The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-15
SCOTTISH RITE MEET
Elaborate Ceremonies For
Next Weeks Reunion.
PLANS NOW COMPLETE
Prominent Outside Visitors
viii Be Present.

the rite, on TUESDAY, W euhesuaS 144u
Thursday, March p, % and %.
Besides the usual elaborate prepare tons
by Wichita Consistory No. ?, and the
other bodies Of this rite, the arrangements
this year are Of more than ordinary inter
est. All the several heads Of divisions of
the rite, the experimenting officers, and
the appointed committees have left moth
ing undone to make this conclave one OF
the most important and successful in the
eleven years history Of this valley.
One year ago the bodies sitting in the
valley of Wichita surprised the whole Ma
sonic world throughout the southern
grand Masonic jurisdiction, governed by
the supreme council, by the phenomenal
class carried thraugh the system Of dram
atized degrees from the fourth to the thir-
ty-seeond, this occasion being the dedicat-
DRY ceremonies Of the finest cathedral in
the world exclusively devoted to Masonry
and its teachings. THE following class
was prophesied by many Of the craft else
where located TO be probably light, but
again the craftsmen of the symbolic and
York rites gathered ana another large
class went through. his spring the class
will surprise even the members themselves
as Secretary John I. Powell gives it out
that petitions TO the number Of fifty are
already listed and the last few days Of the
period Just before the formal opening al
ways find additional petitions.
For several years the Consistory of
Wichita has attracted the attention OF
the mother supreme council both for the
excellent quality Of the dramatic work
as placed, and aslo for the wonderful en-
ergy in working up in this far western
country so great and powerful d nucleus
body of brethren of the ancient and ac-
cepted Scottish rite. Today the official
register shows the following glowing re-
capitulation: Members Of the supreme
council, deputy inspectors general honor
airy 33rd degree Il; knights Commanders
of the Court of Honor, 10; Masters of the
Royal Secret, 32d degree, ass; 30th, or
Knight Kadosh, or knight Of the White
and Black Eagle. +; 18th, or Knight of
Rose CroiX. .; 18th, knight of the East,
of the Sword or of the Eagle. !; 18th,
Perfect Flu Il This makes a grand total
Of $50 members, the largest membership
now Of any consistory in the southern jul
risdiction. no longer excepting the grand
or the particular consistories scattered
over the world.
The new cathedral, dedicated a year ago
with pomp and stately ceremonies. has no
equal IN the entire supreme mother cOun-
Gil IL the world for an edifice exclusively
dedicated TO the official and ceremonial
functions Of Masonry. Finely and astist-
ically wrought designs, beautiful historic
and legendary effects. and stage arrange
ments all go to make up for the Wichita
building the most completely planned Ma
sonic headquarters in the United States.
The spring class for 1899 will open next
Tuesday morning at o'clock with the re-
ception Of candidates and visiting breth-
rem, and at 10 o'clock Official work will
commence under the supervision of Elmo
Lodge of Perfection, No ., for comforting
of degrees from the 4th to the 1t4h This
system Of degrees is known in the rite as
the Ineffable degrees, and IS under the
Immediate charge of Augustus Anderson.
B2d, as venerable master. The PRINCIPAL
workers who viii appear in the various
roles Of these degrees are as follows: Fred
II. Stuckey, Charles NJ Jones, Wm. NJ.
Anawalt. NJ. A. Carvin. George L. Pratt.
James II. Mccall, Henry Wallenstein, Ed.
W. Wellington and others.
Tuesday evening, March q. Wichita
Chapter Rose Croix. No. ;, will assume
charge Of the work. and the degrees from
the 18th 10 the 18th viii be conferred with
accompanying music and dramatic effects
This system of degrees Is known as the
Historic and Religious degrees in the
southern Jurisdiction. The presiding offic-
er in charge Of the ceremonies of this de-
partment Is George 7. Pratt. 33d. as Wise
Master. The fifteenth degree viii he mn
on in fun form with complete dra,naris
personae and elaborate music and stage
effects. Wednesday ar 1:20 the Councu oe
hnlShtS kadosh No. viii assume charge
OF the ceremonies. and their system Of de-
grees includes all from the 18th to the Both
and are known as the Historical and Chi
Valric degrees. Elmer r. Bleckley. Kniebt
Commander Court of Honor. is the chief
official of this branch. and his title is Sir
Preceptor. The senior body of the rs-a
Wichita Corsistory. No .. viii take fuu
charge OF the work for the last day Of tbe
reunion Al O'Clock in the afternoon o.
Thursday, the 3lst degree. or InsDector In
quiSitor. will be put on by a corps Of ofFc-
ers IN charge of Edward GoIdberc. s27 rs
Master Of kadosh the primate Of The con
Fistory degrees. These very s7+s~ss+f,,,-
degrees arc technically known as The Or-
la ana Ceremonial degrees and are +vvo
IN number. The 3ist and G2d the last baf,e
the Master Of the ROYAL Secret. Tho o-,r
round in the mysterious ladder ~ a..
Scottish Rite degrees. TbY-..7s,- -
will conclude the Iabars or r1s 80. -,
after the work the ca05fs,..s -, '''-''
and invited guests VIII ~o.si- -, -.
quet hall of the -sr,,,r, -, .......-