The Washington bee., 1898-03-26
SECRET ORDERS,

AT a.special session of the General
Grand Council of Royal and Select
Masters of the Cryptic Rite of Free
Masonery for the United States and
Canada, held in Chicago, Monday
March I4th, 1898. Most Illustrous
Grand Master John @. Jones, 80, in
the chair; companion William E. John
son offered the following preambles,
and resolutions which were unani-
mously adopted:
Whereas. The colored Masons in
the United States have no general and
reliable systematic plan for securing
the origin and growth statistics of the
various grand Masonic bodies in this
country.
Whereas. On the account of the
Apathy, carelessneSs and neglect on
the part of the members of our Mason
ic grand bodies who do not publish
their annual proceedings or given any
account of their transaction as body
and the craft is left to droop along in
the dark as to what has been accom-
plished
Whereas. We believe, that the es-
tablishing of department which will
be known and designated as the Ma
sonic Historical and Statistical de-
partment OF Masons which will en-
brace all the grades and departments
of Free Masonery and will supply a
long felt want and will render unSur-
passed benefit and service to all Ma
sons who are lovers of Masonic learn
ing and facts.
ReS0l0ed That there will now be
created general Masonic Historical
and Statictical department for the X
press purpose of securing the history
and the transactions of all Masonic
bodies, both subordinate and grand,
and the election of their officers and
the gathering of such Masonic infor-
nation as will benefit and enlighten
the craft.
ReSoE9ed, further. That the Most
Illustrous Grand Master, shall appoint
one Mason for each department i'm
Free Masonry in each State whose du-
ty ii shall be TO write up the history
and the growth and other Masonic
transactions from all the regular and
genuine Masonic bodies and its kin
dred organizations in the country and
the same shall be published at least
once month for the benefit of the
craft.
Resoi0ed, That the next session of
the General Grand Council of Royal
and Select Masters shall be held at
Richmond, Va, on the 18th day of
September, A. ID. 1898 at 10 o'clock.
a. m.
AT a stated meeting of lodge in
San Francisco recently an applica- |
ton for degrees was recommended |
by two brothers and the reference
were two other brothers of the same |
family, were all members ofthat lodge. |
Lodge Universe, of Paraguay, has |
founded night school for clerks and |
young workmen. The best teachers
are employed and it has proven pop
ular and decided success.
In I7Io. Miss st. Legar, was made |
Mason, she was the daughtet of Lord |
Doneraile prominent Mason of En-
gland.
The Masonic fraturnity of Arizona,
holds their meeting in the town of
Bisbee In a cave. The cave in ques-
ton is $50 #. in width, by 400 ft. in
Depth The floor is as smooth as a
ball room. the walls clean cut, but |
broken by a succession of natural pill
lars that are perfectly symmetrical as
though carved out of the rock. The !
walls are dead pure white that gilt |
tiers and reflects the light with won
drous brilliancy, near the center is a
dais of natural rock, on which is
mounted a pedestal chiseled off the
the rock at one side, excepting this
one mechanical help. the cavern is as
perfect a meeting hall, as though de-
signed by nature for that particular
purpose. The light is supplied by a
lot Of long candles, while camp tools
furnish the seats. The enterence is
through a long winding turnel that
leads steadily upwards to the surface,
after drop Of of fifty feet through a
shaft.