The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-08
GRANDLODGEOF MASONS
WILL CONVENE IN THIS CITY ON
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1sT.
r,,,ort.pt business VIII lie Transacted
and the Election of Ohicers VIII
Take Place.

Tho ono Hundred and Nineteenth Grana
Annual Communication OF the Moss
Worshipful Grand Lodge OF Mdsohs VI
VIRGINIA will begin at the Masonic lethP'S
ON Tuesday evening. December ISL
Meetings will be held each evening lot
three days, beginning at ocioch, anu
continuing during the evening" Win iii'ei
missions for supper. Some important
business will be transacted at THESE
meetings, and the election oil onicers io'
the ensuing year Will be Accomplished
NEXT GRAND MASTER.
Col. John L. Fitzgerald is the present
Grand Master, but II Is UNDERSTOOD ,nd'
he will not be candidate for re-elec,loil'
In this event the mantle OF Hranu ma
ter will undoubtedly fall upon Major ~;
II. Courtney. the present Deputy H'"nu
Master. c.,.o, was
Major Alfred Ransom Courtney was
born I'm King and queen county, ~
Youngest child of the late Robert Ioui =
nov of Henrico county, his father having
moved his family TO this county when ,hs
Major was an infant. He was educated
AZ Richmond College, of which he Is an
NJ and for many years has Deen an
active member of its board OF trustees.
His EARLY CAREER.
After leaving college he taught school
for a short time on Church HILL klch-
mond. and then entered the law office OF
James Lyons to study law, where ne re,
NAMED until about 1856, when he brahcHeu
out for himself. ,,,,,,
When the war broke out he promptly
entered the army, going in as lieutenant
of artillery. lie was twice wounded III
battle. and was promoted 10 the rank o,
major of artillery. In 1868 he was placeu
in command OF the artillery OF Last
Tennessee, and upon the evacuation OF
that department, his command zen INTO
the Western Army under Gen. Bragg ana
took part in the battle of Chickamausa'
Missionary Ridge and all tho nshts from
Dalton to Atlanta. While in winter quar-
ters at Dalton. in 1ss3-64 Major Courtney
was made a Mason in an Army Lodge az
that place. and upon his return in lh5' ne
united first with HenricO Union Lodge
No. 80. Church Hill. where ne then re-
sided. and took a prominent position III
that lodge. 4 few years after that ne re-
moved to the western part OF the CITY,
and became a member of Dove Lodge
No n of which he soon became Worship
ful Master. In 1891 he was elected Grand
Junior Deacon OF the Grand Lodge, ana
has been promoted since until ne mas
reached the high position he now ms
with credit 20 himself and honor 10 the
fraternity. lie has been leading mem
her of the Board of Trustees OF the
Masonic Temple Association, ana was
chairman OF the Building Committee
POLITICAL SERVICE.
Major Courtney was elected Common
wealth's attorney for Henrico county IN
1865. and In 1870 he was elected to the
state Senate from Richmond and llenrico
county and took q prominent part In the
important legislation of that period ana
has since devoted his time TO the practice
of his profession, in which he has been
most successful
The present officers Of the Grand Lodge
OF virginia are Col. J. p. Fitzgerald, OF
Farmville. Grand Master; Major a. r.
Courtney. of Richmond, Deputy Grand
Master: Judge r. r. ". Duke, Of Char
lottesvllle. Grand Senior Warden. George
w. Wright. of Washington county, Grand
Junior Warden, Col. Frederick w. Pleas
ants. OF Richmond. Grand Treasurer; O..
W. Darlington, Of Campbell. Grand Secre-
tary.
RISE or THE GRAND LODGE.
The movement 10 organize Grand Lodge
in Virginia was begun by convention Of
dcltsdte@ utlu lu the CITY OF " lildilo-
burg on May .. f777. After a long session
IL was decided unanimously that Grand
Master ought to be chosen to preside over
the crapt in Virginia. Meetings were held
from time TO time until finally on the
18th day OF October I'M Right Worship
ful John Blair. Past Master OF the Will
liamsburg Lodge. was unanimously elect
ed. lie was duly installed. and appointed
the Rev. Robert Andrews Deputy Grand
Master. The reorganization Il once tend
cd 10 the Advancement and hetterment Of
the order and its material good.