Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-13

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John S. Beach.
Eminent Commander Washington Commandery,
No l. *. I.
photo by Buck
1864. He received his education in the dis
trict schools and at DeGarmo Institute.
Rhinebeck. from which he was graduated
in 1854. He was engaged in farming and
commercial pursuits until 1890, when he
entered the government service in the CEN
sus office. In 1893 he was appointed to
clerkShip in the United states pension
agency and became assistant chief clerk,
which office he holds now. While living in
New York he was made a Mason in 1887.
In 1895 he affiliated with Saint Johns
Lodge No. II, of this city, and after filling
the minor stations was elected master In
1901. He received the capitular degree in
Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 3, in 1882 and
became its high priest in 1900. In 1908 ne
was elected treasurer of the chapter. and
was reelected unanimously in 1907. He re-
ceived the order of high priesthood in 1899,
and served as president of the convention
during 1904 He was knighted in Wash
ington Commandery March I. 1900, and has
been al officer of the commandery continue
ously since the following April. The new
commander considers II fortunate comet
dence that the thrtieth triennial conclave of
the Knights Tempar of the United States is
to be held within a few miles of his birth
place ana DOEHODN HOME w dSiiilS lOIl
Commandery has decided to attend the con-
clave, and in his capacity as commander
Eminent Sir Beach will have an escort to
Saratoga of which he will have reason to
be proud. On the 9th of July next that re-
sort will greet not less than twenty five
thousand Tempars. Quarters for the COM
mandery have been secured at Congress
Hall, and the knights and the ladies who
accompany them will leave Washington on
the morning of July by special train, ar
irving in Saratoga in time for dinner. 1t
is expected that Washington Commandery
will take at least 100 swords. and the other
comma nderies will be equally well repre-
scented. Arrangements for martial music
have been made and all other details have
been fully covered. The state of New York
has the largest number of Knights Templar
of any jurisdiction, and their annual con-
claves are notable for large attendance
from all parts of the state. With the ex-
tensive membership of the order in New
England and the adjoining states of Penn
sylvania and Ohio it is anticipated that the
attendance at the meeting at Saratoga in
July will exceed in numbers any previous
triennial conclave. Eminent Sir Beach was
married in 1856. and has a wife and two
daughters. He is a member of the First
Congregational Church of this city.
The annual election of Columbia Com
mandery. No. 2, Knights Templar, resulted
in the choice of the following officers, who
are to be installed at the next regular
conclave: Comma nder, Charles E. Baldwin;
generalissimo. Charles P. SWEET; captain
general Frank A. Sebring; senior warden.
c. A. Stewart; Junior warden, William
McAleer: standard bearer. j. Frank Traz-
Zare sword bearer, +. r. Underwood; war
der, Harry c. c. Stiles; recorder, Faber
Stevenson Ge-electedl; treasurer. George
Gibson (re-elected); prelate, H. P. McIn-
tosh.
The late Isaac C. Slater who died this
week. for more than forty years con-
tinuously a member of Federal Lodge, No.
/, F. A. A. NJ, and Columbia Chapter, No.
/, R. A. NJ He also for twenty years
frater of Washington Commandery' No,
February p. 1913, near Lovettsville, Lou
doun county, Va. At the age of seven years
he removed with his parents to this city,
where he since resided until his deceaSe.
Mr.. Slater entered the service of the Post
Office Department in 1866 and for many
years was employed in the division of rail-
way adjustments Upon the death of the
first superintendent, Mr.. James n. Davis,
he was appointed superintendent. This po-
sition he resigned late in 1884 to enter into
partnership with former Second Assistant
Postmaster General William B. Thompson
under the firm name of Thompson & Slater,
located in the Glover building, and doing
a general business before the several de-
partments of the government. In 1870 Mr..
Slater was married to Miss Edith S. Harris.
Mrs Slater died February u, 1903 He left
two children, Harris w Slater of New
York and Miss Helen c. Slater of this city,
and grandson. William House Slater He
is also survived by sister. Mrs. Luther w.
Slater, and a brother, William F. Slater
of the Post Office Department. In his early
life Mr.. Slater became identified with St.
Paurs Lutheran Church, transferring his
membership in 1869 to the mission Cap
itol Hill, which afterward became the
Church of the Reformation. He was for
many years and at the time Of his death
superintendent of the Sunday school of the
church. Mr.. Slater was for many years
treasurer of the board of home missions
of the general synod of the Lutheran
nd al 10 mn
a director of the theological seminary at
Gettysburg, Pa, and member of the
board of trustees of the National Lutheran
Home for the Aged in this city, of which
board he was also recording secretary.
The principal address at the Grand
90. F. A. A. NJ. Thursday night was by
Edgar Calendar Snyder, 33'. Mr. Snyder
who is the Washington correspondent of the
Omaha Bee is an honorary member of the
course of his remarks Mr. Snyder said:
In these days of social and political I'M
rest. in these days of conspiracy and re-
dictionary movements. it is the part of
wisdom to turn from the pessimism which |
seems to grip our people to the optimism
which is found in our Masonic teaching; to |
the lodge room. wherein is found a large
humanity and even-handed justice.
Masonry. around whose affairs the Chris |
tian, the Hebrew. the Moslem the Brahmin |
and the follower of every creed who is
worthy of such fellowship assemble as |
brethren and unite in prayer to the one God |
above all others. leaves to each of it's ini- |
tiates to look for the foundation of its faith |
and hope in the written scriptures of his
religion. For itself. Masonry finds |
those truths definite enough which are
written by the finger of God upon the
heart of man and on the pages of the book
of nature
while | recognize that men are pre-
eminently social beings and societies like
the Masonic fraternity are necessary adj
juncts to civilization, 1 find a much deeper
reason for men combining under the stand
ard of Freemasonry than the mere element
of social intercourse which grows out of