The evening times., 1898-09-27
CONVENTION In session
First Days Proceedings Of the
Eastern Star Order.
MANY DELEGATES PRESENT
A Cherry Cav ell From Mount Vernon
Presented to the Presiding Officer.
Addresses by CcmmfssiOner Ross,
Samuel c. Palmer, Mrs. Carolyn
Handy, and Others.

Grand Chapter of the Eastern star met
this morning at the Masonic Temple, to
assist in the exercises connected with the
opening of the annual reunion of the or
der. The hall and stage were brilliantly
decorated with the national colors and
palms, ferns and flowers of every de-
scription blended harmoniously with the
tasteful toilets of the fair sex.
The chapter was called to order by |
Mrs. Nettie Ransford, past most worthy
grand matron, 1sS9-1S93, at 10 o'clock |
The grand marshal then ushered |
the members of the grand chapt- |
er and seated them in lire to the |
right of the stage. After prayer had been |
offered by the chaplain, the audience |
sang America and the grand marshal !
announced that the meeting was open for !
business.
1t was stated by the right worthy |
grand secretary that every grand chapter |
was represented, except Indian Territory |
and West Virginia. The NJ. w G.. NJ.
announced that the p. NJ G. NJ, Sned- |
den, of Missouri, was detained at her
home on account of the serious Illness
of her only daughter, and further re-
Quested that representatives take seats
on the right of the right worthy associ-
ated matron, and that the visiting mem
bers should be seated in the rear of the
hall.
The roll call for general grand officers
w,s then called by w. G.. M.,who acted
for Mrs. German of Maryland, who was
absent.
Mrs Hazard of the District of Column
bia was elected TO preside at the or
gan, as the regular organist was abb
sent.
Mr.. Williamson presented a gavei. made
from wood taken from a tree at Mt.
Vernon, in a neat and felicitious speech.
The chairman accepted the gift in the
name OF the grand chapter, and thanked
the donor. The gavel was of cherry
wood. beautifully mounted in silver. The
Inscription read Presented to Mrs.
/ Mary L. Partridge. NJ. W. G. NJ, by L.
( Cabell Williamson, September z, 1898.
The chapter was then called upon to
receive the past officers, and nine seats
were cleared in the west to receive them.
+ The NJ. W. G. VI. then announced that
/ representatives from New York, New Jer
sey and Connecticut were present, and
bade them thrice welcome. Those from
/ New York were: Mrs Eleanor Benton,
I Mrs Eliza Demorest. Mrs. Rachel Steifel.
+ From Connecticut: Mrs. Ida A. Fisk, Mrs.
/ Charles II. Fowler. From New Jersey:
/ Mrs. Anna z. Garabrant. Mrs. Frances L.
/ Boone.
Mr.. Yost, W. P, Of Ruth, No l, of the
! District of Columbia. was invited to the
| East, and was received by the NJ. w. G.
NJ. He was introduced to the chapter as
the pioneer OF The work in the District
and as one who had done good service for
the order.
After a few words of acknowledgement
| for the honor done him by Mr.. Yost, Mr..
Merritt, of California, moved that
committee of five be appointed to take
. into consideration the proposition of the
/ committees from New York, New Jersey
/ and Connecticut, and the following mem
! bers appointed: G. B. Merritt of Califor
MIA. L. c. Williamson of the DiStsrict Of
Columbia, Mrs. Matthews of Iowa, Mrs.
Ransford of Indiana and Mrs. Pitkin of
Illinois. The chairman appointed the close
| of the morning session as the time for
the committee to meet.
An address of welcome was delivered
! by Mrs. Caroline A. Handy. worthy grand
I matron of the District of Columbit. 1t
was brief but TO the point She generously
/ welcomed the delegates, and offered the
hospitality of the Washington chapter.
/ The address was well received by ali
| present. This terminated the morning
I session.
Samuel c. Palmer. most worshipful
/ grand master OF Masons of the District
/ of Columbia delivered a short and pleas
! ing address. He deemed ii a high privi-
! Iege as well as a very great honor. to
! appear before the convention as the rep
resentative of the Masonic fraternity. and
! extended 10 the visiting delegates fra
| ternal welcome.
Hon. John w Ross one of the Commits
| sioners of the District of Columbia. who
was recently initiated as a member of the
! order, also addressed the convention.
| commissioner Ross esteemed it great
honor as we'll as pleasure to be able to
take part in the cordial greetings of the
General Grand Chapter of the United
States Order of the Eastern Star to the
representatives of the National Order,
and welcomed them most heartily. He
made an address that was very generally
approved and appreciated.
The next to address the assembly was
the Right Worthy Associate Maron, Mrs
Hattie Z. Ewing. She recounted the
growth of the order and upon the whole
made very attractive address. She
closed her remarks with a poem eulogis-
tic of George Washington and the city
of Washington.
The following committees were then
| appointed:
Credentials-Mrs ]. E. Matthews, Mrs.
Mary E. Pierce and Mrs. Flora E. Moore.
! Finance, ways and means-Wiliiam A.
Blossom, Mrs. NJ. L. Chester and Miss
Annie Phillips.
Unfinished busness-Mrs. Carrie NJ.
Perkins, Mrs. NJ. Anna Hall and A. Y.
| Barrows.
Observation-Disclosures d. Rowe, L.
Cabell Williamson and Helen H. Stires
Appeals-Mrs. Nettie Ransford, Mrs.
I.ibbie J. Demorest and Mrs Katie DEAN
! er.
Charters-Mrs. Madeline B. Conkling.
| Willis D. Engle and Mrs. Annette H.
| Hooper.
Addresses. Penrose Williams, Mrs.
Jennie Bradley and Mrs Matte Barney.
Mrs. Ransford then read the report
from the committee on credentials.
Up to the hour of going to press the