The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-09
MEN OF OLDEN CRAFT
Stone MasOnS' international Union
in Annual Session.
Mayor Denny Makes the Welcoming
Address and Receives Three Cheers
The Routine Business.

The Stone Masons' International Union, in
fourth annual session at Columbia Hall,
was addressed yesterday morning by Mayor
Denny. The convention opened at o'clock
and will continue through the week and
portion of the following week Thirty-six
delegates representing the chief cities of
the United States and Canada were escort
ed from the English Hotel to the
hall at $50 o'clock by the Indian
apolis military band. President John
McCSregor declared the convention
in session and introduced Mayor
Denny, who addressed the delegates at
length.
Mr.. Denny stated that he was glad of
the opportunity to welcome the stone
masons to Indianapolis. In no city, perhaps.
in the country are so many conventions
held. In fact ours is known as a conven-
ton city, and as Mayor he is called upon
very frequently to welcome in the name
of the good people of Indianapolis resi-
dents of distant parts of this and other
countries who represent every calling,
creed and occupation, that may have been
selected to confer upon matters of peculiar
interests to themselves. He said that all
the people of Indianapolis are glad TO have
the stone masons here. He had no desire to
fatter but there was SO much connected
with the history of the craft, so much had
been given to the worli TO beautify and
instruct, that one could not dwell upon the
subject without a feeling of reverence and
respect for the art itself as we'll as those
who were identified with perpetuating and
perfecting it. In recent years, especially in
the work of excavating in and about an
cient Babylon, tablets that made up broken
links in history-records coinciding with
and making clearer the words of holy writ
had been revealed. This valuable work
was performed by stone masons. He also
referred TO the majesty and beauty or
Solomon's temple. He wished for the con-
vention successful outcome; that their
action might be intelligent and considerable,
and that each delegate might return to his
home filled with pleasant recollections of
Indianapolis and her people. He congratu-
lated the international union upon the Sc
lection of an Indianapolis man-John Nc
Gregor-for president at the meeting In
Toronto, year ago.
Mr.: McGregor. in behalf of the delegates.
thanked Mr.. Denny for his words of well
come. after which the delegates not only
by rising vote thanked his Honor, but gave
him three rousing cheers.
The members went into a secret
session wnich will be continued the rest
of the week. The first work of the con-
vention yesterday was the receiving of ere
dentials and the appointment OF commit
tees, as follows: Finance subordinate
unions officers reports and COMMITTEES on
ways and means. These duties occupied
the greater part of the morning and after
noon AT O'Clock the convention was ad-
day the constitution of the international
body is TO be revised. The bylaws Of the
union have heretofore required the appoint
ment of a special committee for this work,
but IL has been decided that the revision
will this year be made by a committee of
the whole. This plan the officers believe,
will be most satisfactory.
The International Union of Stone MaSons
was organized in Baltimore four years ago.
The last session was held in Toronto, Can,
in which province the organization Is
very strong and active. The International
Society was the outgrowth of the Brick
layers Union, to which the Indianapolis
branch organized in 1886, was subordinate.
The International Association has more
than seven thousand members, and sup
ports a balance in the treasury of $4,000.
| The delegates state that the convention
now assembled will not be called upon TO
settle disputes, the past year has been
a harmonious one all over the country so
far as the order is concerned. The officers
of the association are as follows: Presi-
dent John McGregor, Indianapolis. Vice
president, II. ID. Williams, Toronto; Secre-
| tary George Jones' Pittsburg; treasurer,
Valentine Arnold, Allegheny City.
Tomorrow the delegates will visit the
monument and State institutions and on
| Thursday will be shown the city schools.
Tonight local union No. l will tender the
visiting masons ball and reception at CO.
| lumbia Hall. Last night the visiting dele
gates were the guests Of the local body at
the first presentation of the "Milk-white
Flag at the Grand.