Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06

Francisco last Sunday. He was seventy
nine years old. His death was unexpected,
though he had not felt well for long time
and had for several years not been actively
engaged in business. Until the time lie
was confined to his bed, however, he kept
up the liveliest interest in the order, which
during his life he had served in SO many
offices. The deceased was venerable fig
ure in Odd Fellow circles of California and
was considered the father of the order In
the state. He was known throughout the
United States, for since he first came west
in the early days he had attended almost
every national meeting of the lodge. He
came to California from Philadelphia in
1910 and instituted California Lodge, No.
Three years later he established Apoll.:
Lodge, in which he retained his member
ship for a long time Mr.. Norcross was
first initiated into the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows at Philadelphia in Septem-
Der, 1915, when he became a member OF
Philanthropic Lodge. No 15 In rapid sue
cession he held ali the offices in the local
lodges and So when he came to the coast.
naturally chosen for the work of es-
tablishing the order in the far west. He
hardly ever missed even the picnics OF
social gatherings of his lodge. The funeral
was one of the most notable ever held un
der the auspices of the Odd Fellows in Saa
Francisco.
Recorder Dingman of Almas Temple has
received the last official circular of Lu Lu
Temple. Philadelphia. 1t is prepared by
Recorder William Ross, recognized as one
of the breezest of Shrine secretaries. The
current circular is fully up to his record.
OF his own personal appearance and of the
recent great Templar event at Philadel-
phia dn which many Washington Shriners
particpated) he says: Being in most
conspicuous place when the immense cam
era went off and took in Masonic Temple
and everything on Broad street during the
parade of X. It's, we were made happy to
know that in the morning papers would
stand up like Richard Occur de Lion, and
our figure be made specially prominent.
When we looked for it the next morning.
we are nothing but a daub of black paint
with d watermelon rind for chapeau. We
had posed in vain. Our great glory had de-
parted in the going down of the sun, and
we are in the dust from whence we, came.
Counting those who had their buttons On.
there were over twenty-five hundred Shrin-
ers in the parade The eagle molts
feather that he may get a better one. So,
when the Templars go out on parade 1t is
only to prepare themselves for a better one
when we dedicate our new temple.
Noble Geos j. Jewill our assistant rab-
ban, says that he sold over 25GO0 fresh
chicken sandwiches and nearly 2,OCO not
quite so fresh, right off the counter be-
sides four barrels of water and some other
soft stuff. We got the mot quite so
fresh but George says he never will get so
good chance to rob US for many moons
again. The Lu Lu circular is also adorn-
ed with portrait Of the recorder on back
cover. 1t is pronounced by Almas mobiles
as very lifelike.
Lu Lu Temple of Philadelphia numbers
among its Mystic Shrine mobiles Prof Max
well Sommerville. a distinguished savant
widely known throughout the country. He
is designated by the Lu Lu potentate as
ambassador to the orient" Prof Som
merVille is also spoken of by Lu Lu officers
with great pride professor of glyptoI-
ogy and vice president of the department
of archaeology of the University of Penn
sylvania, corresponding member of the So
cfete AcademiQue deS Sciences, Arts ct
Belles-Lettres, department de L'Aube,
France. etc. member American Oriental So
ciety. NumiSmatic and Antiquarian Society,"
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, etc,
etc. He is the author of many valuable
works. His Masonic relations have been
to him source of much interest, and he is
a good friend to the Mystic Shrine in gem
eral as is shown in his quick response
when the matter of charity and relief is
brought forward. upon which occasions his
generosity and kindness of heart speak in
potent and unmistakable terms. In this
connection it may not be imprudent to
mention his recent gift to Kadosh Com
mandery. of which he is a member of the
sum of 5000
George Gibson, 33d degree, active inspect
or general for this jurisdiction of the
United States of North America, her terri
tories and dependencies, A. A. S. r., in a
letter to The Evening Star on the subject
of Scottish Rite history says:
Having famiiarized myself somewhat
with the history of Scottish Rite Masonry,
l cannot let pass an article that appeared
in The Star of the Both ultimo relative to
the Southern Council without calling at
tention to number of inaccuracies stated
therein.
1T says that the first register of the Su-
preme Council of the southern jurisdiction
was sent out in 1901 and that it shows
that nine citizens of South Carolina made
thn Svct oil 10 a,-, ,l,,,-
sent out was dated December 4. 1902 and
had five signatures. John Mitchell is
named as the first commander, but he was
commander of a Supreme Council for the
United States.
1T says that DR.. Dalcho succeeded John
Mitchell as commander, whereas in March,
1872, a letter signed by Moses Holbrook'
and James w. Rouse members of the or
ganization, stated that the death of
Mitchell DR.. Frederick Dalcho became
grand commander; but he being Influenced
refused to call his council together
In 1866 Albert Pike said Dalcho refused
to act at all, meaning to destroy the eoun-
ell utterly. and the commander of the
northern jurisdiction said DR.. Dalcho re-
tanned in his own possession everything he
had appertaining to the council manu-
scripts and papers of every description,
and absolutely refused to deliver them up
THE article states that Jacob De La
Motta succeeded to the Office, whereas, in
1866, Mr.. Pike said the northern jursdic-
ton refused to send the Southern Supreme
Council anything after Jacob De La Motta
had sold its manuscripts to some member
of the Cerneau Council
I'm 1866, the commander of the Northern
Council said: The Southern Supreme
Council for the last forty years has been
a myth and a dream Mr.. Pike said If
1t was a myth, it was precisely as the
Northern Supreme Council was. which was
for a long time inactive and idle, having
had no printed records prior to 1851
THE. article further says that Mr. Fur
man was another commander whereas the
published records of the southen council,
dated April 4, 1861, state: The office Of
lieutenant grand commander having been
made vacant by the removal of Bro. Fur
man to the rank of emeritus member Bro.
James Penn was unanimously elected to
fill the vacancy, showing that Mr.. Furman
never was commander.
THE first proceedings published by the
Southern Council did not appear until after
the war of the rebellion and the following
is quoted from the preface. There is no
record, there to be found no minutes
no notes of any previous meetings.
There is nothing to be found. in the shape
of record or minute, to show that ever any
person was elected to membership In the
Supreme Council prior to 1851
I'm 1878 Mr.. Pike said: We have no rec
ord of the transactions at Charleston from
1901 to $780, and there is nothing to show
what the Supreme Council did from its
birth until 1850. 1 do not know when I was
elected a member or when grand COM