Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-16
lAMQNGTHE
y fRATERNlTlES|

AFRATEpNlTlESO
The Imperial Council Of the Mystic
Shrine. which has been in session at Chi
cago this week, was presided over by
Imperial Potentate Henry A. Collins of
Toronto, Ontario, whose term of office ex-
pfred with the conclusion of the session.
There were few festivities in connection
with this meeting; which had originally
been called for Los Angeles, but was
transferred to Chicago after the San
Francisco earthquake disaster, and the
Los Angeles entertainment fund was or
dered devoted to the relief of the Frisco
sufferers. The conclave was the thirty
second in the history of the Shrine. The
affairs of the Imperial Council are in eX-
cellent condition, and the order is steadily
increasing In numbers. The election of
officers resulted, as is customary with the
Imperial Council, in the advancement of
the entire official line, while DR.. ]. Put
Me, was chosen to fill the vacancy in
the position of imperial outer guard,
which Is the foot of the line For this
position of imperial outer guard, the only
Office for which there was a contest, there
were seven candidates. After the second
ballot, with DR.. Stevens lacking only
three votes to insure victory and H F.
Niedringhaus of ST. Louis close second,
the latter mounted the platform, and, in
stirring speech withdrew from the con-
test in the interest of harmony. The five
ample, and Dr. Stevens election was made
unanimous. Los Angeles was selected
the next place of meeting, and the date
was fixed for May Z. 1907. Louisville and
St Paul. which had put forth strong eff
forts to secure the next meeting, with
drew from the contest
The new officers of the Imperial Council
follow: Imperial potentate, Alvah P. Clay
ton st. Joseph, Mo-; imperial deputy po-
tentate, Frank c. Roundy, Chicago; impe-
rial chief rabban. Edwin Alderman. Ma,
prophet. Fred A. Tines, Los Angeles. Cal;
Imperial oriental guide, William S. Brown,
Pittsburg, Pa; imperial treasurer, Benja-
min w. Roweil. Boston; imperial recorder,
J. Frank Great, Fargo, N. D.; imperial
first ceremonial master, VIM. J. Cunning
ham, Baltimore: imperial second ceremo-
NAL master. William w. Irwin, Wheeling,
W. Va; imperial marshal, Jacob T. Bar
ron, Columbia, s. c.; imperial captain Of
the guard Frederick r. Smith, Roches-
ter. N. Y; imperial outer guard. DR.. ].
Putnam Stevens, Lewiston, Me: ,,s
pensation for one new temple, to be located
at Saginaw. Michigan. and to be known as
Elf Khurafeh. 1t will divide the jurisdic-
pie Of Detroit and Saladin Temple of
Grand Rapids, both of which will be well
remembered by local Shriners from the
session of the Imperial Council here in
1890. At that time Moslem Temple shone
In the parade, and Salad1n Temple, which
had its headquarters at the Riggs House,
had the honor of having among its MEM
bers Lou B. Winsor, the then imperial
potentate. The new temple is said to be
already preparing for the initiation of the
first class, which will take place June %.
both be present with their officers and a
large number of members, to witness the
initiation Of the class, which 1t Is esti
mated will number about seventy-five
members.
The session Of the Imperial Council was
rendered sad one. as the delegation from
Almas Temple of this city has recently lost
The late George Harold Walker and the
late Edwin B. Hay had each served many
years in the Imperial Council and each
had gained prominence in the body. Mr..
Walker was the practical founder
Of Almas Temple. and drafted a
large part of the ritual now In use by the
Shriners everywhere. Mr. Hay had won
floor OF the Imperial Council. That body
took appropriate action upon the death OF
both these prominent Shriners.
The admission Of the new state OF Okla
homa presents some interesting problems
to the large fraternal bodies now having
Grand Lodges In each of the territories
frop which the new state Is formed. Some
the anomalous condition might present IT.
self OF two grand bodies in the same COM
monweaith. This Is particularly true OF
the Grand Lodges Of Masons. which. having
to exist. But the question might arise
whether each was entitfed to exercise con-
current Jurisdiction in the entire state or
only over its old territory Or would Indian
Territory yield in all cases because the
names OF her Grand Lodges have become
obsolete7 And think of ell the good men
and true" who will find themselves out of
highly honorable fraternal positions in the
new united grand bodies7 How many am
bilious members now In line In the several
grand bodies will never reach the head OF
the grand bodies II they .fuse?" The prob
lem Is a new one in American fraterniees,
for while many grand jurisdictions have
heretofore been divided by the establish
ment of new states and territories. never
before have distinct and established grand
jurisdictions been united All the leading
orders are strong in the new state.
Free Masonry was early introduced into
what Is now Oklahoma from Arkansas, and
the first lodges held charters from the
Grand Lodge OF the latter state The eldest
lodge in Oklahoma is Eufala, which was
fifty years old last November. After the
civil war the Grand Lodge of Kansas char
tered several lodges in the then Indian Ter
ritory, and In 1873 several lodges united TO
form Grand Lodge for the territory. Thus
at one time three seperate Grand Lodges
were exercising Jurisdiction In the territory.
But Arkansas and Kansas subsequently re-
tired.
Columbia Commandery, No. 2. knights
Templar, held stated conclave at its
asylum. In Masonic Temple. last evening
The orders of the temple and Malta were
conferred Announcements was made Of the