The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-17
HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS
Grand Master ShaVer'S Mas
terIy Speech.
WAS PLACED ON FILE
Third Degree ExempIifed by
Grand Officers.

The Grand Lodge Of Ancient Craft Ma
eonry convened yesterday morning az the
Auditorium with Grand Master William
NJ Shaver in the Grand Feast.
To the credit Of the committee on Gre
denuaIs be il said that this year, they
disposed Of more business in shorter time
than has been done in many years. Eight
hundred names appeared on the list OF
delegates and proxies, and they were dis
posed Of in most remarkably quick time.
This committee IS now made up of these
well known Kansas Nasons. every one of
whom has long served in some capacity
before the grand lodge: Moses Sarbach
of HoIton, chairman; William Voeth of
PittsbUrg; Henry Toevs ofNewton; Charles
Hull Of Russell; John Mccullough Of
Galena.
From / 10 % yesterday morning, 10 sets
Of credentials were examined and the
names recorded, and badges presented TO
every brother entitled to them. This
means a prodidgious amount OF work done
by this committee and all credit is due
them for the prompt and creditable man
ner with which their business was trans
acted.
At $50 yesterday morning the Grand
Lodge Of Ancient and Accepted Free Ma
sonry convened in the Auditorium for the
dispatch Of all business coming before
them during the year. The usual cere-
monies of opening took place after which
Most Worshipful Master William n
Shaver, Grand Master. presented his an
nusl message and report TO the assembled
grand lodge. Those who for many years
have regularly attended all sessions OF
the three principal grand bodies are in &C
cord in saying that not in many years peg
haps never in the history of Ancient Graft
Masonry Of Kansas has such an able pa
Per been delivered before the Grand Body.
Most Worshipfu brother Shaver is essen
italy a Wichita man, and the local fra
ternity, that Of Newton, and the state
at large is well proud of him. For several
years Most Worshipful Brother Shaver
was connected with the local agency Of
the Massa Chusetts Life Insurance com
pany. and later became the general secre-
tary Of the Y. ". c. A From here he re-
moved to Topeka to assume the duties to
which in the early spring Of 1896 he was
elected by a large vote of state delegates.
namely, secretary Of the Masonic Mutual
Benefit association a life insurance com
pany composed Exclusively of Kansaus
Master Nasons.
The address Of Most WorshipfuI Brother
Shaver was a mastery effort and an able
paper. With rapt attnetion wat it listened
to, and at the close Of its official reading.
1T was at once voted to accept it and place
81 on file with the committee on repors Of
Grand officers. Many delicate points in
Masonic Jurisprudence were dealt with,
showing at once the finely trained legal
mind and the temper of justice and mercy
as well, two cardinal points in the age
Did system Of the order. Many rec0mmen-
dations We're made in the Grand Masters
report as to further improvement on the
regular rituaIistic work of constituent
lodges, manual of movements as to floor
work legal practice. and better discip-
line in the esoteric work
The several grand masters present who
in the years gone by have had occasion
TO pass upon the vexing and perplexing
questions Of Masonic laws and practice.
and know somewhat of the trials incident
20 the Office Of Grand Master are in ac-
cord in ascribing unlimited praise to the
record of the outgoing grand master for
his able handling of delicate matters, his
natural tact and diplomacy, and the spirit
OF justice shown.
The deputy grand master, grand score
tary and grand treasurer made their an
nuaI reports. as did also Thomas G. Fitch.
chairman Of the committee on grand Of
fiers reports.
At noon the grand lodge was called from
labor to refreshment and reassembled
al > o'clock for business. The especial or
der Of business was the listening 10 the
Grand Orators address. Worshipful
Brother ". T. Kuhn of Kansas City was
the grand orator. and for one hour the as
sembled delegates sat in rapt attention to
perhaps the finest oratorical effort made
before the grand lodge Of Kansas in many
a year.
Last evening the grand officers put on
the work Of Sublime Degree Of Master
Mason before the assembled couvOcation-
All the grand officers were in their places
and were ably assisted by three past
grand masters in the principal stations.
u. A. Garst Of this city was the candidate
and the third degree was eXempGfed in
6 creditable manner and was watched with
interested attention by the delegates from
subordinate lodges.
The order Of business for today IS the
reports OF standing committees and vis5-
tation Of the Masonic Home