The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-03-03
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
I BY J. L. POWER.


Grand Lodge.
This grand body met in its eighty
first annual communication at II o'clocl
on Tuesday, the 2lst, in the city hall
Mayor Dial delivered an eloquent ad
dress of welcome, which was responded
to, for the grand master and the granc
lodge, by Brother H C. Yawn, of Lum
berton.
The address of Deputy and Acting
Grand Master Folk, for the six months
covered by his administration, was lis.
tened to with closest attention. He
paid his special attention to the grand
lodge of Washington because of its
recognition of clandestine Masons and
other departures from the ancient
landmarks. The grand lodge of Wash
ington undertook to apologize, or ex-
plain its heresies, but the explanation
only aggravated the offense. The
grand lodge of Mississippi declared
non-intercourse.
There were 931 of the $50 lodges rep
resented, and 27O made reports for 1899
The grand secretary's report showed a
net gain in membership of more than
200 for last year. The total mem er-
ship in the State is about 9,75O.
The grand lodge decided that it
would not undertake to locate the pro-
posed Masonic Home until sufficient
fund is accumulated to erect buildings
and insure support. The Home fund
now amounts to about SOS, 900, invested
in gilt-edge securities, mostly in gov
eminent and state bonds. In the
meantime the grand lodge will con-
tinue to appropriate $500 year to the
Natchez Protestant orphan asylum.
The grand secretary made feeling
reference to the death of Mrs. Mary R.
Fleming, who had been treasurer of
the asylum for more than a quarter of
century.
The grand officers for the ensuing
year were chosen on the afternoon of
the first day.
Five new lodges that had been work
ing under dispensation were granted
charters.
Many eminent citizens of the State
were present among them the follow
ing past grand masters: Rev. A. H.
Barley, DR.. John Y. hurry, Hon.
Frank Burkitt, Judge Frederic Speed,
Maj P. NJ. Slavery, Col. E. Geo. DeLap,
John Riley, James F. McCool, Hon. w.
A. Roane, Rev. Irwin Miller. ]. L.
Spinks, Lieut.. Gov James 7. Harrison,
Ex-Gov. J. NJ. Stone.
The lodges doing the greatest amount
OF work last year were: Laurel No. Ala,
50 degrees; Meridian S0s, IS degrees;
West Point No. 1859, 40 degrees; Car
rollton No. 10, SO degrees; and eighteen
others comforting from 90 to 35 degrees.
There were $50 deaths reported for
1899, which is the largest mortality for
many years.
The second and closing day of the
session was devoted to reports of stand
ing and special committees, the installa-
lion of grand officers and selection of
place of meeting. Oxford was chosen,
md the last Thursday in February,
1901, the time.
A constitutional amendment will be
submitted to the lodges to SO change
'ection s, of article 1, that the grand
odge may meet in any other month in
he year than January and February.
The following is . complete list of
he grand officers for the ensuing year:
B. V. White, Meridian, grand master.
E. N. Thomas, Greenville, deputy
rand master.
o. L. Mckay, Aberdeen, senior grand
warden.
]. W. Reyes, West Point, junior grand
1arden.
Rev. J. A. B. Jones, Brandon, grand
haplain.
A. NJ. Hicks, Myrleville, grand lect-
rer. '
Thos B. Franklin, Columbus, grand c
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