Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-10
AMONG THE
FRATERNITIES

The semi-annual convention of the Su-
preme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction,
A. A. S. r.. opens at the House of the
Temple Monday, October 10. This will be a
notable session of this important Masonic
body. 1t will be presided over by Grand
Commander James d. Richardson of Ten
nessee. who succeeded the late Thomas il.
Casweil of California three years ago. The
southern jurisdiction so-called, Is the
ser.ior body of Scottish Rite Masons of
America. 1t controls the states west OF
the Mississippi and south of the Potomac.
Maryland, Delaware and the District OF
Columbia. In addition Porto Rico and tre
Philippines are under the jurisdiction of
this supreme council. The states not in
Guided in the southern jursdction-fOur-
teen in number-the six New England
states, New York, New Jersey. Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin-are controlled by the supreme
council of the northern jurisdiction, of
which the distinguished Mason Henry l..
Palmer of Wisconsin, is grand commander.
Grand Commander Palmer will be one OF
the most distinguished MasonS in atten-
dance upon the -approa ching session of the
Southern Supreme Council. He comes TO
pay a return vist'fDr the one lately made
to Boston by Grand Commander James ID.
Richardson. - spn
n-
Grand Commander Richardson, who holds
the highest plaee7in the Scottish Rite Ma
sorry of the worhiJ has been prominent
figure in national political life for twenty
five years. His conspicuous activity IN
political affairs faS, however, never inter
fer ed in the devotion to Masonry that be-
gar in his early manhood. Mr.. Richardson
is sixty years ODD ~ native of the state he
has long represented in Congress. and
is one Of the youngest men who was ever
grand commander If the 4. a: s. r. He
began his CAREER as devoted soldier of
the lost ca9sa, SERVING for four years under
the sta sand obarsJ He enlisted. as a. prt-
vate. but Recommendations of the celebrated
18th Tennessee Infantry, C. 8. A. His pub
lie and Masonic 7ca -aers have both been
conspicuous" Hei attained high political
and fraternal honors at an early age.
|. Thirty-f0ur years ago he, was elected 10
tbs lower house of the Tennessee 1egisla-
ture and took his seat in October, 1871.
On the first day he was elected speaker of
the house, he being then only twenty-eight
years OF age. He was elected to the state
senate the following session, 1sI3-14 He
was grandmother of Masons in Tennessee,
1S73-74. grand high priest Of the Grand
Chapter. Royal Arch Masons of the state,
1882 and inspector general, Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite, 33d degree. in Ten
nessee He was delegate to the st. Louis
democratic convention in 1876. and also 10
the Chicago democratic convention in 1886
and Kansas City in 1900. He was elected
to the Forty ninth, Fftieth, F'ifty-first.
Fifty-second Fifty-third Fifty-fourth.
F'ifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh and Fifty-eighth
Congresses. He has been an active Ia
spector general of the A. A. s. r.. for
twenty-one years. and member Of Con-
gress for nineteen years. He was elected
from the floor of the Supreme Counc1l
lieutenant grand commander and after
ward grand commander. He was Speaker
pro tenn of the House of Representatives in
1882 and twice the democratic candidate
for Speaker. the latter honor carrying with
it the democratic leadership of the House.
nf hA
democratic national convention of 1895 and
permanent presiding officer OF that OF 100.
He also formerly chairman or Inc
de mocratic national committee He has
now however, determined to devote him
self principally to the high and honorable
duties of the eminent life position to which
he has been advanced by the favor or the
Supreme Council. He is making one OF the
ablest leaders in the history of the A. A.
S. r.
The Grand Lodge, F. A. A. M. has made
a number of changes in the new conSt-
tuition, which went into erect August
last. These most recent changes are de-
signed to render the working of the new
constitution easier and its several parts
more harmonious. Under the last changes
the officers and members OF the Grand
Lodge are titularly described as follows:
ID grand master, whose title shall be
most worshipful: deputy grand master,
senior grand warden, a junior grand
warden, a Rrand SECRETARY anu BIdHu
trea surer, whose titles shall be right wor-
shipful: a grand lecturer whose title shall
be worshipful; a, grand chaplain and an
assistant grand chaplain whose titles shall
be reverend and worshipful; grand mar
shall a senior grand deacon. junior grand
deacon, grand sword bearer. a grand
pursuivant, Senior grand steward and
junior grand steward, whose titles shall be
t srana pas
deputy grand masters. past senior grand
wardens, past tupi0r grand wardens, past
grand secretaryes. past grand treasurers.
G) Masters of the constituent lodges, whose
titles shall be Horshipful, or their proxies.
az Wardens OF TIE constituent lodges, or
their proxies 60 Past masters who are
members of lodseseof this jurisdiction.
. An important change Is new law by
which lodges NAY initiate, pass or raise as
many as five at iohe communication: Here
tofore not more 5tsan three persons could
be made Master Aasons at the same COM
munication. The provision that secretaries
of lodges shall Keep book and enter
therein. alphabetically, the names Of per-
sons who have fbeen rejected, suspended or
expelled by any sIedg, in this jurisdiction"
is stricken out, Of the constitution. 1t is
also newly provided that in the case Of
Masons who desire to affiliate the limit
OF twelve months residence shall not be
essential. u, .fn
Federal City Lodge. No, 20. I. O. o. F..
at its regular meeting Wednesday evening
devoted the time principally to rendering
CONGRATULATIONS to lis successful degree
staff, or team, fresh from its triumph in
Baltimore. where II again captured the
first prize In conteSE for the best exempli
fication of the first degree. or degree of
friendship. 80 $500
Federal City,s degree stan. thirty-seven
strong boarded a special car for Baltimore
Tuesday, the 22d ulrizno, to enter the
first degree contest with Woodward Lodge
OF Iowa, Marion IG aga OF Indiana and
Chosen Friends Lolse OF New Jersey in the
Fourth Regiment i.rlaoey, On the corner OF
.Faye.te ana PacA sireoes. Past Grand Mas
ter j. =. Wcc& va degase Director and
Cses. L. v. C.,..;n ~ VA s.zA master. On
q sr'ct -psrx.n4 IA va Epo-.ed the