The Omaha guide., 1938-07-16
Delegates Gathered from ALL
Over Country Secede from In
dependent National Funeral
Directors Association


growing dissatisfaction with the
manner in which the affairs OF
the Independent National Funeral
Directors association were being
handled, delegates to the annual
convention of that body, meeting
at the Southwest YWCA. here
last week, Withdrew and formed
a new organization. The new
group. which comprises practic-
ally the entire membership of the
old organization, is to be known
as the progressive National Fun
eral Directors association.
There were 80 states represent
ed, and 201 mmbrs comprising
the new Organization as chartee
members.
The new officers elected were:
J. William J. Morsell, Chicago,
president; William Shortridge of
Birmingham, Ala, first vice pres
ident; Mrs. w. II. McGavick,
Nashville, Tenn, End vice-presi-
dent; Mrs. F. A. Keith, McKees-
rort, Pa, 3rd vice-president; ].
L. Marshall, E. St. Louis, ILL.,, 4th
wee PRESIDENT William Officer
E st. Louis, H., general secre-
tary Mrs. G. ]. Tate, Knoxville,
Tenn, recording secretary; Mrs.
Inez .Renfro, Cincinnati, o., assist
arr recording secretary; James
H. Irwin, Philadelphia, Pa, treas
urer.
On the Board of Directors are
A. l.. Welch, Birmingham, Ala,
r. C. Scctt, Richmond, Va; 7. l..
Powell, Philadelphia, Pa; G.
Llopis, New Orleans, La; E. L.
Boyd, Cleveland, o.; Mrs. Jennie
Morris, Philadelphia, Pa; Mrs.
Katie Williams. Baltimore, Md. ;
Sydney M. Johnson, Hartford
&C.; Milliard Reid, Boston, Mass;
julius A. K. Fickland, Kansas
City, Mo-: Rodney Dade, New
York; John T. Rhynes, Washing
Conn; C. L. Darden, wilson, N.
ton. D. c.; Mrs. NJ. McDermon;
Chicago. ILL.,; C. P. Hayes, Rich
mond, Va; Mrs. jamie Hughes
Louisville. KY; Lawton Pratt,
jacksonville, Fla.
When the news went out from
the convention that the new or
ganization was formed, messages
and kilograms poured III from
various funeral directors throu-
, ghout the country, voicing their
approval of same and pledging
their support, Practically every
member of the old association
:, Joined the new organization.
From all indications, the conven-
ton of 1889 will be held in New
| York, and will be the greatest
convention ever. A number of
directors who had refused to join
the old organization Immediately
became members of the new.
Evidences of discord, which had
been freely predicted before the
meeting of the Independent group
got under way, were seen early.
AS President William j. Morsell
of Chicago began his annual ad-
dress, he read numerous letters
from members criticising the
businss management Of the asso-
citation. Secretary R. X. Reed,
whose osfiee and actions Were
being criticised, attempted 90
answer him, but the auditors re-
port showed the organization to
be in a serious financial condi-
ton. The auditor stated that
funds had been exhausted far out
CT proportion to the income avail |
able. Total receipts for the year
had been ss94.00 with expenses
of s1,8b3.14. A dficit of $895.7o
had been carried over from Aug
ust, 1887.
Mr.. Reed, who is executive
secretary of the Independent Ma
tional association, of which he
was also founder, stuck to his
guns, and announced that his or
ganization would carry on under
the presidency of C. P. Hayes of
Richmond, Va, despite the defect
ion of almost the entire copven-
| tion.
"Our new organization was
necessity under the Circumstance
es," said President Morsell. "The
business of embalming is an i'm
portant protessioa. We need a