The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-06
MASONS WILL MEET.
THE GRAND LODGE TO HOLD A
THREE-DAYy SESSION HERE.
COmmencinG Next Tuesday - The
First step Toward Establishing .
Ledge on the Coast Taken Fifty
one Years Ago-One HandreA and
One Local Lodges Now In the
State. With . Membership Of
5000.

Next Tuesday the Masonic Grand Lodge
win be opened in Seattle for session or
communication OF three days
Fffty-one years ago last February the
fret step toward the establishment Of a
Masonic lodge on the Pacific coast was
taken at Oregon City by Joseph Hull,
Peter G. Stewart and William 2 Dough-
erty. This led to the institution OF Multi
nornah lodge. Forty-fve years ago Mr.
Dougherty removed 70 Steilacoom (now in
Pierce county. Wash) and took the fore
mos; part In organizing Steilacoom Lodge,
No Oregon Jurisfction), this being the
nrst attempt made TO establish q lodge of
AasoTs within the boundaries of the
state OF Washington Mr. Dougherty. now
In his 18Th year. resides near Steilacoom
and Is said to be hale and hearty. The
lodge which he assisted in starting 1t Ore
gon City was chartered by the Grand
Lodge OF Missouri. and the charter was
brought to this coast by p. B. Cornwall.
well known IN Seattle as the principal
owner OF the Black Diamond coal mine, in
this county. II was delivered to him at
st. Joseph. Mo-. late in December lS47, or
early in January, lsiS. 1t reached OREGON
City in the first part Of September, ls4s in
small hair-tannned cowhide trunk.
which the Grand Lodge OF Oregon has pre-
served as an interesting relic of the intro
duction of FreemaSonzy on this Coast
Three years afterward the Grand Lodge
OF Oregon was founded. The first charter
granted by this Grand Lodge to organize
lodge OF Masons north Of the Columbia
river and west of the Rocky mountains
bore date June 10. 1853. and authorized
Olympia Lodge. No So Oregon juristic-
ton, now Olympia Lodge, No. !, under the
jurisdiction OF Washington. The Stella
COON lodge. flrst projected. came next in
order OF institution. In those days Stella
COON was more important than Seattle.
tyh 4ha 81 -
lodge Of Washington have been held at
various places IL the territory and state,
yet in the absence of an express resolution
naming another place for that purpose
they were held in Olympia. which was
Masonic headquarters. The last session
was held there in 1885,. At this session the
constitution was amended so a. TO read:
THE Grand Lodge shall meet annually
on the second Tuesday Of June in the city
Of Seattle. The Grand Lodge library shall
be located in the city Of Olympia: and 1t
shall be the duty OF the grand master to
appoint a custodian thereof, when the IL
brarian resides elsewhere. Special com.
munications may be called by the grand
master. but no legislation affecting the
general interests Of the craft shall be made.
repealed or changed, except at the annual
communications
Seattle Is therefore the permanent home
of the Grand Lodge. The provision as to
tne iluTdTy Was iildUe tNS convenience
OF the grand secretary, Hon. Thomas NJ.
Reed Of Olympia, who is deeply beloved
by the fraternity and Is the permanent IL
hrarian. His reelection as grand secre-
tary each year is unanimous and enthusi-
astic: ard so long as he consents to hold
that office the library will remain In Oyn-
pa: when he insists upon retirement the
library will be brought to Seattle.
The Grand Lodge IS the only grand body
OF Masonry which has permanently located
Its home. The Grand Chapter Of Royal
Arch Masons. the Grand Council of Royal
and Select Masters and the Grand Com
manGery of Knights Templar hold their
annual meetings wherever from year to
year they decide. This year the Royal
Arch Masons and the Knights Templar
met in Tacoma.
The most important Of all the grand
bodies is the Grand Lodge. which repre-
sents ancient craft Masonry-the three de-
grees OF Entered Apprentice. Fellow Craft
and Master Mason. Each local or constit-
uent lodge is represented in the Grand
Lodge by its principal officers-worshipful
master. senior warden and junior warden.
Past masters of local lodges are. so long
as they remain in the lodges of which they
were once masters. entitled to seats and
votes In the Grand Lodge; SO. too. are
the past officers of the Grand Lodge. who,
however, are nearly all past masters.
There are l0l local lodges in this state,
containing a membership of over 5000.
The uuaffiliated Masons-that is. those
who are not members OF lodges in this
state-prohably number 1000.
The action OF q Grand Lodge Of a state
Is in all cases final and conclusive; there
Is no higher body in the United States.
The doctrine OF state sovereignty is car
ried out 10 perfection in Masonry OF the
ancient craft In this country. The other
grand bodies referred TO, as well as the
Scottish Rite order. are subject TO the leg
islation and control OF national bodies.
which generally meet once in three years,
enact some legislation. hear and decide
grievances and appeals and elect officers.
The present officers OF the Grand Lodge