Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-29

CIR RAND NJ A. TEX D. L. J. 1 L'Ii4ls+h ~
longer than two years and as the pres
ent Grand Master Most-N orshipiul John
=. Fitzgerald, has occupied that eNaileu
position for two years. he VIII nave o
retire and his successor VIII have 70 DC
chosen.
MAJOR COURTNEY TO SUCCEED HIM.
II has been customary for years 10
choose the next highest officer for TINS
position and 10 promote The officers below,
though there is no obligation on the part
of the body 10 conform TO tbs custom.
II is more than likely. however that ms
will be done this year. and that MAYOR
Alfred Ransom Courtney. the plpS
Grand Master. will be elevated % the
Grand Masters chair.
I'm that event Judge r. r. W. Duke, OF
Charlottesville, the Grand senior warden
will probably be raised TO the Ohice OF
Deputy Grand Master, and it Is ptopaD.e
that he will be succeeded by N0shlpiul
George W. Wright, Of Washington coun-
~. the present Grand Junior warden
and that the other officers below them
Will all be moved up one point The Sec
rotary and tUeasurerships, held rsspec-
lively By Or. G.. W. Darlington. OF Camp
bell county. and Colonel Frederick w.
Peasants. Of this city, viii probably not
be contested for, and these genuemen'
both Of whom We're chosen last year
will continue TO serve Rev. George H..
Ray is Grand Chaplain, and this Office he
will probably continue 20 hold.
HISTORY or THE GRAND LODGE.
The Grand Lodge of Masons 'f Nir-
ginia Is one Of the Oldest Masonic bodies
in this country and was ORGANIZED IN
III The movement TO organize il was
begun by a convention OF delegates held
in the city Of Williamsburg on Nay 9th
Of that year. and. after a long session,
il was decided unanimously thai q Grand
Master ought TO be chosen TO preside
over the craft I'm Virginia. Meetings
were held from time TO time. and Presi-
dent George Washington. who was then
at the zenith OF his glory, WAS recon-
mended for Grand Master. out. for some
reason or other be WAS not selected,
and on October 18th Right-Worshiptul
John Blair. past master Of the Williams
burg Lodge was chosen unanimously 20
preside over the grand body From that
time until the present day Masonry grew
rapidlv I'm Virg mia. and lodges have been
instituted I'm every county ana city or
town I'm the old Commonwealth, the men,
bership of each having grown with each
successive year.
Colonel Fitzgerald, the present Grand
Master, has ma !e most worthy ana
efficient officer. and las endeIred himself
TO every member OF the CRATE in his
Jurisdiction. If. as now appears, he be
succeeded by Major Courtney, he will
vacate his chair Tor 4 man equally ass
worthy in every particular as he. and q
man who. by his indefatigable work in
behalf Of the orphans OF Masons. has
earned the love and goodwill. Of every
Mason in Virginia.
While Major Courtney has been a very
active Mason. and has held many promi-
neut positions In the order, the Home for
Masonic Widows and Orphans has COM
mandcd his best and most constant el-
forts When the Board Of Governors
was first organized in 1889. under the
charter then just passed through the
Legislature, Major Courtney was named
for its first president. as a proper recog-
milton Of his eminent services in behalf
Of this grand charity; but he positively
declined In favor Of Captain A. G. Bah
cock, who had just then pledged
a donation of 5000 as a nucleus for
the establishment Of the home and at
his request Captain Babcock was made
the first president, with the assurance
that he would continue TO work and
talk fer the home as before. When Cap
tain Babcock died Major Courtney was
elected president by reclamation, and
has filled that Office with great accepta-