The herald., 1898-10-13
MASONS OF CALIFORNIA
DEDICATE A HOME FOR WIDOWS
AND ORPHANS
THE BEAUTIFUL BUILDING
On Hill to the West Of Decoto-Woyk
Of tho Triennial Conclave at
Pittsburg
Associated Press Special Wire.

| DECOTO, Oct. 12-The dedication OF the
Masonic widows and orphans home at De-
coto today was an event of much import
ance In the history Of Free Masonry IN
California. The incidents were fourfold.
The first was the impressive parade down
| Market street in San Francisco to the
ferry: the second event was the reforming
of the parade at the station at Decoto and
the march across the level field to the mag
nificent home on q hill about a mile west or
Decoto. 1t was high noon when the nrst
train bearing several hundred Masons ana
their families arrived and the trains
dumped their loads of human freight into
the little town. Then came a wait of half
an hour, when the other special trains ar
rived and discharged their cargoes un-
til there were 1900 Masons and as many
more spectators. The parade formed I'M
mediately after the arrival of the specials.
and headed by Grand Marshal Edwards
and his stan and followed by the members
of the grand lodge and of the various
lodges and Golden Gate commandery of
Knights Templar. with their plumed hats
and glittering regalia, marched through
a large. level field and up winding road
to the big building where ranks were
broken and a semicircle was formed around
the massive front steps. upon which were
grouped the speakers and grand officers
Hundreds Of people swarmed through the
big structure from cellar to attic and
viewed the architectural beauties Of the
home. Hundreds OF people had preceded
the procession to the hill and stood about
watching its approach and were rewarded
by a beautiful sight OF the marching past.
The ceremonies began by the singing Of
America" by the crowd; then followed
an address by Charles L. Patton, who. as
chairman of the board of directors of the
home. turned the building over. to the
grand lodge officers. Rabbi Voorsanger
and Senator Perkins followed with speech
es of some length and amid the strains Of
the band the impressive ceremonies were
concluded.
Grand Encampment
PTTTSBURG. Oct 12.-The grand en-
campment Of the Knights Templar re-
sumed its meeting today In Carnegie hall
Post Grand Master James H. Hopkins of
Washington, D. c., proposed two amend
ments to the constitution. In one 1t was
proposed to amend section Of article /
so as to read
"a stated conclave shall be held trien-
nially in Washington, D. c.. on the Sec
ond Tuesday of October. unless the grand
encampment shall at a stated conclave
designate some other time and place."
The other proposed to amend section of
article 1, by placing the grand prelate next
in line after the grand Junior warden.
An amendment was also offered by Past
Grand Master of Nebraska VIM. S. Bowen
to the code Of statutes, as follows:
Membership in a commandery is de-
pendent upon and co-existent with men,
bership in a lodge Of Free Masons. Any
companion of the Red Cross, Knights Tenn
plar. who remains for six months unaffili-
ated with lodge of Free Masons is ipso
facto suspended in Knight Templary such
suspension to be terminated by affiliation
with lodge"
he of he ,1yo
for the next encampment will be decided
upon. 1t looks from the way Kentuckians
are working, as though they will carry off
the palm.