Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28
MASONIC C0NCLAVES.
THREE GREAT GATHERINGS THIS
WEEK AND NEXT.
TWO IN PETERSBURG; ONR HERE.
The Grand Lodge Convenes in Rich
mond. the Grand Royal Arch Chap
ter and Grand knights TempIar
Commandcry i'm the Cockade City.

This week and next Will witness
events Of great interest 10 Virginia Ma
sons. The three grand bodies OF the
STATE will be In session, and matters
s0ecting all subordinate lodges viii be
acted upon. These bodies are the Grand
charter Of the Royal Arch Masons, Of
VIRGINIA; the Grand Commandery Of
Knlshts Templar. OF Virginia, and the
Grand Lodge OF the State.
4 remarkable feature OF these meet
trrs IS that, contrary to almost invaria-
ble rule. especially since the erection Of
the Masonic Temple in this city, these
spprsme bodies will not meet in Rich
,rcDd this year, nor Will they all meet
IN the same city; the Royal Arch Chap
te- and the knights Templar Command
cry ccnven!ng in Petersburg. while the
Grand Lodge will meet here.
Tor six years the State meetings OF
tho Royal Arch Masons and the knights
remplar have been held In this city.
lgt at the last meeting OF the former
toty Grand Secretary J. b. Blanks, OF
petersburg. offered a resolution. which
was adopted, that II should convene this
year with Petersburg Union Royal Arch
Chapter. No. 3. Tho same invitation was
extended 10 tho Grand Commandery Of
Knights Templar and accepted. SO, in
stead OF having the honor OF entertain
,rr three grand Masonic bodies this
YEAR. Richmond will have only one with
ir her gates.
The Grand Lodge will convene in the
Masonic Temple, corner Of Broad and
Adams streets. at o'clock p. NJ. on
Monday. December 9th. Sessions will be
he'd Monday, Tuesday. and Wednesday
evenings beginning at 6 o'clock The
sessions will be devoted 10 hearing the
reuOrts Of the various grand officers and
committees, and the consideration OF
such other matters as may come before
the body.
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Grand officers will be elected, but 1t is
thought that probably all OF the
incumbents viii be chosen for another
year. Following are the Grand officers
OF the State: Grand Master A. r. Court
rey. Richmond; Deputy Grand Master,
J. T. W. Duke, Charlottesville; Grand
Treasurer, Fred. Peasants, Richmond;
Deputy Grand Treasurer, w. s. Wortham,
Richmond; Grand Secretary, DIR. George
". Carrngton, Richmond; Grand Senior
Warden, George w. Wright, Marion;
Grand Junior Warden H. o. Kerns, Suth-
erlin. Grand Senior Deacon, E. n. Eu-
bank, Newport News; Grand Chaplain,
George II. Ray, Portsmouth; Grand Pur-
suivant, J. a. Cosby. Richmond; Grand
Tiler. ". c. Wilkinson, Richmond.
There will not be contests IT is thought,
over any Of the Offices, except, possibly,
those Of Secretary and Treasurer. There
IS not any dissatisfaction with the
incumbents Of these positions, but owing
10 the fact that officers OF the next low
est grade succeed TO the higher in al
most every case except those Of Secretary
and Treasurer. which are regarded as
open to all aspirants.
GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER.
The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Ma
sons OF Virginia will meet in ninetieth
annual convocauon in the Masonic Tenn
pie In Petersburg, on Thursday, December
81. and will adjourn on the evening Of the
following day.
The Grand Chapter IS composed Of
Past High Grand Priests. District Deputy
Grand Lecturers, Past High Priests, rep
resentatlves from Grand Lodges Of vari-
Gus States, and the present stationed Of
ncers from the chapters OF the State
The Richmond Masons who are officers
Of the Grand Chapter are Grand-Trea-
surer George w. Poe and Grand-Master-
Second-Vail Joseph V. Bidgood Captain
J. j. English. Deputy Grand Lecturer, Of
District No. 3. and Past High Priest and
Past Commander Of Commandery Of st.
Andrew, No 13. knights Templar. will
BE present from this city.
The sessions OF the Grand Chapter will
be devoted TO listening TO the address by
the Most Excellent High Priest. reviewing
the work Of the year. and containing
tributes to deceased members. This ad-
dress will be followed by a list Of ap-
polntments made, and will be referred to
q committee which will report during the
session. Reports from the Finance Com
ulttee and Grand Lecturer will also be
received and referred TO the proper chan
mel.
On Friday the report OF the Committee
on the High Priests Report will be re
ce.yei the place OF next meeting will
be selected the report Of the treasurer
heard. and statements from the various
high priests as 10 the state Of the order
viii te heard, and such other business
e. may come before the body will be
discussed
WHO THE OFFICERS ARE.
Following are the officers Of the Grand
Chapter: NJ Ex. John Partner Stiffner,
Of Chapter No. 60 Grand High Priest; |
i. IA. Ernest Louis Ide, Of Chapter No |
Grand King; r. EX. Thomas Edward |
Schwartz, of Chapter No. 4, Grand |
Scribe; NJ. Ex. George Wilson Poe, of |
Chapter no. 9. Grand Treasurer; EX. +. |
G. Ebel Deputy Grand Treasurer; r. Ex. |
James Braxton Blanks, OF Chapter No. |
T. Grand Secretary; Elk. c. A. Nesbtt, Of |
Chapter No. 8. Deputy Grand Secretary; |
TX. Fred. Greenwood, OF Chapter No. /, |
Grand Captain OF Host; Ex. James Ed |
ward Alexander, OF Chapter No. IA, |
Grand Prin. Sojourner; Ex Elliott 7. |
Brady, Of Chapter No. "a, Grand r. A. /
Captain; EX. William James HUBBARD, OF |
Chapter No 40. Grand NJ. 3D. Vail; EX. |
Joseph V. Bidgood, of Chapter No. 3,
Grand NJ %, Vail; Ex. Edward S. Con-
rad, Of Chapter No. G. NJ. lst, Vail; Com
yanicn Junius A. Cosby Of Chapter No. |
D. Grand Pursuivant; Companion VIII
lam c. Wilkinson. OF Chapter No. 4S. |
Grand Tiler.
THE KNIGHTS TEAiPLARS MEETING |
The Grand Commandery Of the State Of |
Virginia, Knights Templar, viii convene |
81 Petersburg in the Masonic Temple on
December 9Th. The attendance upon this
meeting viii be large as the body is
composed not only OF the stationed OFF, /
GERS OF the State Commandery and OF |
the various Communicates in Virginia, but |
many Grand Representatives OF the Re-
cOguized States will be present.
On the first day OF the session Of the |
commaudery tho Grand Commander VIII /