The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-03
KING
EDWARD VII,
American Congressman Holds
Highest Office in Scottish Rite
Branch of Masonry.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Louisville, KY, Feb. louisville is al
ready looking forward to the Triennial Con-
clave of Knights Templars. to be held In
this city the last week of August. Among
the distinguished men expected to be mere
at that time Is Congressman James D. Rich
ardson Of Tennessee, the leader of the mi
nority In the House OF Representatives.
In the event that Mr.. Richardson comes
to Louisville. this city will have the hono-
Of entertaining at one and the same time
the heads of the two great branches OF Ma
sonry, Grand Master Reuben H. Lloyd u
San Francisco. highest Officer In the ranks
Of the Templars and the head OF the Yori;
Rite branch of Masonry; and Mr.. Richard
son. now head Of the Scottish Rite branch.
For Mr.. Richardson has not won fame
and honor as q statesman alone He Is q
Mason. and but recently has reached an
eminence in the great fraternity where his
brethren can bestow no further honors up
on him.. because he has attained the highest.
He wears the title Of sovereign grand COM
mander Of the Southern Jurisdiction, the
Oldest division of Masonry. As such he out
ank In the fraternity King Edward VII
Of England n President Diax OF Mexico.
These two rulers represent the heads Cf
their respective jurisdictions. but because
the Southern Is the oldest, their Offices sre
less exalted than that Of this plain Ameri-
can Congressman.
Tit new honor worn. and gracefully worn.
his friends say. by Congressman Richard
son, came to him on the recent death OF
Thomas II. Caswell OF San Francisco. Who
was the sovereign grand commander The
position is one for life. 1t carries with il a
salary of 5000 per annum and the use Of the
House Of the Temple. a gorgeousIy fur
~gh1l ts.lIIl-@ aifttafcy af tho Nnyfh~roSt
corner Of Third and e STREETS, Washington,
d. G.
Wonderful tales are told of this re-
markable house and its TREASURED. II cen
tains a magnificent throne. OF which the
sovereign grand commander sits when he
presides over the sessions of the thirty
three Senators of the Supreme Council. The
throne Is described as canopied with royal
purple velvet and silks, and ornamented
with gold embroidery and fringe. Around
this all but regal structure are arranged
mysterious and costly paraphernalia famil-
lar to the lodgeroom- Exquisite paintings
and tapestries adorn the walls Of the cham
Der, and costly rugs spread over tho mar
BILE floor.
The remainder of the mansion is IL. keep
ing with this room. Every amb III rich
ly furnished. The library contains 1000 vol
umes, many OF them very valuable on &C
count of their antiquity. Mahogany, velvet,
leather and marble seem to have ne.n the
chief materials selected BY the architect in
designing and decorating the house
It Is to be expected. then. that The Amer
lean citizen whose good fortune places aim
amid such surroundings can With justness
appropriate the title More Than KING"
It will be a pleasure to Louisville people to
entertain this fraternial ootentate aiong
with President Mckinley. Admiral Schley
and other distinguished citizens
Nor will Mr.. icharso be entertained
only as the head Of the Scottish Rite branch
of Masonry. He has Travelled the other road
IN the great fraternal order and Is an en-
thusiastic Knight Templar. a member OF
Indeed, It 10 quite probable that
this statesman shall elect to come to the
simply as the past commander OF
Murfreesboro Commandery, and as such he
will, no doubt, have the escort of his fell
in the enterprising little
Tennessee city.