Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-09

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GRAND MASTER r. T. w. DUKE, JR
Grand Secretary. Mr.. Edward Eubank
of Newport News was promoted to the
office of Grand Junior Warden, vacating
the office Of Grand Senior Deacon Tor
Mr.. Thomas n. Davis, OF Lynchburg,
who was duly elected thereto.
KEMPER, GRAND JUNIOR DEACON.
Then occurred the fight. There were
a number Of gentlemen who were willing
to succeed Mr.. Davis as Grand Junior
Deacon, and all Of them were nominated
and seconded with a great flow OF ora
tory. Several ballots were necessary be-
fore choice was made, but the honor
finally fell to MIR. Kosciusko Kemper,
prominent member of the Alexandria
Bar. and one of the brightest and most
active Masons in Virginia.
AS soon as possible after the election
the officers were installed, and all made
speeches of acceptance Grand-Master
Duke made an eloquent address OF
thanks, and briefly eulogized his prede-
cessors in office. He promised to preside
over the Grand Lodge without fear or
favor and was loudly applauded.
IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.
When the excitement incident to the
election had subsidized, the Grand Master
| called especial attention TO the Importance
| of the various matters for consideration
| tonight, and urged the attendance of
members. He has not yet made up his
| appointments, but will confer with the
| Past Grand Masters this morning, and
| will announce them tonight. He has
| to select more than half a hundred dis
| trict deputy grand masters. and there is
some contest in several of the districts.
Among the matters to be considered
| tonight will be the report of the trus-
| tees, which will show the condition of
the Masonic property in Virginia, and it
| is understood will make some recon-
mendations concerning il. The Grand
| Lodge will meet promptly at o'clock this
| evening, and this report will be one of the
| first matters taken up. The question OF
| the abolition of the bylaws of subordi-
nate lodges will also have to be passed
on tonight, and during the evening the
| committee to whom was referred the
proposition concerning the centennial
celebration of Washington's death will
| report.
| MASONIC HOMES ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of the Masonic
| Home was held yesterday afternoon at
4 O'Clock, in the Office of the Grand Secre-
| tary, and the needs of the home. as well
| as the noble work being done there. were
| fully discussed. The term of Office of five
of the fifteen governors having expired;
they were reelected, as following: Judge
| B. r. Wexford, Jr., of Richmond Mr. ID.
j. Weisiger. of Manchester; Mr.. Thomas
| n. Davis, of Lylchburg; Mr.. ]. S. Moore,
of Richmond, and Mr.. p. II. Bosseau. Of
| Danville.
The Masonic Home is one OF the most
| nv "a % nv a
Masonic body, and it's success is largely
| due TO the efforts of Past-Grand- Master
| Courtney. OF 1t he said in his address
| delivered before the Grand Lodge Tues
day night:
This grand charity, which was brought
into existence by resolution OF this Grand
Lodge adopted at the annual communi-
cation OF December. 1889, and has been
endorsed in most fiattering terms by
every Grand Master from that time to
the present. is now an established insti-
tuition OF this jurisdiction. and needs no
word Of praise or commentator from me,
managed as it is. by a board Of COVER
nors, composed of fifteen of tho wisest
and most jealous Masons OF this State.
with st-Grand-Master Judge Beverly
r. Wexford, Jr., at its head, and the
| Grand Master and Grand Senior ard
Grand Junior wardens of this Grand
Lodge ex-offcio members OF the board.
There IS no room for doubt that IL is well
conducted and economically carried on;
the only thing in connection with 1t that
now remains for your consideration is,
how IT can best be supported and car
red forward to that degree OF usefulness
| and grandeur contemplated in its incep-
! ton, and anxiousy desired by every
worthy brother who has knelt at our
sacred altar and voluntarily taken upon
himself, I'm sincerity and In truth the
i solemn obligations Of a Master Mason.
| That the Masons Of this Grand Jurisdic-
ton. now numbering nearly 1900 can
| easily furnish the necessary FUNDS TOT
these purposes, and without the least IN
| iury 10 themselves or families. cannot be
denied. How shall this be done Is the
| al .stion, and the only question. Realizing
this fact. and you having decided at your
last annual communication 0S6). by an
| alnost unanimous vote that the money
For this purpose need not be raised by
an increase of the per capita assessment
b,t should and would be contributed by
voluntary contributions. l undertook TO
inaug1rate system for carrying out
| those resolutions; and IN May last sent
ont a circular to each lodge and to every
district deputy grand master requesting
tha, during the month OF June each and
every lodge would lay by according to
,ts ahu,tv such sums as they could easily
contribute and as soon thereafter as
n,oct,cahie forward that amount to the
[,rond secretary. who would keep an ac-
crrata account of the same, and report
10 you at this communication.