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Show ODD-FELLOWS LOSE SUIT. Tho supremo court of this state last M'onday handed down a decision that lias been awaited by tho members of the I. O. O. F., for somo time and for which monibors of other fraternal and benevolent societies havo also boon watching. It was in the suit of Louisa Pearson vs. T. . Andcrburg et al., tho latter constituting tno membership mem-bership of Sandy Lodge No. 11. Mrs. Pearson is tho widow of and administratrix ad-ministratrix of tho estate of Martin Pearson, deceased. Pearson became a mcraDor of Sandy San-dy Lodgo In 1888, and, as claimed by tho plaintiff, continued a inuraner up to tho tlmo of his death In 1901. The action was brought to secure a judgment judg-ment for sick benefits and funeral benefits, alleged to Dc duo and unpaid. un-paid. Tho case was tried In the lower low-er court, without a jury, and judgment judg-ment was rendered In favor of the plaintiff. From tho judgment of tho court defendants appeaieu. Although there aro many points Involved In-volved In tho matter, tho principal ono, and the vital ono; tho point upon which tho entire matter hinged, was whether at tho time ot his deatn Pearson wag a member In good standing stand-ing or not. Tho testimony taken in tho lower court incluaea tho introduction intro-duction of the laws of tho order as promulgated by tho Sovereign Grand Lodgo, among tho soveral provisions being ono t.o tho effect that a member ono year In arrears for dues is liable to suspension; another that any member mem-ber being over thirteen weeks In arrears ar-rears for dues forfeits all rjghta to sick benefits or funeral benents. On this point tho lower court decided de-cided tho caso in favor of tho plaintiff alleging that tho weight of tho evidence evi-dence tended to show that Pearson was In good standing. Tho supremo court affirms this and judgment Is to bo enforced. Quoting from tho opinion, wo reproduce repro-duce ono point regarded by tho court as salient and having to do with tho question In such a manner as to Interest In-terest not alono Odd Fellows, but other oth-er voluntary associations, tending to interest secretaries especially, as wo Infer from what has been testified to that tho secretary or tno loago was not as vigilant ns ho might havo been. Tho opinion reads: "A further observation can hero also al-so bo made. Tho court found that in 1897 tho deceased was afflicted with a mental disease) disqualifying him from following his avocation and earning earn-ing a livelihood and so moro or less continued to sifffcr from such mental derangement. au 0f -hidi tho said lodge well knew and had notice no-tice and that his dues wero received by tho said lodgo and placod to his credit with full knowledgo of said Infirmity." Tho oprnion stato3 also that ho was afterward "without his knowledgo or consent, and without representation or hearing" dropped from membership for non-paymont of dues. This tho court nolds, (In vlow of tho fact that It considers tho de- ceasod to have boon In IT"1112515 mi Is ground for judgmen00" Stan5) U Tho evidence in tho i I disclosed the fact that tfr Urt 1 neglected to date hia ' etary I paid and the testimony ot tr dae8 I standing of tho deceased aZ, m I havo been established by I dence. oru erl- There has been so much i, I standing about this mSter ,wUn?3er' I is fain to make a statement Truth I effect of the decision e"tVobUthe I stand from tho court itself tL nder- I ng in the decision conm ts Sff" 1 by-laws of tho order, or tke I cation and enforcement, with th I coption of a property right h I order, and other orders fad J I govern their membership V Ly'S rules and regulations, b lt that tfc! ' must bo conformed to bu,S S self as well as tho infi ; H ual member. That a B cannot bo suspended without and an opportunity for hear ng n that when a member Is behind thir teen weeks, or whatever period he H by-laws may provide no must rece Z H notice beforo tho action can he lata R The laws of Odd Fellowship If that no man may bo suspended for If non-paymont of dues wniio sick and IS tho court in the decision mentions If tho mental condition of tho deceased ll as an Illness, or so Infers at least II So It will appear that in future the fi practice of lodses, or other fraternal H societies, in suspendlh3 members will H have to bo revised to tho extent that H notice must bo served on the member H whoso suspension Is proposed and he H given a chance to appear and make H a defense. That is an tnero h to it H Suspension too will have to bo done H by resolution and made a matter of H record, together with tho notice of H suspension, tho tlmo of Its being sent B and other Incidents connected there- H Tho decision is not so sweeping as M many havo feared, it croes not abol- m. ish tho right of lodges to govern their 9 membership in such cases, but merely H points out the proper method of gov- H crnment. It will have tho effect of Hj making societies more careful in fu- H |