Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-06-30
THE GRAND LODGE AND GRAND COURT
SUPREME CHANCELLOR GREEN AND COUNSEL
MEET STORMY PROTEST. OFFICERS ARE
SELECTED LAWYERS ARE PREDOMINANT

Petersburg, Va, June 21.--The re 4.
cent session of the Grand Lodge.
knights of Pythias of Virginia and
the Grand Court, Order of Calanthe
was one of the most remarkable gath
erings ever held in this city. The in
fluence of John Mitchell Jr, was
everywhere in evidence. An arrange
ment had been made whereby the
Tidewater slate with Attorney Will
liam M Reid as Grand Chancellor was
to be elected. This section OF the State
had chosen for every Office members
frcm the Tidewater section. The Gen.
tral figure in the whole affair was
Col Giles B. Jackson, who in the
whole history Of the Grand Lodge o.
Virginia had never been seen in ore
OF it's sessions, and who had never re-
ceived so far as the present members;
know the Grand Lodge Rank.
RECENTLY REINSTATED.
He had only recently been reinsta:'
ed in lodge. Attorney w. II. C.
Brown was similarly situated and had
been recently reinstated in lodge IN
Newport News They were the cen
trail figures however and Col. Jackson
had previously announced that he was
attorney for the Supreme Lodge. In
connection with Attorney William M
Reid. 1T seems that they had agreed to
turn the Grand Lodge Of Virginia over
to the Supreme Lodge officials and had
gotten Col. Joseph Button to invite
the Supreme Lodge officials here for
this purpose. 1.-The best laid plans OF
mice and men gang aft agley." Tho
scene which took place Tuesday after.
noon viii long be remembered
iTTORNEY HEwIN PRESIDED
Some one had designated Attorney
J. Thomas Hewin to preside over the
meeting and he came forward
with all the dignity in connect.
ion with the office. He got along
f'irly well until John T. Tay-
lo:- made a motion to hear the Su
preme Chancellor the next morning
after the election of officers. Then
pGndemoDium broke loose. Col. Giles
B. jackson, Supreme Chancellor S. w.
Green, Grand Chancellor Lee w. CraW
ford Of New York and Supreme 'e
Chancellor E. G. Tidrington of Evans.
vile. Indiana occupied seats on the
rostrum, while the parliamentary
battle ragged.
TOOK TWO HOURS.
Chairman Hewin was helpless. 1t
took two hours for the motion to b.
voted upon and then it was superced
ed by motion to hear Supreme Chan
ceilor now. Scores of people got up
and walked out of the EbeneZer Bapt
isi Church where the services we're
being held. Some of those, who went
Out came back, as a matter Of curios.
itv. During these proceedings the ex
preston upon Col. Giles B. Jeckson's
face was study. Col. Button had
stated that the agreement as under.
stood between him and Supreme Chan
cellor Green was that the Supreme
Chancellor was to place $21 100000 in
Virginia and Virginia was to contri-
bate 100000 towards the legal ex-
pei ses Of the Supreme Lodge.
NO SUCH POWER.
admitted he had no such power or an
TIL >rity. AS result the Grand Lodge
would not have anything to do with
the affair and 1t was never submitted
to a vote OF the Grand Lodge OF Vir-
g'nia. Supreme Chancellor Green
stated that he was ready to consider
propositions. Sir Green was followed
by Supreme Vice-Chancellor Tidring
to and then by Grand Chancellor
Crawford. After the closing of the
mteting, 1t was evident that the at.
tempt of the Supreme Lodge officers
to stampede Virginia had failed.
Grand Chancellor Mitchell was not a
candidate in this meeting, holding
that the Grand Lodge could not legal
IL function. while in the hands of a
receiver.
THE QUESTION OF LEGALITY.
The fact was emphasized that nc