The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-25

There died In Portland. Or. rooently =
man who for the last four years hss boon
acknowledged to be the oldest Mason u
the United States and was undoubtedly
the Oldest member Of the fraternity In the
world. He was Bro. William Gardines.
aged 90 years, 10 months and days, and 8
Mason nearly n years. The record OF st.
Cyre's lodge, Auchtermuchty. Fifeshire.
Scotland, shows that he was made Mason
In 1915. His certificate bears the old style
seal and the signatures of Bro. Thomas
Beveridge, II. w. NJ, and Bro. John Guth-
rie, secretary. He arrived in Portland with
the recommendation of Crescent lodge No
1873, and Bennett chapter, No. Al, of Arkan-
sas City. Kan. He was exalted to the lat
ter rank In Scotland in 1917
The Order of the Eastern Star is growing
fast in Maine. In Beulah chapter at West
brook, at a recent meeting, 83 were initi-
ated, and Golden Rod chapter at Rockland
has initiated IL SO far this year. VA
The grand lodge of Tasmania has 20
lodges, with 996 members, and has bal
ance in its treasury amounting to &116
los. Sd.
Punctuality on the part Of the officers
and promptitude in the dbpsfoA Of busi-
ness will make lodge more rnpular than
anything else that can be devfsed to pass
over idle hours.
Eastern Star headquarters at the Worlds
fair will be found in the northwest corner
of the organization room In the Woman's
building near the Sixtieth street entrance.
The absolute REIMBURSEMENT of guardians
ship must accompany the nomination fan
orphan to the New York home, and trans
portation and attendance to the home Of
applicants accepted by che trustees must
be provided by the lodge or district making
the nomination.
Grand River lodge of Grand Rapids has
the second largest membership In the
world. 1t numbers $50, and the largest -
Connecticut lodge which has about coo
members.
The new postmaster of New York city,
Charles w. Dayton, is we'll known Ma
son and has for years been connected with
the order in Harlem.
The cornerstone of the Masonic hall IA
Richmond was laid in 17S5 and the build
ing completed in 1891. 1t is still standing,
The grand lodge of Virginia held its ses~
sions there for over 80 years. and some Of
the most famous men this country has pro-
duced have attended these sessions. It il
probably tho oldest Masonic building in
this country.
Masonry Is not religion, but no one can
| be thorough Mason who has not given
| his heart to God. Masonry Is not q reforms
| atory institution, and those who think ~
| one mistake its objects. A strict adher~
ence to it teachings will elevate the man.
The Masonic Record thinks too much mo-
tice is taken of Rome's enmity to Masonry
| Nevertheless it Is always prudent to b
alert against an avowed enemy.
A Royal Arch Mason ought not TO be sat~
isfled until he has received the Cryptic Ritz
| degrees. He will then discover what ho
missed as lost or stolen from the chapter.
The degree of past master is a misnomeP
| and entirely out Of place. Its antiquity -
| not questioned, neither is the antiquity ok
| the devil, but we do not suppose that hoary
age is sufficient justification for the re-
tention OF either.
of Masons to become sponsor for any indi-
vidual enterprise.
In the minute book of an old New Hamr.
shire lodge 1890, it is recorded, "The mas
ter proposed Thomas Hall Costlo, a gentle
man from the West Indies, and having the
appearance of gentleman and stranger
he was accepted"
The state of Washington has about
500 members
The home in Texas promises to be an II;
stitute creditable to the order. The pro-
moters do not intend to begin work until
their fund reaches 100000.
In 1850 part only of the lodges in the
Netherlands constituted grand lodge -
The Hague In ITO the grand lodge Of the
United Provinces. with some lodges sitting
at The Hague, proclaimed itself the ma
tional grand lodge Of Holland and com
PEELED all the others to come under IT.
| obedience.