The colored American., 1902-09-27

Dy the grand work which he has dono
Ior the advancement of tho noble
cause of Freemasonry in this inris-
diction. JuilS-
1ouay Dr. John Payne Turner is
one OF the most unique characters in
Ihe masonic craft of the District Of
CoiumDla, occupying a place in specu-
IdtIVe as we'll as operative Masonry
marked out, won, and merited NV bis
peculiar genius. Few men couId have
accomplished what he has done for
freemasOnry in this Jurisdiction he
cause rev men possess his genius for
concelVing and executing practical
plans. Ever since his entrance into
freemasonry DR.. Turner has haan y
most active craftsman, in which re-
sPeet ne mas been equalled by but few
and certainly eXcelled by none.
was regarded as the banner Iodga Of
FROM 1890 to 1898 Pythagoras Lodge
the District of Columbia. Under The
powerful leadership of such stalwart
Master Masons as Past Deputy Grand
Master, Jas. L. Johnson, Past Masters
George w. Pitts, James T. Reason
Robert L. Pendleton and others Pv,
thagoras Lodge. during all these wears
was holding high carnival in the Ma.
sonic world. From the rapidly re-
VolVlng wheels of her triumnbant
chariot, dust of defeat flew thick and
fast into the faces of all her COM
petitors for high masonic hOnors. In
the annual contests for the level
granted by the Grand Lodge TO the
subordinate lodge performing the best
work, the superiority OF the
work of PythagOraS was SD comDlete
and decisive, that terror was struck
into the hearts of all competitors bv
the wonderful Pythagorean giant. It
was not until DR.. John P. Turner
leaped into the masonic arena. where
the annual contests for the Jewel took
place, that the sway of this modern
giant was disputed. DR.. Turner made
up his mind to wrench the masonic
jewel from the firm grip in which
PythagOras held it.
Gathering about him the despairing
and oft-defeated warriors of Eureka
Lodge, No. 5, he reorganiZed them into
formidable body and drilled them
nto ritualistic perfection. Upon the
return of the annual contest for the
ewel he entered the arena at the head |
II his polished cohorts, and when the |
smoke of that memorable contest had |
passed away, the PythagOrean giant, |
'nce all-pOWerful and uncomfortable, |
vas found to be PROSTATE in the dust /
II defeat. Eureka Lodge was, of |
curse, under the leadership of DR.. |
turner, awarded the jewel; and, since |
hat time, has by his direction and
uidance retained it against all comers
is true that Eureka Lodge gets the
redit, but Turner is the man who won
nd still wins the jewel for her
Recognizing the great work which
ast Grand Masters l.. e. Bailey, and
Lenry Coleman did for Freemasonry
uring its early existence in the Dis
rict of Columbia, DR.. Turner cOnceiv-
d the idea of collecting 10 cents from
very Master Mason in this jurisdic-
on for the purchase of a suitable
)ken expressive of the appreciation
the masonic craft in this jurisdic-
on and to be presented to these :
entlemen and brethren who had work {
so faithfully and SO hard for the
lccess of our ancient and honorable 7
stitution in the District of Columbia. 7
spirit of indifference in several Of :
lie lodges impeded the progress of Y
e work for a while, but, nothing I
lunted, he pushed the work to a 6
mplete and successful end and thus 7
ected another glorious monument to T
S masonic craft. Z
In the comforting of the Third De =
ee by Social Lodge No. 1 recently, ,
:. Turner, who by request, acted as
aster of the lodge and conferred the =
gree, demonstrated that as a ritual II
!, as an exemplifier of the Solemn =
ha /