The record-union., 1895-05-02
INTERESTING EVENT FOR MAOONS.
The Initiation of Young Walter Cary
Wilcox.
The Child of Sixteen Years Ago Who
Came From New Orleans Con-
signed to N. Greene Curtis.

The 11th of May will be. in one respect.
says the San Francisco Call, red-letter
day in the history of Freemasonry in two
States-Louisiana and California-for on
that day the fulfllment of promise
made in the former State during the yel
low fever epidemic of 1873 will be accom-
plished.
Sixteen and a half years ago bright
boy a years old started from New Or
leans, via New York by rail. consigned
! to the Grand Master of Freemasons in
California, and confded to the care OF
! members of the craft on the way. The
| juvenile traveller was Walter Cary Will
| cox. Both of his parents had fallen vic
TINS to the plague. The little orphan had
also been stricken, but had survived the
attack. His only living relative was
grandmother, Mrs. Cary, then living IN
| Oakland The elder Wilcox was Free
mason, and his Southern brethren had
pledged themselves TO see that his son
should reach his grandmother In Callfor-
MIA. The boy was started on his travel
to this State with card hanging to his
neck, giving his name and destination,
and commencing him to the care OF the
fraternity generally. He was never out
of the custody OF one until he reached his
destination.
IN. Greene Curtis of Sacramento was at
the time Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of California OF Free and Accepted
Masons, and when young Wilcox reached
Sacramento the Grand Master took him
in charge.
lie was subsequently delivered to the
care of his grandmother III Oakland. but
| ha l.nC
Masons had formally adopted him, as il
were, as its ward.
Mrs. Cary died about five years ago,
but n. w. Spaulding, then the Grand
Treasurer of the Masonic Grand Lodge oi
the State, was appointed WilcoX's guard
ian and the youth has resided with the
Spauldings ever since at Highland Park,
East Oakland. becoming In the meantime
| member of the family in everything
but name. Mrs. Spaulding speaks OF
him affectionately as my boy" The
elder Spaulding treats him as his son
and the younger Spauldings regard him
as a brother.
Last January Walter Cary Wilcox be-
came of age and declared his desire to
join the Masonic fraternity. lie has
since been initiated as All entered appren-
tice and has passed to the degree OF fell
lowcraft in Oakland Lodge No. 1oS, +.
and A NJ, Of which organization his
guardian was the founder and for SIX or
seven years Worshiptul Master.
On the l1th of May Wilcox will be
raised TO the degree of a Master Mason.
which has been the dream and ambition
of his life since he has been able to think
for himself.
Although no official steps have been
taken for anything more than the GUS
tomary fOrmalities attending the cere-
monies of the Master Mason's degree, SO
much interest has been manifested In
young WilcoX's antecedents and romantic
careers, and his relations with the Masonic
Grand Lodge of the State have been SO
close for nearly seventeen years past. that
many of the leading FreemasOns OF the
State are likely to assemble in the Ma
sonic Temple at Oakland on the night OF
the 1lth of May to witness the admission
of the Grand Lodges ward into full fell
lowship in the fraternity.
Past Grand Master n. Greene Curtis
has signified his determination to make
a special trip from Sacramento for the oc-
casion. The Grand Master and other
grand officers and a large delegation OF
distinguished members of the Grand
Lodge will also be. informally, in at
tendance, for the event is regarded as one
of the most interesting in the history OF
| Freemasonry in California.