Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-01
THE SECRET ORDERS.
MASONRY.

On last Monday evening occurred
the monthly conclave OF Wheeling
Commandery No. l, at which meeting
there was a good attendance OF Sir
Knights present. AS no candidates
appeared, the commandery was en-
abled to close early in the evening.
Only two lodges will meet the COM
ing week: Ohio on Monday evening,
and Wheeling on Thursday evening,
at both of which work in the degrees
will be had if candidates show up.
One Of the most important Masonic
events which will take place this fall
will be the convocation in the city OF
Baltimore of the General Grand Royal
Arch Chapter of the United States.
This meeting will be the thirtieth an
nual triennial convocation and the CEN
tennial anniversary, and will be held
on October u, 1897. 1t is hoped that
| West Virginia will not only be repre-
scented there by all the grand high
priests, bat by - Arch MasonS OF
Fn11IlIg and the grand jurisdiction,
as our Grand Royal Arch Chapter now
constitutes a part Of that national
body.
No man ought to feel that he has
gone higher in Masonry when he adj
vanceS past the degree of Master Ma
son, but only onward, and never think
that any subsequent degree has less
ened his duty to the symbolic founda-
ton Of the whole beautiful structure.
The Illustrious High McCurdy, the
last Past Grand Master of Templar
Masonry in the United States, uttered
great truth along this line recently,
when he said at is a good thing for
man of mature years to return to
the home of his childhood, to be a
boy again; drinking at the fountain Of
youth, he becomes stronger and bet
ter man. Thus we would be better
men and Masons in the higher degrees
were we to return more frequently to
our mothers home, walk again and
again in the perhaps now forgotten
paths Of Entered Apprentice, Fellow
Craft and Master Mason" Let the
brethren of Wheeling and those of the
craft of West Virginia mediate on the
words of wisdom OF him who has
written the above sentence, and see if
they do not agree with him in his adj
vice to the exalted ones of the fra
ternity for who should not now feel
the dignity of exaltation more than
our Brother McCurdy, who has held
every Office in the York Rite within
the gift of man, and who now says
that he can yet return to the floor of
the Entered Apprentice Hodge, and
there obtain knowledge and wisdom
as a Mason and a man.
MASONIC RELICS.
AS many of our brethren are often
found in the city of New York not only
to attend to business, but also bent on
pleasure, we would recommend that
when convenient they should call at the
Masonic Temple corner Twenty-third
and Sixth avenue, to meet with the
brethren there in lodge work, and also
to see the many relics there stored a
number OF which we purpose now to
describe.
In the library are books and records
that have no duplicate in this country.
One is a three volume folio work.
bound in vellum. printed in Latin with
large type in the year 1904. Therein
is found a description Of King Solo
mons Temple, and has several finely
executed engravings, maps, designs of
architecture and pictures showing the
customs of the ancient Jews.
The work was gotten up for and dedi-
Gated to Philip H.. of Spain, by mem
Der very distinguished of the Society OF
Jesus. A black letter Bible Of about
the same date is in the library. II Is
supposed to be copy of the lannon's
'Breeches Bible" but the pages which |
should have provided this are absent. |
but with this exception the work Is
perfect. and we'll preserved, and has in |
in many curious charts The coarse |
language Of the period is apparent and |
its Republication would soon be stop |
ped by Anthony Comstock's society. |
An old English work giving the his |
tory OF the Masonic Society, or Society |
OF Builders, from the time of William I
the Conqueror TO the date Of pubIfca- |
ton. about the beginning of the last
century, is a curiosity and we'll worth |
seeing by any of our craft, for it gives |
the names of all Grand Masters for
nearly thousand years There is also |
to be seen in company with the old /
works just mentioned many valuable |
books that were published during the |
exciting times incident TO the anti /
Masonic crusade, in them both sides Of
the struggle are related, and they were /
preserved by Masons during the event
full period, and now, as the principal |
actors have passed away. they have
now become objects Of historical curl /