The Washington bee., 1897-03-20

ordered 10 SSSemnle at the Asylum thS
4th Thursday in March, 25th, at S pm.
Third: For the purpose of observing
Ascension Day. You must please take
due notice and don't forget The BEE.
BY order of the REG. Comdr.,
SIR ". T. GRAY,
Eminent Grand Capt. Genl.
Official. d. F. SEVILLE, So,
V.E.G.R.
GEMS FROM THE QU,RRIES.
The Grand Lodge of Knights OF
PythiaS of the District of Columbia met
this week. Particulars next week,
Grand Potentate w. II. Johnson, sss,
has been quite sick for over two
weeks. He is improved.
Grand Captain General w. P. GRAY,
IS, is much improved at his home,
1917 " street, NV.
Captain Vim. Matthews, as, Most
National Grand Master of the National
Grand Lodge Of Compack Masons, is
now - years. He has been a Mason
for over 50 years. He was a captain in
tbs war and served in the Union army
He is the Grand Master of the Original
Grand Lodge of Negro MasonS in this
eral white papers. The captain is
moving around the country in a rather
lively manner for a man of his years.
This fight we are having in the District
is a boom 10 the Compack Grand
Lodge, for the simple reason that the
Grand Lodge, which now meets at
Virginia avenue and sth street, 5. G..
was the first one TO bolt and declare it.
self independent (and which it has been
so working from 1898 ADJ And Vet
some of its members can go around
Spouting about them bogus MasonS on
18th street.
From information received the Dis
triCt Of Columbia is not the only place
that is having fights in Masonry. There
are several jurisdictions that are hav-
ing war. In the District Of Columbia
there are three Grand Lodges, three
Grand Chapters, three Grand Com
mandrieS, five factions Of Scottish Rite
MaSonS and two factions of the Mystic
Shrine. Ii is only a question of time
that among our people there will be
two sets Of Grand Bodies in each State
IN the Union. They are already there,
but | mean more active operation.
The CompaCk has now twenIv-four
State Grand Lodges 81 work. IL has
officers ana agents in each State. In
the latter part of the year il will cele-
brSte Its So;h anniversary. A certain
gentleman who is now in the District
Of Columbia was AZ Scottish Rite
Convention, which was held in New
York City in 1881. There were pres
ent five so-called Supreme Councils of
the .SsS. twhen the Constitution of 1885,
only gives the United States two.
After the delbeTauOn. nc, this con-
VentiCn closed IN few months after
wards. This same gentleman who
met these brethren II New York City
came out and allowed that they were
bogus. Vet he Ss; with them III Scottish
Rite CAPACITY. This same gentleman
vas a Compack man, You all kIow
him. Mhen the District Of Columbia
Grand Lodge bolIed from the CompacS
he was one of them. \ certain brother
who Is now living was IN the East
Another brother who Is now living,
alarmed the doors OF the District Of
Columbia Grand Body, and this OTigi-
nal Conpack man objected 70 him be-
ing admitted because he was bogus.
as he claimed, but his objections were
over ruled.
Now since We are talking about
splits IN Masonic Bodies In 1875 the
Grand Lodge Of New York had a split
which came from tenscitIty the older
lodges. three holding warrants, ante
dating the Grand Lodge in 1851, held
10 their desires 70 be independent and
work under their Own charter. The
two Grand Lodges compromised IN
1897 and became one again.
In ISs- ! division again resulting IN
the formation OF the s.. Iohn'S Grand
Lodge according 70 4 custom. The
lodges In New York CITY decided 70
observe St. John Day by demonStra-
tionS, sc. The same was forbidden
by the deputy, the brethren proceeded
the same; the deputy preferred
charges, the action Of the Grand
Lodge not being satisfactory, the
brethren succeeded, and formed the
ST. IOhn Grand Lodge, Sept. II, 1857.
These two Grand Bodies continued I'M
nj 1850, Hhen they celebrated their
Union by q grand demonstration. In
lSso another SchiSn occurred, the cause
Of which vas the question whether
Past Masters O. a lodge should be an
integral part Of the Grand Lodge,
with the night Of activity and vote
They were led by Past Master Isaac
Philips and continued % meet until
ISSS, 3 compromised wSS effected by
which ali wno had been Masters OF
lodges prior ISto, were admitted 20 &C
tive membership N the Grand Lodge,
The amendment adopted in 1899 being
construed 70 apply only 70 those
elected as Masters This Union
hrcaSht the Grand Lodges once more
together, aud to-day the 10000 ma
sons in the States with peace and haT-
mony reigniag supreme
We vii take the Grand Lodge Of
England. as claimed BY negro maSocS
cf this cO1ntTy. as being their mother
IN masonry. the Grand Lodge formed
IN I-r-. SrSt split I-cS; second split
r-Sos third split I77e> In 1873 they
blended together under the yltle Of the
United Grand Lodge 81 England. now
the larSsSt and most influential hody
Of raSoaS IN the world. In regard 10
the splits We are having here, We Split
hecaSSs He we're unable - obtain luS-
tScs and farr play. Ne will see this
FsSSSs,tion when the time comes 10 50
20 church whether there wII oS an 90
iectioa made against men IN So~o1