Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05


| supposed nothing would be done in the matter
OF forming new Grand chapter until the next
meeting OF the Grand chapter, but call was
| Issued by the three Washington chapt r. named
Tor the purpose of forming Q Grand chapter.
The grand high priest, JAMES @. Smith. deem
| Ing the proposed action of q contumacious and
rebellious character, declared the charters of
the three chapters suspended and the elected
onhcers suspended from all the rights and priv
ieges OF Royal Arch Masonry. Although there
was mnch feeling at the time wise counsel pre-
vailed in tho suspended chapters. and Grand
High Priest Smith was requested and did call
| special session Of the Grand chapter for the
purpose OF receiving the applications Of the
| chapters Of the District OF Columbia for
partition OF it's jurisdiction and for Its assent
| to the establishment of Grand chapter for the
District of Columbia. The special convocation
was held in Baltimore March rs, 1867. The sus-
pended chapters and their representatives were
restored to their rights and the Grand chapter
| gave Its consent to a separation of the juris-
| dictlon and to the establishment of Grand
| chapter for the District. A constitution for the
new Grand chapter was framed and officers
were elected at meeting of delegates of the
| three Washington chapters named and Potomac
chapter, No. ., held April 16. 1867,
A NEW CONTROVERSY.
The delegates Of Potomac chapter. however,
declined TO take further part in proceedings
! which they held to be irregular. unless sane
| toned by one of the first four officers of the
General Grand chapter. The new Grand
chapter was constituted and the officers
| Installed by past general grand high priest
| at Walls opera mouse. MAY 20. 1857 The
grand secretary was directed to notify Potomac
chapter that lit is not authorized to meet until
| 1t has received charter from the Grand chap
ter OF the District of Columbia:" whereupon
Potomac chapter appealed to the general grand
high priest, who authorized the chapter to
continue its labors. The Grand chapter of the
District June Is. 1867. declared Potomac chap
ter to be irregular and clandestine, and all
intercourse as Royal Arch Nasons with said
chapter was prohibited. The general grand
hlgh priest, who was appealed to. declared that
Potomac chapter was guilty of no irregularity,
out that the companions who have formed
the so-called Grand chapter of the District of
Columbia have been hasty and irregular, and
THAT 1T has no legal existence as a Masonic
body. the preliminary convention having been
held without the authority of any general
grand officer and been illegally constituted"
Mr. Schultz, the historian. states, in justice to
the companions of the District, that Telegram
had been received from the general grand high
priest to the effect that 1.-The consent of one of
the four first officers was probably not neces-
sary. but If so is hereby given" The Grand
chapter of Maryland and the District of Column
bia, at a conyocation i'll November, 1867 recon-
sidered its action dividing the jurisdiction
unconstitutional A controversy waged with
considerable feeling.
RECOGNIZED By THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY.
The General grand chapter at triennial held
at St. Louis. 1868, adopted resolutions recog-
nizing the Grand chapter of the District of Co.
lumbia u regular body. and declaring null
and void all acts of censure, suspension or
pulsion growing out of the formation of said
Grand chapter. The action of the General
Grand chapter were declared by the Grand
chapter of Maryland at the annual convocation,
1868, az an unwarranted assumption of power.
an unauthorized Interference in the affairs of
the Grand chapter, and in direct violation of
the constitution OF the Grand chapter, and
therefore null and void. But the unfortunate
controversary was happily ended at a convoca-
ton OF the Maryland chapter in 1869, when res
olutions were adopted waving and relinquish-
ing Its jurisdictional rights over the District
of Columbia so long it remains the seat of
the national government" and recognizing
''the Grand chapter OF the District of Column
bia as regular Grand chapter and entitled to
all the rights and privileges of its peers
throughout the jurisdiction Of the General
grand chapter"
INDEPENDENCE, PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
The bad feeling engendered when the con-
troversy was at its height soon forgotten
anfthe companions of Maryland and tire District
of Columbia have since continued upon terms
of most cordial and fraternal relations. Since
then the Grand chapter of the District has had
peaceful and prosperous career. There are
now working under its charters eight chapters.
