New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-15
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY, JUNE Is, 1873.
MASONIC.


The Conferring of the Grand Cross on
the Grand Commander Of the United
Stntes. . .t -r,.l .s-
The circumstances which led to the con-
ferring of the Order Of the Grand Cross on
j. G. A. Fellows are very interesting.
In 1860 he was Grand Master of Louisiana.
In this capacity he dedicated the Clay
statue. His remarks on this occasion at
tracted attention because Of his pointed
reference to Clay's often expressed idea On
the unity Of the country. Mr.. Fellows held
his position six years, and saved the Grand
Lodge intact when it was distressed
by dissensions beth internal and external.
At the time Of the breaking out Of the war
all the Masonic records of the Grand Com
mandery oi knights Templar were in this
city. Mr.. Fellows preserved them and for
warded them, after the war was over,
North He was elected subordinate officer
of the Grand Commandery of Knights
Templar of the UnitedsStates in 1862. In
1865, at Columbus, Ohio, he was elected
third officer Of Knights Templar Of the
United States. t..
In 1868 he was ordained at St. Louis Sec
ond officer by regular promo tion. In 1871,
at Baltimore, he was elected chief officer,
and at that time, at this convocation, which
occurs only every third year, every other
officer was left out except the Grand
by the Confederates at Bull Run, some 500
in number, we're brought to New Orleans.
Eight Of them, being Masons, addressed
communication to Mr.. Fellows, he then
being Grand Master of this State. He re-
ieved them in prison, and communicated
to the Grand Lodge of New York the fact,
of which nearly every one in the North was
ignorant, that these men were confined here.
Ee received under tho frank of Secretary
Cameron, from Holland Lodge No. 8, that
of De Witt Clinton, the first Grand Com
mander of the United States, a resolution
of thanks. The Grand Lodge Of Ireland
passed similar resolutions and ordered them
circulated throughout the world wherever
they were in communication. AL these
facts contributed to bringing Mr.. Fellows
to the honor he has had conferred on him.
Sir Patrick Colquhoun in 1867 conceive
the idea of uniting the divided lodges of
Knights Templar Of England, Ireland and
Scotland. This was to be accomplished on
the came plan which unites the lodges in
the United States. and was originated by De
Witt Clinton in l8l6-the Grand Encamp-
ment of the United States On the seventh
of April, 1873, this union was consummated,
and the Prince of Wales was installed Most
Eminent Grand Commander Of the Unity
of Lodges.
On this occasion he conferred the order
of the Grand Cross, specially created for
the occasion, on the Emperor William of
Prussia. King Oscar of Sweden, Sir J. Q. A.
Fellows, Grand Commander of the United
States, and some others.
The following is copy Of the order con.
lerring the honor:
Ouod bonum felix fansturnque sit mihi tibique
rostTisque cOmmilitOnibus sub auspiciis nlustris
simi Alberti Edoardi Cambria, Principis SUNNI ct
Sur temi Christi ct Temph Saioponis HierOsOlymi-
san in Anglp ct Hlberni;e regnis Magistr
Patricius de COlquhOun
Ordonis Archireglstrarius,
JOHANN Q. A. FELLOWS,
SummO ct Supreme Confederate
Reipublice Americana Magisrro.
Salutem
Certiofem te facere gaudes ut Principi Cambria
piacueris in te fratrem OF committeeman SUM
insignia MagnR Crucis OrdOnis cOnferre ita III
ligUmina amO1is traterni inter gentes sanguiDe
con uactus arctius cOnstrngantur.