Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-09-09
CONTINUED from the First Page.)

tonal offico forco in keeping with
such an increase has been provided
and, for more 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 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 the Grand
Master Of ExcheQuer (treasurer) OF
the Grand Lodge, aggregating ($2S.-
2aa.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.
I'm addition to this amount,
checks in favor Of the Grand Court
aggregating ($1i,351.40) Fourteen
Thousand. Three Hundred and Fifty
one Dollars and Forty Cents and
payable to the Grand Worthy Re-
ceivor of Deposits Urcasurcr) had
been paid out OF the personal &C
count Of John Mitchell, Jr. This
made total of ($42 COL .0H Forty
two Thousand, Six Hundred and One
Dollars and Four Cents. There had
been discrepancy In this account
before and tho Grand Chancellor had
nd nf I'D
personal account.
Gle was informed late one after
moon by tho Ctshier that there was
an over-draft or ($2S,OOO .O0) Twen-
ty-eight .Thousan1 Dollars in this
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 III
their work and ho could not find out
Mt once. the status OF affairs. Ha
suggested that note be given, that
is made out for the amount Of tho
over-draft to be held untif the orders
could DO secured. Tho Cashier sta
ted that this was the end of tho
quarter and he had to close his
report that afternoon The Grand
Keeper Of Records and Seal and tho
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 anil substl-
lutte Checks for them until the mat
ter could BIO adjusted.
"These checks or drafts were not
concealed, but became part Of tho
official records OF the Grand Lodge
and Grand Court. A report on them
would, be made to the bodies at their
next annual sessions. The Grand
Chancellor, l,Inder the Constitution
and u}y-lmws, Article VI, Section /,
Page S, OF the Constitution had the
power and authority to do this He
later directed that orders be written
for this amount. The Grand Keep
er of Records and Seal expected to
spend his vacation at Atlantic City
and on his own motion called ut The
Hlanet Office and signed orders
ahead. Owing to the illness .nnd
death Of his daughter, he did not SO.
"One OF these orders WAS used,
but 1t was sent to him to aff1X the
seal OF the Grand Lodge. That OR
der has not as yet been turned over
TO the cSrann Master of Exchequer.
In the meantime, the Grand Chan
cellor delivered to the Grand Master !
OF 'EWchequer his personal note for !;
'($19, 000t00) Nineteen Thousand |
Dollars to save the Grand Lodge !
from loss do any event. He deliv- !
cred a note for ($10,O00.00) 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
to affix the seal Of the Grand Lodge
Dollars or to duplicate Of the same
and the Grand Master of EXchequer
be authorized and directed to writc
Il 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
Advisory Board and that
the draft or check be returned to !
tho Grand Chancellor.
AT the urgent request Of the
Grand Chancellor, we recommend
that at the earliest possible moment
n complete audit Of the personal
account Of John Mitchell, Jr. be
made by competent accountants
1--WE re-atlirm orr confidence in j
our Grand Chancellor and assure
the Knighthood that everything is .
hpinp done tn advance the interests
of Pythiansm in this State. ..
eve recommend further that
Of five be appointed to ,
wait upon the Commonwealth At . .
torncy of Richmond and request him
to drop further proceedings in this :
matter against our executive head.
1--WE further recommend that a
statement be issued to the Knight
lood and. to the public. expressing
our regret at the undue publicity G
riuo,, fhic fair and nrnnla i'm inc I b