisdiction OF Arkansas is the
third largest iurisdictian in the coun-
try, having more than nineteen thous.
more than two hundred thousand
dollars, More than a quarter OF {
million dollars pass through the hand.
Of the g. X OF r. & S. yearly and
not once in the past five years has
IL been shown that there were any
irregularities in the conduct of this of.
flee. No other Jurisdiction in this
country has as one of its chief Of.
/ ficers a person who is as young al
fred d. Morris and a will be goot
news 10 his classmates and friends
who were in Howard University with
him from 1907 to 1910 to know OF hii
phenomenal success in the business
world.
The office of the @. X. of r. & S
boasts Of one OF the most efflcien
clerical forces in the country. AS
/ Jr Washington. ID. c. who has beer
a student in some ~ the leading
universities in the u. S. and who hal
! had quite bit of office experience
in the Government and big business
houses OF New York and Chicago.