The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-25
THE MASONIC TEMPLE
The Grand Lodge Meets and Decides
to Build One.
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED
The Orphans Give Concert Which is Greatly
Enjoyed by the Audienc, and is Most
CT.ditable TO the In.
Stitution.

Especial to the News and Observer
oxford, ~ c., June 24-The morning
of the oath dawned cool and cloudy and
rain continued through the day. The 4.
number of visitors was considered the
largest ever in attendance on a similar
occasion. Gen. M w. Ransom arrived
Tuesday afternoon and was heartily
greeted by his friends, who were de-
lighted to meet him. The Grand Lodge
of Masons held a meeting at half past
ten o'clock in their spacious hall, and
resolved to build a suitable temple in
some town of North Carolina and ap
pointed Grand Master H. /. Clark and
Grand Secretary ]. c. Drewry as a spe-
cial committee endowed with power to
appoint seven additional members with
full authority to act in the matters con-
nected with the construction Of the
temple.
The committee is authorized to select
location and use the necessary funds
from the Grand Lodge to secure the
erection of the temple. 1t is also author
led to sell the property in Minneapolis
given to the Grand Lodge by Mr..
y
this TO be used to aid in the construc-
tion of the temple
The exercises of the day were held in
the chapel of the asylum, which was
filed to its utmost capacity. The rain
prevented the use of the platform pre-
viously arranged and decorated for the
occa sion. The address of welcome was
delivered by Mr.. A. A. Hicks and re-
sponded to by Mr.. r. n. Hackett in be-
half Of the Grand Lodge.
Gen. B. S. Royster in a most graceful
manner introduced the orator of the
day, the venerable and gifted Gen. M. w.
Ransom, who chose as his subject Ma
sonry and its work in North Carolina,
which subject was handled as only Gen.
Ransom could do, entertaining the audi
ence with lofty ideas and beautiful
, thoughts clothed in chaste and elegant
] language delivered in the finest oratori
+ cal style.
Gen. Ransom was greeted with great
applause when he arrived and this was
| repeated during his admirable address.
In the course of his remarks he spoke
of the great charity at Oxford and said
that it was only among a 1ree people
that such thing could exist. "You may
"but you will find nowhere a record of
such a gathering as this in the name of
| charity"
During his address he especially re-
ferred to six opinions of the Supreme
! Court of the United States, involving
| the Southern construction of the States
rights, which We're sustained by a court
composed of Republicans selected dur
| ing and Immediately after the war
| He closed with a plea to the people
the best interests of the whole country.
| At $3.50 o'clock the orphans gave a
! concert, enjoyed by the audience and
| very creditable to the institution
! Prominent among those attending the
meeting of the Grand Lodge were Col.
j. :. Cunningham, of Cunningham, N. c.
! Hon. Francis D. Winston, of Windsor;
| Gen. NJ w Rarusom of Weldon Mr..
J. c. Drewry, of Raleigh Mr. T. b.
Womack, Of Raleigh; Mr H. c. Butler,
of Raleigh Mr.. R. H. Bradley of Raj
! eigh Mr. w. W. Wilson, of Raleigh:
Mr.. Chas. Walters, of Raleigh; Dr.
| NIoye of Wilson Mr.. S. II. Rountrcc.
of Kinston; Mr.. r. A. Switzerland, Of
Fayetteville; Mr. w. b. McKoy, of Will
Mr.. w. T. Long, of Roxboro; Mr.. II. e.
Riggs, of Scotland Neck Mr. A. B. An
drews, Rfo..Jr ilageh shrdlu shrdl shrdl
drews, Jr., of Raleigh; Mr. J. r. Snyd-
nuor, of Rocky Mount.