New-York tribune., 1902-03-16
KNIGHTS IN COUNCIL.
GRAND COMJIANDERY OF CON
NECTTCUT TO MEET
IN NORWICH.
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN THAT
STATE-THE HIGH OFFICERS
OF THE ORDER

London. Waterbury Meridcn. DanbIry and Will
mantle viii attendance. The sessions viii be
held in the rooms Of Columbian Commandery No.
in the Masonic Temple. Sir Knight Albert ;.
Comstock of Norwich, will preside. assisted by
Alfred z Fuller Deputy Grand Commander Of
Danbury.
The reports Of the various officers will show
further evidence Of the wonderful growth of the
order and It's great prosperity One hundred years
ago three or four commentaries embraced all that
was known Of the order in the United States. To-
Gay the Grand Ercampmeut holds jurisdiction over
a. grand comma nderies, 1912 communicates and
than 10000 knights Tompl5r. The desire to
increase the membership has always been carefully
tempered by the belief that quality counts for more
than quantity.
The history II the order in Connecticut is par
ticulary interesting from the fact that Of the
commanderies. Washington Encampment No. l, Of
Hartford. claims to be the oldest regularly char
tered commandery in the United States It is said
that all other bodies having prior existence re
ceived their authority from unauthorized source
The order instituted in Connecticut in July.
1856. at Colchester, when three regular knights
Templar. hailing from different communicates,
formed an encampment. In June, 1901. charter
obtained from London and an encampment
held New-LondOn The officers then elected
until April. 1910. The first Free Masons' hall
IN Connecticut was built AT New-Lond n. and was
dedicated On June o. 1860. In 1873 the encampment
came under the jurisdiction Of the General Grand
Enoampment Of the United States.
After the Washington Commandery OF Hartford
was instituted the Nev-Haven knights asked for
encampment of their own The Washington
Encampment protested. and sent a committee TO
Boston 10 procure alteration Of their charter
enabling them 10 hold meetings in any town in
Connecticut. This petition denied. and in 1925
De Witt Clinton General Grand Master Of the
Grand Encampment Of the United States. author
ized a dispensation TO the NewHaven Encamp-
nent, and two years later 10 Clinton Encampment
of Washington. This encampment was authorized
10 remove Norwalk Nay Il, 1s4s.
The Grand Commaudery of Connecticut the body
which meets in Norwich this week, organized
by representatives from Washington. New-Haven
and Clinton encampments on September Is, 1877,
and has since held regular conclaves. with the ex-
ception OF a few years John R. Watrous was
elected the first Grand Master.
In the Masonic excitement of the second
quarter Of the last century the New-Haven En-
campment the only one in the State which re-
nained active. With the exception of the year 1885
meetings held regularly. The other TWO en-
campments remained dormant. and had il not been
for New -Havens faithfulness the order would have
been abandoned and the Grand Commahdery of
Connecticut would net hold the prominent position
3n the sisterhood Of grand communicates which it
does to-day.
The Connecticut Grand Commandery now con-
sists of eleven lodges. which. with their present
commanders. follows: Washington No. l,
Hartford. Thomas w. Morgan; New-Haven No 2,
New-Eaven, Bruce G. Gilchrist: Clinton No. 3.
NorwaIk Samuel H. Huntington; Columbia No. 1,
Norwich, Charles L. Hubbard; Hamilton No. 5,
Bridgeport. Philip L Holzer; Palestine No 6. New
London Thomas Hamilton; Clark No l. Water
bury, Frederic E Stanley; Cyrene No. S, Middle
town. E P Putnam: ST. Elmo No. 9, Meriden,
Arthur E Miller: Crusader No. 10, Danbury,
Charles P. Hail. and St Johns No. Il, Willimantic,
Arthur D. Chaffee.
Among the prominent Past Grand Command-rs
who Will probably attend the cOncave %ts7Fto7
is H. Wales Lines, Of Meriden, Conn, who since
1885 has been unanimously elected grand treasurer
OF the Grand Encampment OF the United States.
He became master Mason in 1883 and was
knighted three years later at New-Haven. He
was one OF the charter members of St Elmo Com
mandery No. 6. and was its commander for six
terms He was Grand Commander in 1874, and sell
dom misses one Of the annual conclaves His high
position in the national organization has brought
him honorary memberships in the organizations Of
several other States.
In 1872 Nj Lines was elected TO the lower branch
OF the State Legislature, and for the years 1879 and
1880 he a member Of the State Senate. Such
is HIS popularity in Meriden that he placed IN
the Mayors chair for three consecutive terms.
His administration Of the Office most success
ful He is At present member of the Connecticut
Constitutional Convention
William r. Highly, another Past Grand Com
mander is a native of Bridgeport. and has been
identified with the banking and insurance inter
ests OF that city for many years. He has served
five terms as city and town treasurer, was in the
Common Council for IA long term and member Of
the Board Of Fire Commissioners for twelve years.
He is stiN president OF the Bridgeport Gas Light
a
was the first member TO be knighted after the
ganizaton Of Hamilton Commandery No 5. He
Grand Master Of the Grand Council OF the
State from 1862 1864, and received into the
Royal order Of Scotland in 1878
Charles William Carter. Judge Of Probate for
the Norwich District, of New-london is one of the
most popular Masons in Connecticut His first
perience in earning his living when he
the wilds OF Canada the age six
teen 10 sell subscription books. on his return to
New-England he became syccessful jeweller. He
has served three terms as JGtge OF Probate and is
holding that office for the fourth He has
written several books probate law. He a
thirty-third degree Mason and has held many
high Offices in the order He established a num-
her OF Scottish Rite bodies in the State is CON
Past Grand Commander Henry Woodward is A
native of MiddleIOwn. where he has been engaged
IN the drug business since 1851 He is son OF DR..
extensive medical practice in that city. lie be
came a Mason very soon after reaching the lawful
accepting public Office he has served as alderman
n the city government and in the early days Of
cries OF the State he WAS one Of the Fish Commits
sreI frs froy 3snraT 10 ,, ne I alu hot en-
and fearless factor in bringing the angry. mis-
for their protection. lie Is a member of the Sons
Of the American Revolution and of the Reform
Charles Ethan Billings who was Grand Com
men OF Hartford. He was horn in Vermont in 1885
and early in life learned the profession of me-
chanical engineer. On moving 10 Hartford from
Utica. y y he entered into the manufacturing
OF forging and machnists tools. The concern is
now known as the Billings & Spencer Company.
have resulted IN the success OF the firm were made
by Mr.. Billings. He Is a prominent member Of the
long time he has been associated with the Con-
necticut National Guard. He has received all the
g., Ssi rr p5 o n t6e EorUirb S sa,i0 R
NTe Of he Col of hat rio