The Van Buren press., 1902-11-29
GRAND LODGE, 7. Z 4. N.
Biennial Session Held at Little Rock
Last Week.
JOHN HICKS ELECTED GRAND MASTER.
Debt on Temple Being Rapidly Paid On
List of New Loages Instituted the Past
Two Years-Complsts List of Officers OF
the Various Branches.

The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted
Masons met at Masonic Temple, Little
Rock, in biennial session on the 18TH
inst.
The first days session was devoted
to routine business and the selection
of committees.
The report of Grand Master II. II.
MYERS was read at the opening OF the
session. In reference to the debt on
tie Temple, the Grand Master said
"The far-seeing wisdom of the idea
of biennial sessions as adopted in
1898 is well demonstrated by the re-
suit. Two years ago the outstanding
debt was in excess of $4,000. Today
it is but $25,O00. We have paid So
600 both years since last we met This
in itself will save, in interest alone,
$500 per year. The annual income OF
the Temple has materially increased,
and with it about selfsupporting, the
debt and interest being SO rapidly re-
duced, | apprehend that by January
1904. we can be debt free, or nearly so,
and that hideous monster debt which
has been as a nightmare to the craft
for the past fifteen years, Will have
been metamorphosed into an asset,
which will, | hope, soon be as per-
petual endowment which can be used
to erect and maintain widows and
orphans homo, the hope and prayer
of every Mason in the State The out
look. my brethren, is resplendent with
every promise that these hopes VIII
shortly end in fruition.'
The report showed that dispensatlons
were granted in the past year for new
lodges at Kiblah, Miller county, Ma
cedonia, Clay county; Monette, Craig
head county; Mazan, Montgomery
county; Guy. Faulkner county; Beech
Creek, Ashley county; Vandervoort,
Polk county; Knobel, Clay county;
Centerton Benton county; Lake Viii
lage, Chicot county; Adona, Perry
county; Griffithville, White county;
Berta, Yell county; Houston, Perry,
county; Lynch Prairie, Scott County
Dispensations were granted for lay
ing the following corner stones;
March 7, 1901, new courthouse at El
Dorado; August 20, 1901, Presbyterian
church at Morrilton; June 19, 1902,
public school at Clear Greek; June 20,
Cumberland Presbyterian church at
Benton; June q, 1902, new church at
Ell Dorado; July 10, 1902, new hospital
at Fort Smith July 2, new Episcopal
church at Searcy; November 2S, 1901
Albert Pike Cathedral, Little Rock;
October II, 1902, new courthouse at
Benton.
Among the most important matters
discussed and settled was the relax
alton of the bylaws relative to the
admission of men not physically per-
feet into the order. Heretofore this
has been one of the strictest rules.
It will be possible, however, In the
future for a manned man to become a
Mason.
George Thornburgh, the publisher
of the Masonic Trowel, was instructed
to edit and promulgate a Masonic
monitor for the benefit Of the Masons
Of the state
The rule to refuse admission to the
order of any man engaged in the sa'
loon business was adhered to,
Mr.. Myers, now past grand master,
was placed on the board of control Of
the Masonic temple
The grand lodge session closed with
the installation Of the following Of
1cors
John T. Hicks, Of Searcy, grand
master, to succeed Harry II. Myers.
s. T. Rowe, Of Greenwood, deputy
grand master, to succeed John T.
Hicks.
A. b. Grace, Of Pine Bluff, grand son.
ior warden, to succeed S, T, Rowe,
Il. Il. Bryant, Of Fort Smith, grand
Junior warden to succeed A. b. Grace.
John Oathout, Of Bonneville, grand
lecturer, reelected,
@. w. Devaughn, custodian Of the
works.
r. o. Butt, grand orator, to succeed
William r. Hammock.
Fay Hampstead, Of Little Rock,
grand secretary, reelected.
p. X. Roots, Of Little Rock, grand
treasurer, reelected.
The appointivo officers Installed
were: Judge Jacob TrIobcr, grand
senior deacon; NJ, W, Greoson, grand
Junior deacon, and Edward Metcalf,
grand tyler, besides the ten district of.