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

:"
Venerable Master Albert Pike Consstory, A.A.S.R.
and is present venerable master of Albert
Pike Consistory. He is a X. c. c. II. in the
Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction
A A. s. r., and was a charter member OF
Superior Lodge, X. of p. He is a past
chancellor and present grand representa-
tive OF that body.
Mr.. Harshman is chairman of the COM
mttee on audit of the Masonic Temple AS
sociation. which will make its final report
tonight. He has been forceful ard sue
cessIul presiding officer in all bodies in
which he has flied the chair.
Sovereign Grand Commander James d.
Richardson of the Southern Jurisdiction.
A. A. S. r., is devoting his attention close
~ to the important Masonic interests which,
during his lifetime, are in his charge. Ills
approaching retirement from national pub
lie life, with which he has been prom-
nently identified for many years, is due to
his desire To give his time almost wholly
to the Scottish Rite institution.
Mr.. Richardson is the youngest man who
has ever held the exalted position of grand
commander. and also one of the most
prominent OF the men who have filled the
Office. His career began by his gallant
service under the stars and bars for four
years during which he was first a private
and afterward adjutant of the celebrated
10Th Tennessee Infantry, c. S. A. He has
never ceased to hold his army experience
in high regard, and always wears the
badge of the Confederate Veterans.
After the war Mr.. Richardson at once
turned his attention to state and national
affairs. He was elected member OF the
Tennessee house of representatives, at the
age Of twenty-eght years and was chosen
speaker on the very day OF his being sworn
ina rare distinction. He was elected to the
state senate two years later, and in both
those bodies he showed the same high par
hamentary skill afterward long displayed
in other places He was elected to Congress
In M has ha4 ttYntIn trC1x ala,t
ed ever stnce-ten times in all. He has
served as chairman of the committee on
District of Columbia and the committee on
printing, and Speaker pro tempore of
the House. He was acting chairman or
the democratic national convention in 1886
and permanent chairman of that of 1900
He was formerly chairman of the demo-
cratic congressional committee and is the
present democratic floor leader of the
House. He has long been recognized as
one of the ablest parliamentarians in Con-
gress His retirement from the House, in
which he probably could have continued to
sit for life. was high evidence on his part
of devotion to Masonry
The honors Mr.. Richardson has attained
in that ancient fraternity rank in the view
of that order fully up with those he
achieved in public life. He was grand
master of Masons at the age of thirty, and
has also been grand high priest of Royal
Arch Masons. He has been active inspect
or general of the a. A S. r. for Tennessee
for twenty-one years. In the Supreme
Council he was elected lieutenant grand
commander from the floor. He succeeded
to the sovereign grand commandership
about three years ago. This is a life posi-
ton. His Jurisdiction includes ali the
United States south of PENNSYLVANIA and
the Ohio river and west of the Mississippi
Porto Rico, the Philippines and all the
American dependencies.
The head of the Supreme Council has
shown the keenest interest in the different
Scottish Rite bodies of this district more
so than has any grand commander since
Gen. Pike During the last few DAYS he has
participated in a number of notable A. A.
5. X. events, beginning with the reception
and musicale In celebration of the one hun
dred and second anniversary of the founda-
ton OF the Supreme Council. Monday even
ing. He was the guest of honor at a din
ner rendered by Simon Wolf thirty-third
degree, TO all the honorary thirty thirds in
TINS jurisdiction at the Villa Flora a cour-
teous compliment which will be returned in
due form the coming week This is the he
ginning of what will probably become an
annual custom among Masons of the
southern Jurisdiction residing in WASHING
ton On next Tuesday evening he will at
tend Evangelist Chapter of Rose Croix. on
which occasion the fifteenth degree will be
conferred. ~
Ar the approaching meeting of the Sow
ereign Grand Lodge, /. o. o. F.. one of the
most notable members from the Pacific
slope will be absent. Daniel Norcross. wa7