Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-11
MASONS DEDICATE
Members of Colored Order Per-
form Ceremonies at Prince
Hall Masonic Homs.
OPEN GRAND LODGE SESSION
n. e. Burris, of Rock Island, Candidate
fer Reelection as Grand Mas
ter-Others to Elect.

The Prince Hall Masonic home i'll
South Rock Island was dedicated yes
terday afternoon by the members OF
the colored grand lodge, a. F. and A
NJ. of the Illinois jurisdiction. The
ceremonies of dedication opened at
the home with a prayer. offered by the
grand chaplain. r. J. b. Ellington. of
Chicago. president of the board of trus-
tees, made a brief statement of the
purpose of the gathering, and called
on Grand Master H. f. Burris. of this
city, who carried out the services of
dedication. Mr.. Ellington. who acted
N the capacity of grand marshal. call
ed on the following prominent dele
gates, who made brief addresses ap-
propriate to the occasion: r. K. Moore.
Col. John Marshall. ID. ID. Lacey. Chi
cage: Hon. Hugh Singleton Decatur;
William T. Green. Milwaukee; A. Mad
ison. Monmouth; George Jessie. Cham
paign, H.: J. T. Jones, Chicago: AL
bert Young. Chicago.
Evening Banquet.
At the big banquet held at Hillier's
hall in the evening. at which there
were 125 members of the order in at
tendance. Grand Master H. E. Burris
made an address of appreciation for
the work done in Rock Island for the
Masonic home He pointed out the
good accomplished by the institution,
and told of the successes since its or
ganization. He then called attention to
the need of the continuous support of
the institution by the grand lodge, and
nil - .a fxrtr x~f Ia IAr
the grand lodge administrations.
An interesting address made follow
ing the banquet. which was the big
social event of the communication. was
that of George Jessie, of Champaign,
who took up the negro problem, and
discussed il as it is and its solutions
He pointed out that the coiored race
has made great progress. though handi
capped by prejudice and many Obsta-
cles. He said that he anticipated
greater progress in the future, and
suggested education as the means of
raising his race. He mentioned the
colored masonic orders as having
strong beneficial influence. Addresses
were made also by r. E. Moore, of Chi
cago. and William r. Green, of Mil
waukee.
Annual Election of Officers.
This afternoon the delegates will
hold the annual election of officers, and
an enthusiastic contest is to be made
for the Office of grand master. Fl. Z.
Burris, of this city, present grand mas
ter, is candidate for reelection. and
his candidacy is approved of by a large
portion of the lodge. George Jessie,
of Champaign and r. J. B. Ellington, of
Chicago, are also candidates, and have
many friends in the lodge.
Following are the officers and dele
gates in attendance at the grand lodge:
Henry f. Burris, grand master; r. J.
b. Ellington, G. S. w; Thomas Ringo
G. j. W.; ID. c. Gibson, grand treasur
err; r. E. Moore, grand secretary; J.
B. McCleary, grand lecturer; ID. ID. La
cey, Chicago, past deputy grand mas
,er; Ben Mitchell and William barrow,
Galesburg; A. Madison, Monmouth; w.
c. Buckley. Moline; A. II. Young, SAM
uel Carey. l.. w. Dickerson. c. T. Lee,
George E. Maxfield, George r. Filing
ton. Chicago; J. w. Ingraham, Moline;
Lon Barton, Pontiac; J. w. Davis.
<tlchduutI 11dDc East ol.
Louis; J. Budd. Evanston; Robert
Gray, Murphysborough j. T. Jones,
Chicago; II. Allen, Aurora; w. G. Haw-
kins, Milwaukee; A. Hampton, Chica-
go; J. w. Busey, Moline; James Ira
cey. Chicago; G. Fl. Jessie, Champaign;
William Rankin, Chicago; B. Singleton
Decatur; j. Finney, Galesburg; D. a.
Dishman, Joliet: II. s. Cooper Chica-
go; b. Richardson, Galesburg; Peter
Monsoon, Monmouth; J. E Miller, r. ID.
Cathar, Chicago; S. w. Moore. Cairo:
d. J. BIB. Centralia; T. r. Tackett,
East st. Louis; Col J. r. Marshall, Chi
cago;; II. l.. Bartholomew. Duquoin:
Eli Brown, S. z. Pope, Danville; r.
Helm, j. II. Kelly. Belleville: c. F.
Boyer, Aurora; J. r. Skinner and
Frank w. King, Chicago