The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-23
FRED WHEATON WINS AGAIN.
NEARLY 300 MEMBERS IN A
YEAR.
They Are Preparing for an Address
by senator Advertisement
News.

y
hall in the Masonic Temple at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning. Grand Chancellor
E. H. Milham, of ST. Paul, presided.
The work was mostly routine and con-
fined to the reports of the committee
on credentials and the different officers.
The report of the committee on creden-
tials showed some 128 representatives
entitled to seats. In addition there were
about the same number of knights
present to witness the work of the
grand lodge. The officers reports were
interesting and showed most gratifying
results during the past year. The re-
ports of the grand chancellor, and that
of L. P. Hunt, grand representative.
were specially good. Grand Keeper of
Records and Seal Fred Wheaton made
an interesting report. The net gain in
membership during the past year has
been 279, and in lodges six. These new
lodges are as follows: Stewartville No.
139, Stewartville; Melrose No. 140, Mel
rose; Benton, No. 141, Lake Benton;
Cokato No. 142, Cokato; Forest City No.
lab, Hibbing; Eveleth No. IA, Eveleth.
AT o'clock the grand lodge reas-
sembled to continue the work of the
convention. The comforting of degree
continued and completed. The conven-
ton then settled down to listen to an
address by Philip 7. Colgrove the SUI
preme chancellor of the order. His ad-
dress was largely taken up with a re-
port Of the general condition Of the Or
der throughout the United States and
its remarkable growth in the last few
years. His remarks were plain and
straightforward, cOmmon-Sense presen-
tation of facts as they exist led. After
his address came an disqualification of
the secret or unwritten part of the or
der. After speaking at some length
and illustrating the different features,
question and answer instruction fol-
lowed, in which all points were gone
over and made plain. Mr.. Colgrove
stated that by following the teaching Of
the ritual there would be an improves
ment and elevation of the character
OF the members. Manhood would he
better, and the nation better for hay-
ing better men. He spoke of the moral
influence Of the order and the adVau-
tages Of membership. The Increase in
the number of castle halls was com
mented upon and lauded as a sure sign
Of increased interest and enthusiasm
among the members. Mr.. Colgrn-e's
address was mastery, and made an
excellent impression upon the repre-
sentatives present.
The election of officers developed a
lively but good-natured fight between
Minneapolis and st. Paul. Each city
had a candidate for the grand chan
cellorship. Minneapolis candidate was
Robert Stratton, while the present hi
cumbent, e. III. Milham, was pushed
by St. Paul. Stratton won on the ball
lot, and, by motion of the st. Paul man,
it was made unanimous The other Of
fcers were all elected without oppOsi-
ton, with the exception of the grand
keeper Of records and SEALS Fred
Wheaton, who has occupied the place for
the past two years, was candidate for
reelection, out the st. Paul people
thought that inasmuch as the grand
chancellorship had come to Minneapo-
lis, they should have the place occupied
by Wheaton. Good feeling prevailed
throughout the entire election, ana
when Wheaton's popularity won the
day for him the st. Paul candidate was
the first to move to make it unanimous.
The other officers elected were: Grand
vice chancellor, G. w. Stilson, Duluth;
grand prelate, Rev. c. c. Rollit. Red
Wing; grand master of the excheoue1.
A. c. Godfrey, Minneapolis grand
master of arms, A. J Stobert, st. Paul;
grand inner guard, ]. s. Richards.
Mankato; grand outer guard M. J.
DAILY. Perham.
During the session a resolution was
introduced to divide the state into
seven parts, to correspond to the con-
greSs1Cnal district, that the work Of
the order in encouraging growth and
extension into new fields might be
made more local to the section Of the
state in which the proposed extension
was to take place, and that 1t might
be under the supervision of people di
rectly interested. The plan met with
considerable favor and a committee
was appointed to lay out q plan for
such a division.
The committee on distribution made
It's report, recommending that the re-
ports of the various officers be given to
the different standing committees.
It was after 6 o'clock when the last
business Of the day was completed.
No work was done in the evening, the
time being taken up with a reception
given by the Rathbone Sisters at the
Red Mems hall, 251 Nicollet avenue.
Today the hard work of the conven-
ton will begin and in order to COM
plete everything by this evening speed
will be a necessity. Among the var
ious things to be done are the hearing
of the reports of the standing commit
tees. action upon the same and the
hearing of resolutions. Among the lat
ter will be two of special interest, one
to provide for the appointment of
grand lecturer and another to change
the date of the annual convention of
the grand lodge from September to
some other month. In addition several
minor matters of litigation and ap-
peal from subordinate lodges will come