The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-08-25
MEETING OF MAS0NS.
Royal Arch Triennial Con.
clave at Topeka.
Orders PHENOMENAL GROWTH


Nature Of the Dellbsrstlsns-IatsF.
national Qusstisas.
Topeka, Kan, August 2l.-All eyes
OF the Free Aasops Of the country viii
be turned toward this city during this
week, beginning tomorrow. The occa-
sion il one which occurs only once every
three years-the Triennial Convocation
Of the General Grand Chapter of the
United States. 1t il the Royal Arch
Masons who will thus assemble, and ~
that degree 10 one TO which the members
Of the sublime fraternity most aspire,
the proceedings will have an interest
and IN importance commensurate with
the elevation Of that dignity and with
the comparative rarity Of their enact
ment. Apart from these considerations.
moreover, the unusual nature of the de-
alterations will lend interest TO what Ia
said and done by these 800 odd deleeates
in the name and by the authority Of tbe
l60, 200 Royal Arch Masons whom thew
represent and the innumerable Others
who in time will be promoted TO the
degree.
All the Past Grand High Priests will
take part at the Topeka gathering. In
addition TO them there will be q repre-.
sentation of every Grand Chapter in the
Republic. comprising the three council
officers Of every one OF them. Tn.j
council does not meet frequently, and ~
such . concourse Of Masonic dignity il
not witnessed oftener than once every
three years, the interest Of the fraternity
in it may be understood.
The State Of Maryland will have the
honor OF sending the moet exalted mem.
Der Of the oonvocation, Captain George
L. McCahan, who, in addition to being
the Deputy General, acts - General
Grand High Priest, and in that capacity
will preside over the deliberations OF the
assembly. Ohio lie represented by Gen.
eral Grand High King Reuben G. Lem.
mon, . Mason whose name is almost 4
household word in the fraternity mem.
bership. From Georgia comes General
Grand Scribe James W. Taylor and from
Michigan General Grand Treasurer Dan.
iel Striker. Nor is there . dearth OF dis
tinguished membership from the East,
not to speak of the members who owe
their pre-eminence to what has been &C.
mplished by them in the lower ranks
Of the Masonic hierarchy. There are,
for instance. David F. Hay, Past Gen.
eral Grand High Priest; William ]. Nc
Donald, who lie deemed the most popular
Mason personally among the Royal Arch
members; Thomas c. Cassidy, Richard
II. Parker of Syracuse, n. Y, and Jas,
d. Pollard. Frederick z. Barnes will
also attend, and he has . special promi.
hence as delegate In view Of the pros
pect Of his election by the convocation
10 the Office Of General Grand Master Of
the First Veil.
Nevertheless the Eastern delegations
will not have all the prominent MEM
bers, for Washington sends George E.
Corson and Kentucky Bernard u. Witt.
who lie now General Grand Master of the
Second Veil, but who IL to be promoted
TO the third in room of Nathan Kinge-
ley OF Minnesota. . prominent delegate
and Mason, whose next dignity will be
General Grand Royal Arch Captain.
The convocation will have to deal
With matters connected with the ritual.
This subject has grown in importance
with the passing Of years since the
Of the last body until various
vexing deviations have become notice
able throughout the Grand Chapters.
These deviations will require special
action, and 1t il the intention Of the
General Grand Chapter to establish uni.
iormity in the ritual and ceremonies.
1t 10 needless to point out that these
matters are never entirely made public,
but - there have been differences OF
opinion for over year with regard to
the insignia and their proper use-East-
crn members asserting, indeed, that
some Western States have not under
stood the purport Of much Of the Ma
sonic code-action has become impera-
tive. All differences OF view win be
reconciled, and the convocation will ap-
point special commission to inveeti-
gate and report. In the course Of few
months oil the deviations from orthodox
Masonry which have displeased some
Of the brethren, who prefer regularity,
will have become things of the past.
The final adjourn ment will take place
on the 26th or 9Th Of this month. The
Mayor Of Topeka is to address the del.
egates, and the usual banquet in the
Masonic Temple will bring the exercises
to close. The next convocation does
not meet until 1897, and its place may
precipitate struggle between the rep
- II tlD L. C~-Ak