THE OFFICERS OF THE GRAND CHAPTER.
The present NJ. E, grand high priest is Mr..
Robert Bail, wen-known citizen and Mason,
who is active as a knight Templar in the
preparations for the reception and entertain
ment OF the Templar guests OF the city. and
portrait and sketch OF whom appears else
where in that connection.
The other officers of the Grand Royal Arch
chapter of the District of Columbia are as
follows: Ed. S. Holmes, R. E. DIG II. priest: A.
Mckenzie. RE G. king; II. NJ. Gilman, E.G.
scribe; l.. g. Stephens REG. secretary; NJ. r.
Thorp, REG. treasurer; John Locke, E. G..
visitor and lecturer; J.W. Trout, Rev. and E. G.
chaplain: Thos. F. Gibbs. EGG. captain of host;
E. A. captain; G. II. Walker, E.GM of Sd
vail +. L. Campbell, E.G.M. of I'd vail; ]. H.
Trimble, E.G.M. of LIST vail; L. Stoddard, grand
sentinel
oTHER MEMBERs
The other members of the Grand chapter are
the following named:
P. G. II. Priests-Albert Pike, John Locke,
A. T. Longley, n d. Larner, Jos. Daniels. l.
l. johnson, Jos; 3. Mccoy, N. Trimble, ]. H.
Jochum, J. p. Pearson, j. c. Allen, Burton
r. Ross Jose ". Yznaga, Geo. E. Corson, VIM.
G. Powers. W. A. Short
p. d. G. H. Priests-L. G. Stephens, VIM. NJ.
Smith, Allen Wall.
P. g. Kinss-G; W; Hancock, A. Glass, H. A.
"h b O. r sc vi Harry. p r.unn..
MacGrotty.
Representatives-No. /, A. W. Pentland, Jas.
NJ. Hodges. II. B. Major; No. 2, E. g. Chap
man. Geo. W. Baird, Z. J. Bernhard; No. 8, ".
W. Wetzel, Jno. NJ. Mckinney T. w. Cridler:
proxies, J. II. Wardell. W. o. Roome. A. B. Cool.
idge; No. 4, T. ]. Newton, Orville Drown, T. 7.
Daniel; No. 8, E. l. Nottingham, L. c. William
son, VIM; J. Aeker; No. s. E. N: Boteler. P. B.
Otterback, G. f. Smith; No. Z, VIM. NJ Harley
Jas. d. Newlin, G. c. NJ. Loef1er, No. 8, Frank
Tennyson, VIM. b. Easton, j. F. r. Appleby;
proxies, Vim. B. Beck, G. G. Graham, E. J.
DAVIS.
PAST HIGH PRIESTS
Brown, Geo. D. Patten, II. g. Merrill, ]. H.
Jochum. E. II. Chamberlin, ]. Hamacher, E.
F. Lawson, 8. T. Schofeld, r. " Goldman. w.
P. h. Crews, W. r. Bushby, A. A. Nauck, Martin
OConnor, Harrison Dingman, Vim. Barnum,
J. X. Robinson.
No. "A. r. Longley, VIM. r. Earle, E. G.
Davis, G. Bortle, T. A. Gaddess, w. II. Orcutt
Matthew Trimble, Emile Huck, T. NJ. Reed, A.
NJ. Tubman. Jos. Brumnett, j. II. Brown. Robt
Ball, f. N. Carver, II. NJ. Gilman, d. G. Dixon
]. X. Garrison, John D. Hinternesh, 7. G. De
Moll
No. sc. W. Hancock, H. A. whallon, j. Dam
iels, Saml. Baxter, J. C. Allen w. Fl. Appleton,
hall, W. Harry Olcott, Z. b. Hay, John II. Oh
colt, Thos. F. Gibbs, W. 8. Parks, Chas. II.
Smith, w. II. Webster.
No. 4-E. B. MscGrotty, Edwin 8. Holmes, L
L. johnson, J. p. Pearson, s. A. Sawtell, Will
A Short r. W. Hardy O. T. Thompson John