The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-10-25
SCOTTISH RITE CENTENNIAL.
Installation Of Hon. Jas. D. Rich.
ardson as Sovereign Grand
Commander.

ardson as Sovereign Grand
Commander.
The centennial Of the organiza-
tion of the Supreme Council Of
the Southern Jurisdiction, u. S. A.,
Scottish Rite Masons, the most
unique fraternal society in the
world, was celebrated in Washing
ton City Wednesday. Thirty.
third Degree Masons Of every
State south of the Ohio and west
of the Mississippi were vitality IN
terested in the meeting. At that
time Hon. James D. Richardson,
of Tennessee, minority leader in
the National House of Represent
atives, was elected and installed
for life as Sovereign Grand Com
mander of the Supreme Council
for the jurisdiction, position in
which he will rank King Edward
VII. of England, and President
Diaz Of Mexico. AT the centen-
nial there will be unveiled a SIS, 900
statue erected to the memory of
Gen. Albert Pike, foremost
Masonic student and writer Of the
last century.
Upon the death of Thomas Fl.
Caswell, Of San Francisco, few
months ago, Mr.. Richardson, as
Deputy Grand Commander, as
sumed the active duties of the ex-
alted position to which he was
formally elevated this week. The
office is one for life, fraught with
grave responsibilities and attended
by honors no foreign potentate
dare seek. The Supreme Council
of the Southern Jurisdiction is the
mother body of the world, and its
highest officer has attained the
greatest honor the Masonic fra
ternity has power to grant.
INSTALLATION CEREMONIES.
Solemnities closely befitting the
coronation Of a monarch attended
the installation following the for
NAL election of Mr.. RiChardson-as
Sovereign Grand Master. Only the
active members Of the Supreme
Council participated in the cere-
monies. The great white council
chamber in the Holy House Of the
Temple, at the corner Of Third and
e streets, was the scene of the in
stallation. On the throne at the
east end Of the chamber the Grand
Commander took the eoath Of Office,
the other active members Of the
council bowing around him.
James d. Richardson, who is
thus honored by bis fellow Masons,
is a prominent figure in national
political circles. Since the Forty
ninth Congress he has been sent to
Washington by his constituents of
the Fifth Tennessee District to-
represent them in the House of
Representatives. His home is in
Murfreesboro. He was born in
Rutherford County, Tenn, March
1o, 1843. He received a country
school education, and entered
Franklin College, near Nashville.
AT the age Of IS years be left col
lege to join the Confederate army,
serving as a private the first year
and the next three years as adiu-
tant Of the Forty-ffth Tennessee
Infantry. He read law after the
war and began to practice at MUIR
freesboro. When only 28 years
old he was elected Speaker Of the
Lower House in the Tennessee
Legislature-the very first day of
his appearance there as law.
maker. He has held many high
positions in Masonic circles.
The Office Of Sovereign Grand
Commander carries with it sal
airy of $4,000 per annum. This
sum, added to MIR. Richardson's
salary as Representative, will make
his income as great as that of the
Speaker Of the House an Office to
which tho Tannasssan has long as
pired. In addition, the Sovereign
Grand Commander is given a resi-
dence for life in The Holy House
Of the Temple.
HOLY HOUSE OF 9naE TEMPLE.
Here is probably the most inter-
esting building in the capital city.
It Is located 10 the heart Of what
was once Washington's most fash.
lionable residence district. Gen.