The broad ax., 1924-08-23

formed this organization that j. now
known a. the International Confer
ence Of Grand Chapters Of o. E. S.
Today we have in our thirty-four
Grand jurisdictions more than hum
bred thousand members, having ~
their combined treasures about half
million dollars. Eight Grand Jurisdic-
tons are maintaining their own
Homes for Widows and Orphans and
several arc assisting in maintaining
Masonic Temples valued all the way
from seven thousand to a quarter Of a
million dollars. Many operate Burial
Funds and Endowment Departments
which pay upon the death of a mem
Der from twenty-five to FIVE hundred
dollars. Some have their own print
ing establishments from which their
official journals and other publications
are issued and several have their
Juvenile Department thru which the
youth OF our fraternity are given burial
benefits as well as valuable training in
the conduct Of business and social
affairs.
Now while you are to be COM
mended upon the wonderful progress
you have made during these forty-nIne
years of your history, / am sure you
will agree with me that the Order Of
Eastern Star, one Of the outstanding
factors in the worlds progress, should
be a greater force in stimulating its
members to more intelligent parti-
cipation in civic, national and inter-
national affairs, each standing out in
our several communities for a prac-
teal application of the guiding princi-
pals and ideals exempli6ed in the char
acters of our Five Heroines.
While as I have already stated a
great work is being done in some Of
our Jurisdictions among the youth Of
our fraternity; yet realizing as / do
that there are many Jurisdictions that
have not such department and that
the boys and girls Of today are the
men and women Of tomorrow and that
upon us rests the grave responsibility
of shaping the lives of these young
people, that they shall be the better
prepared to complete the tasks we
shall be compelled to leave undone, I
would urge that wherever it is prac-
ticable the various Grand Jurisdictions
establish some form Of Juvenile De-
partment, and that in those Jurisdic-
tons where such is not thought prac-
ticable, there be organized Junior
Division of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored Peo-
pie in which Race History is taught
and black ideals instilled into our
young people thus fitting them for the
leadership of the next generation.
And, while I would not suggest the
taking Of our Order into politics, yet
in this new day Of our women every
where should be urged to make use
of their right of suffrage, where they
are permitted to do so and that when
they vote to not fail to vote to place
in Office men and women who win
safeguard the interest Of our group as
well as the public in general in both
State and National Legislatures, and
by SO doing we may do away with the
present status wherein our National
Congress has failed for two sessions
to pass the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill.
because as the Senators themselves
declare there has been no demand for
such legislation on the part Of their
constituents.
During the biennial period, we have
received and replied to many COM
munications enquiring for suggestions
as to how to adjust all kinds Of per-
picking problems, some Of them aris-
ing out Of lack Of cooperation
between the Grand Matron and the
Grand Patron, in most Of which cases
the Grand Patron has overlooked the
fact that the Grand Matron is the
presiding officer, and he her legal adj
wiser or assistant, not her superior or
dictator; and to avoid a recurrence of
such we would urge upon the brethren,
should there be any such present, that
they use more precaution in assuming
the prerogatives of the presiding
Grand Matron; that they spend little
more time studying the constitutions
and laws Of the Order that they may
get a proper conception Of the relative
functions of the Offices Of Grand
Matron and Grand Patron and that
they not attempt to perform both.
But perhaps the most unfortunate
difficulty that has come 10 our atten-