The Jersey City news., 1906-06-09

pefng conducted tOrSecure tnelf presence,
with promises already in hand insuring
notable flow of oratory. The general
topic for the after-dinner exercises will
be Free Masonry as a World Power"
In years past there has been some SEN
timent against the triennial, but recently
this has turned strongly in favor of the
general grand chapter, which is now
stronger than ever. One of the greatest
benefits of the triennials is the bringing
together of delegates from all sections of
the country in fraternal meetings, which
have bound individuals and sections more
strongly together This year promises
greater results than ever before. Re
sponces already receivedindicat that sew
eral hundred delegates and their ladies
will be in Boston in June. The last tri-
ennial was held in Little Rock, Ark, and
it has not been held in Boston since 1850.
The General Grand Chapter of the
United States was established in Boston
ON October "a, 1897. The first session
was convention of representatives of
ST Andrews Chapter, of Boston; New
buryport Chapter. of Newburyport (since
renamed King Cyrus Chapter, and Tenn
pie Chapter, of Albany, N. Y There
were only seven royal arch Masons pres
emit at this convention. These delegates
met in the old Masonic Hall in Anne
street, now North street, and concluded
to issue circulars to the royal arch chap
tiers of New England and New York
State, calling meeting in Hartford.
This convention was held in that city on
January "a. 1898. and there was COM
pleted the organization of the General
Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the Unit
ed States.
They elected as the first general grand
high priest Ephriam Kirby. of Connect
cut. He was installed by Benjamin
Hurd, of st. Andrews Chapter, of Bos-
ton, the oldest grand high priest present.
They also adopted constitution provid-
ing Tor convocations septenially. These
convocations We're held once in seven
years until 1926. when the general grand
constitution Was amended and trienniai
convocations established.
The ninth triennial assembly of tho
Royal and Select Masters of the limited
States will open on Monday morning
june u, with special assembly of the
Gfand Council of Massachusetts,. when
Most fllustrious General Grand Master,
allure" 4. SWanstrom, of Minneapolis.
and the officers of the General Grand
oounci Will be received by Most Illus
trious Grand Master Edwin S. Grandon.
with an address of welcome. The gem
eral grand master will reply, following
which the business of the General Grand
Council, including the election of q cars
VIII proceed with morning and afternoon
sessions. On Monday evening Boston
oounell VIII give an exemplifcation of
the work of one of the degrees accord
ing to the method adopted by Massacbu-
setts. The ladies of the delegates will
De entertained that evening at a banouet
at the new Algonquin Club.
On Tuesday morning there will ba a
snort session at which officers will be in
spalieo and the business of the assembly
brought to conclusion. The committee
of the Grand Council of Massachusetts
IN charge of the ninth triennial assembly
mas been at work several months and is
planning royayl welcome for the off,
GERS, members and ladies of the General
Grand Council.
OF the Grand Council of Maine on Nav
8, 1871, after a conference with compan.
IONS from Massachusetts, Josiah H
Drummond. of Portland, was directed te
call convention of representatives o4
the several grand councils TO meet in the
room of Adelphic Council No. Z. in
Council Hall, Union Square. New York
City, on Wednesday, June IL, 1872. AL.
though the general grand council has
passed through many changes since that
date, 1t was really the inception of that
body. William f. Anderson of Massa,
ehusetts, was elected temporary presi
dent. and delegates We're present from
eleven States. New Brunswick was also
represented by proxy. Later Mr.. Drum,
mond was chosen permanent president
with James B. Carr, of North Carolina,
as first vice-president; w. H. Ball. OF
Missouri, second yice-president, and
Thomas ]. Carson, of New Jersey, sec.
retary. After a two days session the
convention adjourned to meet in New
York the following year.
In 1873 nineteen States were repre-