Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-28
MASONIC GRANDL0DcE
Annual Election Of Officers
Held Last N ght.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
REPORT READ FROM THE RETIR-
ING GRAND MASTER.
Particular Attention Given to Masonic
Temple Project-Tribute
to the Dead.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR

" Lie D6aQ.
The Grand Lodge, F. A.. A. NJ. of the
District Of Columbia. at its annual election
last evening, chose the following officers
for the ensuing year:
Walter A. Brown, grand master
Francis j. Woodman, deputy grand mas
ter
Augustus B. Coolidge, senior grand war
den.
henry X. Simpson. Junior grand warden
Arvine w. Johnston, grand secretary.
James A. Sample. grand treasurer.
Thomas II. Young, grand lecturer.
Rev. Daniel w Skelenger, grand chap
lain.
Rev. Joseph Dawson, assistant grand
chaplain
George c. Ober, grand marshal.
J..Ciaude KEEPER. senior grand deacon.
Ben w. Murch, junior grand deacon.
Charles e. Baldwin, grand sword bearer.
I. John Newton, grand pursurvant,
John Speed Smith. senior grand steward.
Alex. Mckenzie, junior grand steward.
Warren c. Bickford grand tiler.
James A. Wetmore, trustee, three years.
James A Sample, representative to Ma
sonic Temple Association.
Frank II. Thomas representative to Ma
sonic Hall Association.
Representatives on board of managers
Eastern Star Home James A. wetmore,
Lurtin r. CHM and Charles J. James
Retiring Grand Masters Report.
The retiring grand master, Lurtin r.
CHM, who has had very successful year
presented his report a principal feature of
which was his reference to the new Ma
sonic Temple project, which is given in full.
as follows:
IF the brethren of the jurisdiction were
fully conscious of the inadequacy of the
present Masonic Temple for the purposes
of the craft; If they could but be made to
realize that we have outgrown the old
temple; that the lodge rooms are not large
enough for many OF the bodies meeting
therein; that it does not afford US proper
office rooms for the grand master and
grand secretary; that it has no suitable
place for our library; that it has no ade-
quate accOmmoda lions for various commit
tee meetings; that 1t has no reading rooms
wherein the brethren may spend quiet
and profitable hour; that it has no stffi-
Client recreataion rooms wherein the breth-
rem may indulge in the innocent pastimes,
amuSementS and games of conservative
club life, thus preventing in some measure,
at least. some of them from pursuing
course which leads perhaps to defeat and
destruction; that the present temple, being
non-freproof, Is in constant danger of de-
Struction by fire, and at a time, too. when
the lodge, chapter and commandery rooms
are filled with the brethren, thus destroy
ing records and perhaps iife-I say if our
brethren could but realize and appreciate
these things the new temple would ere this
have been transferred from building on
paper and IN the brain of the architect into
a building of stone and brick and iron, suit
ed to the needs of great and growing fra
ternity, equipped with every modern con-
venience and demand. and an ornament to
this great capital city of our nation.
But Partially Successful.
1.-The endeavor of the New Masonic Tenn
pie Association to raise by subscription the
sum of s125,GO0, inaugurated in the spring.
has been but partially uccessful-about
one-half of such sum being subscribed.
Many of the brethren have not up to this
time been responsive to the suggestion of
the association that each individual member
of the fraternity subscribe for an average
of one and one-half shares of stock cost
ing $15-to be paid~for in installments. If
they had but done this. the new temple
would now be an assured fact, its beginning
in sight, and its erection and occupancy
but question of few years.
THE New Masonic Temple Association Is
truly representative in character, inasmuch
as every branch of Masonry in this juris-
dictlon is represented in IT. They all have
a voice in the building of the temple, the
project thus becomes cooperative, and If
the building can but be realized / believe
sincerely that a substantial betterment of
the financial conditions of the various
bodies represented will OF necessity follow.
Hopes for Favorable Response.
II have referred to this movement for a
new temple at the several grand visitations,
l have urged a general cooperation on the
part of our brethren. and l take UP the
matter here in the length | have In the
hope that what I have said may cause a
response and cooperation by some of our
brethren who have thus far been indffer-
TO Of ha Graf &C
far unresponsive to the appeals of the as
ISOLATION.
Let us all join hands heartily and erect
temple suited TO the needs, and In every
respect worthy of the fraternity in this
Jurisdiction. If we will but do this We may
soon, even in the coming year, lay the cor
nerstone of a building that will properly
reflect in It's beauty, in its proportions, and
in its appointments the great institution
of Masonry in the District of Columbia"
The Masonic Dead.
The grand master also alluded feelngly to
the Masonic dead of the year, saying:
Robert Clarke, past deputy grand mas
ter, died at Erie, Pa, February 30, 1905.