The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-10
THE GRAND LODGE
Of MASONS HERE
Session Begins in Raleigh
on Tuesday.
EXPECT BIG MEETING
Plans for the New Masonic Temple in
Raleigh Will be Considered and
Many Important Matters
Will Claim Attention of
This Great Order.

The Grand Lodge of North Carolina
will convene in its one hundred and six
teenth annual communication in this city
next Tuesday, January 18th. The growth
of the Order during the past year has
been remarkable. We learn from the
Grand Secretary, Mr. ]. c. Drewry, that
the returns will show an increase in mem
bership of nearly 1000, and this increase
most influential business men in the
State.
The Grand Lodge of North Carolina
was organized in the year 1887. Prior
to that time the province of North Car
DINA was under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of England. Governor Sam
uel Johnson was elected the first Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge. Since that
time a number of the most illustrious pa
triots and citizens of North Carolina
have presided over the destinies of this
grand body, among them Governor Rich
ard Caswell, who was second Grand Master
OF the Grand Lodge; Governor VIM. Davie,
who was third Grand Master, after whom
came such illustrious men as Gen. Will
liam Polk, Judge John Louis Taylor
Judge John Hall, Benjamin Smith and a
hist of prominent men who have made
the history of North Carolina illustrious.
The first Orphan Asylum ever estab-
lished in this State was organized by the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina. This
Orphan Asylum, located at Oxford, is a
model institution and now has within its
walls nearly three hundred little orphans
who are being educated ond protected
with tender care by this noble order.
The Masons of North Carolina have
now undertaken to erect a Temple in
the city of Raleigh to cost not less than
$125, 000 This is to be one of the hand
soonest buildings in the South. y is
estimated that the revenue from this
building will amount to about twelve
or fifteen thousand dollars annually, and
every dollar of the net income from the
building will be used for charitable and
benevolent purposes The legislature at
its last session in it's wisdom, saw fit to
exempt this property from taxation, be-
cause the revenue derived from the build
ing is to be used for benevolent purposes.
The meeting next week is expected to
be one of the largest meetings in the
history of the order Reduced rates have
been secured on all the railroads.
A number of important matters will
claim the attention of the Grand Lodge
at this session. The plans for the build
ing OF the Temple will be considered, and
it is expected that the time for the COM
mencement of the work VIII be arranged
The order is doing a great work in the
State, and it is gratifying to every good
citizen in the State to mark its wonderful
growth. Very few outside of the order are
aware of the great amount of good done
by the Masons of this State in the silent
watches of the day and night. The mem
bers of this order go about silently and
quietly relieving distress wherever it is
found, and whisper words of good council
in the ears of erring brethren They
endeavor to carry out the Biblical in
junction in not letting the left hand know
what the right hand doeth in their modes
and manner OF doing good.