The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-09
First Meeting Of the Grand
Council Since Organization
ADDRESS OF THE GRAND MASTER
- ne Nest nlustrtous Grand Council
Of Royal AMI select Matters OF the
state OF Washington"

-
tance The eaptioa under which the de-
voted 2t5 are staggering Is that OF ne
Most fYustrsozs Grand Council OF Royal
ard Select Masters OF the state OF WASH
inRton." and II Is said 20 be thriving ard
growing. II contradistiDction. is me Ute
or what L. known as the Blue lodge.
held tyy many to De the only true Masonry,
Which usoaestly Is referred 70 as the a r.
and A NJ" which numbers more than s.s"
Ia the state.
For those who are disposed 20 pursue
their Investigations beyond Blue lodge
Masonry. the importance of the NJ. J. @.
G. OF r. and :. NJ. OF the s. OF w Is said
20 be yery marked The work bears q
close relationship to Royal Arch Masonry
and Is Il eoupletion OF the beautiful slis-
CORY unfol3ed fn the Chapter. The reason
given for the limited number OF members
ia this state IL that Knight Tsmpiary does
not make the degrees Of Royal and Select
Masters prs-res sIsite 10 the Tempiar de-
grees. and consequently the Royal and Sc
lect Masters degree has been siGetracked
by many who have hurried In their search
for cryptic Information. To many. and
particularly 10 close students Of Free Ma
sonry IN its higher branches. the work OF
the Royal and Select Masters Is regarded
as OF paramount Importance.
Yesterdays session, which marked the
first meeting OF the Most Illustr.ous Grand
Council since It's organization q year ago.
was held sndeT the most fattering circum-
stances. with representatives from every
subordinate council IN the state. An ad-
dress Of welcome was delivered by Thrice
iiluStTsous Grand Master Harry c. Gordon.
OF Seattle Council, No s. which was at
tent.veiy listened 10 and which Vas as
follows:
Most illustrious Grand Master and
ompanions OF the Most Iliustrious Grand
Council OF Royal and Select Masters of
the state OF Washington: On behalf OF
the Masonic fraternity OF Seattle / greet
you and extend TO you a cordial and hearty
welcome. We congratulate ourselves that
We have the privilege OF contributing in
some measure 10 your entertainment and
comfort While we shall share In the sue
cess which. Ne are gratiied 70 predict
VIII mark the deliberations OF this Grand
assembly.
Our great state OF Washington has all
ways shown herself abreast the times ia
those requirements pertaining 10 the WEI
fare and happiness of the peoplA No less
has she shown the high character Of her
cifizenship and spirit Of progress In the
hsaithful growth and marked prosperity
OF ~ branches OF Free Masonry.
In the natural order of DEVELOPMENT n
was TO De expected that Cryptic Masonry
would be tho last 10 eject orranfzatlon
ana assume the functions or state turls-
dicton And IL Is to be regarded in thu
highest degree characteristic of the spirit
or enterprise and zeal which attends our
general Masonic development that this
Grand Council Of Royal and Select Masters
mas sprung into existence 40 early In our
statehood
Your iabors at this time ara Of e~nac,,,
Importance to Cryptic Masonry IN This
state. for as its growth has been ntfut
ana spasmodle In the earlier history OF
the older jurisdictions. so may we expert
10 encounter discouragement. indifference
and isolation.
IL is our misfortune as an order 20 he
suspended IN mldair between the canitu-
lar and Templar bodies without marked
assistance or appreciation from the one.
While she other utterly ignores US. kaow-
Ing full well that Cryptic degrees are ac-
knowladged and accepted as essential COM
ponent parts OF Ancient Craft Masonry
Your deliberations. i'm so far as they nav
deal with this grave question, are OF the
highest import. and whatever your lahors
may accomplish In aiieviating conditions
~ once unnatural and inlmicai 20 a nor
NAL growth OF Cryptic Masonry will he
hailed with the plaudits OF every lovaI n
and $. master In this grand Jurisdiction.
Anything which shall lead 10 A more com.
pfehenslve knowledge OF the Cryptic de-
grees on the part of the rank and file OF
the craft - worthy OF serious and careful
consideration.
You are the pioneers OF our order In this
state. and are building Cryptic history TO
which future generations will turn for
guidance with gratitude ana true rever-
ence. and be assured that although the
immediate future may at times look dark
and discouragsnr, yet. having nasssd
through tAe struggles OF n century and A
quarter with constantly gathering Fnau1an-
tum. Cryptic Masonry has become hrraly
Embedded as one or the chief foundation
stones OF Ancient Craft Masonry: and as
growing intelligence will lead 10 profound
or research on the part OF the masses OF
Masons. the Cryptic degrees must there
fore become more generally Recognized
their devotees more numerous and their
position in Masonry one az unhounded ia
ruence for ali that r. good.
That this convocation may ~ pleasant
progressive and profitable Is Our keenest
desire. ani that YOU may carry away to
your homes many pleasant memories Of
your Sosourn with Us IS our chIefest So
llcituae. Again bid you weicoue"
To Mr. Gordaa's address a response was
made by r. A. Daggett. OF Spokane. SIS
follows.
Most ulustrious Grand Master and
Companions: IL IL With no small degree
Of dlftidsnce that I rise TO respond 10 the
Gordon. When the request was made OF
me late Saturday evening By our nest
fliuStrfaus grand master. gave my rciuc-
tanf consent. weil knowing that - WAS his
province "a command my duty 80 obey:
also confident that be would spread the
broad mantle OF Masonic charity over my
shortcomings.
There are times. believe. In tire history
Of every neTsos when words fal 70 exuress
HEf~ n fNs -
this 20 me. Some have the eloquercs % a
Demostheaes Or Cicero, and. as IL we're.
pour ont WORKS which aow from their very
soul. yet We many TIRES feel there r. a
something lacking IN a Masense sense. ~
that sentiment watch tsnas 70 soathe oar
turbulent spirits ard encourage ~ 10 more
noble deeds Of charity ana humanity
These gatherings briag our brothers ard
companions from every part of this heauft-
fHi state ans from smamg varsef pursuits
&C. life. 'Rvesthes there a MAJ NTH ssa,l
So eesa that too himself 10 has rsf salf :.
] am benefited by sslch meetings An sAe
interchange - IDEAS ard Social converse
We cone from the busy walks OF 4 b,lsl-
ness lie, each having his Own part.cuiar
views ~ hiSh tsri1 ard low tariff. sfnrsn
gold standard, bl-F7st f,ssr, Is To I ~sgar-
eniuns. aaa many oshsr ssrrls too -prra--
oas 20 ueEtisn. as well as various r-gts--or,s
views But when they cross the sN~ashf,isf
% a Masonic to3Ee al ps~s Differences ve-
gsrdins religions or political subjects a-s
business riaues ard unEsanfrrsfa~sr-s -,
laid aside. and al unlte an ens grand eTo,s
20 ryozsofe those noble princsnlss. TIE
Fkthsrhood % Ciot ard PratAa~hoos =
Nsa.' Great. tn1se3. are such wathe~s~ =
q MsSons. sra We have nashF~ax N.,t r,ssv
Tor any ore weo t. rot maze n@ttsr s-ssvn
such ASSOCIATION I speak Tor usxzelf ars
! believe. voice ths sentiments ~ eves~,-
c1e present. whcn I say that We arr -.
spsrs& s'tth better. broR6er ara sa..nar