The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-27
WILL BE GRAND MASTER.
Interesting Career of Sir Knight Warren
La Rue Thomas.

Interesting Career of Sir Knight Warren
La Rue Thomas.
BOSTON, MASS, Aug. 26.-Warren La
Rue Thomas, who will be elected grand
master ofthe Grand Encampment, Knights
Templar of the United States, was born at
Elizabethtown, KY, on the 25th of Janu-
airy, 1916, his parents being Joseph IL. and
Amanda La Rue Thomas. While quite a
youth Sir Knight Thomas parents moved
to Danville, KY, where, after receiving his
preparatory education, he attended Center
College, one of Kentucky's best-known in
situations of learning.
After graduating he was engaged for a
few years in mercantile pursuits, then
took up the life insurance business, which
has engaged his time and attention for the
past twenty years. No man in the insur-
ance business in Kentucky is better known
than Mr.. Thomas, who is now one of the
special agents for the Mutual Life of New
York for the States of Kentucky and Ten
nessee.
Mr.. Thomas petitioned the Masons as
soon as he became of age and at once re-
ceived the degrees in the lodge, chapter
and council. He became an enthusiastic
member and soon gained admission to the
grand bodies of the State. After filling
various subordinate positions in both
bodies he was in October, 1880, elected
grand master of the Grand Lodge and
grand high priest of the Grand Chapter,
filing both positions the same year. He
had already occupied the chair of grand
master of the Grand Council, Royal and
Select Masters.
In October, 1872, Sir Knight Thomas re-
ceived the Knight Templar orders in De
Molay Commandery No. II, Louisville,
KY, preparatory to organizing COM
mandery at his home in Danville. In
February, 1873, he assisted in forming
Ryan Commandery No. II, and was the
first captain-general of that commandery,
afterward holding the Office of eminent
commander for two years.
At the meeting of the Grand Command.
cry of Kentucky in 1874 he was elected tc
the Office of grand senior warden, and
after regular promotion was elected grand
commander in May, 1873.
In 1874 Sir Knight Thomas attended the
meeting of the grand encampment in New
Orleans as proxy of the grand commander
of Kentucky, and has been present at every
1880 he was elected to the Office of grand
junior warden, and at each triennial since
has received regular promotion, having
been elected deputy grand master at Den
yer in 1892. Sir Knight Thomas is also q
member of the Shrine and of the Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite, having been
crowned with the thirty third degree in
4 1889. He is a typical Kentuckian, being
6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. SiI
Knight Thomas is regarded as one of the
best Masonic jurists in the order, and fol
years has served on the Jurisprudence com.
mitteein the various grand bodies of his
native State. Being ready debater and
forcible speaker, with good presence and
fine voice, his influence is felt in al
matters of legislation coming before the
Masonic grand bodies. He has Away:
been champion of the Masonic Widows
and Orphans Home, the pride of all Ken
lucky Masons, and much of the success o
that institution is due to his efforts il
shaping legislation for its benefit.