Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-21


in recent years.
There are now about 10000 link
fraters in Canada, q 900 of them in On
tario alone. The drill teams were of marked
efficiency, and everything connected with
the session was success. Denver was
chosen as the place for holding the next
sovereign grand lodge. over Chicago, al
though an effort was made to honor the
latter city by way of tribute to the present
Grand Sire F. ]. Conway. who halls from
the Illinois metropolis. He himself appre-
ciated the compliment, but did not exert
any authority or influence to that end, and
Denver won hands down." The Sovereign
Grand Lodge voted 10 cents mileage going
and coming and So day for grand repre-
sentatves. AS the Sovereign Grand Lodge
sits several days 1nd st. Paul is a good
from the capital will just about pay eX-
penses. Gen. NJ. 4. Raney was reelected
for a term of four years major general
commanding the Patriarchs Militant. The
prizes for the uniformed branch of the
order aggregated 5000. The local repre-
sentatves secured good places commit
tees. and in time veterans of the District
delegation will doubtless rank with the lead
ers the District lost in Frederick A. Stier
and William p. Allen.
The Supreme Council of the Northern Jur-
isdiction, $50, A. A. S. R., he'd its ninety
fourth annual session at Boston this week.
It was one of thes most largely attended
gatherings in the history of the jurisdiction
and some notable Legislation was enacted.
The Northern Jurisdiction has control of
the affairs of Scottish Rite Masonry in all
that part of the United States east of the
Mississippi river and north of the Potomac,
excepting Maryland and the District of Co
lumba. Upon its roster are borne the
names of 5s,53S members of the lodges of
perfection, which controls the Scottish de-
grees from the fourth to the fourteenth. in
elusive During the session fifty-six new
honorary inspectors general were created,
including William NJ DIN long
of the commonwealth.
The session was honored by the presence
of the grand old man of the Northern
Jurisdiction, Sovereign Grand Commander
Henry l.. Palmer, who will in few days
celebrate his eighty-nnth birthday. He
is not strong, but in good health consider
ing his great age. The Supreme Council
voted to hold its next convention at Buff
falo. Lieut.. Grand Commander Samuel z.
Lawrence of Massachusetts, Charles T.
Gallagher of the same state and Barton
Smith of Ohio, who were the Northern
Jurisdiction delegates to the recent inter
council of supreme councils at Brussels
made their report on the proceedings
which was approved. The Supreme Council
changed the name of Ernest A. Raymond
Consistory at Nashua n. A. to New Hamp-
shire Consistory, and chartered a new con-
sistOry at Dayton, Ohio, and a new lodge
of perfection at East ST. Louis. Mo. An
amendment to the constitution was adopted
altering and rendering more certain the
code of trials in matters of discipline.
After the conclusion of the work the en-
tire Supreme Council took autos to Medford
where Gen. Lawrence has large estate
and were deliberately entertained. There
were also the usual banquets and other
festivities in Boston.
Among the visitors from the other su-
preme jurisdictions were Sovereign Grand
Commander James D. Richardson of Wash
ington, Sovereign Grand Commander J. NJ.
Gibson and Past Sovereign Grand Com
mander ]. V. Ellis of Canada.
Sovereign Grand, Commander Richardson
returned to the city yesterday from attend
ance on the Northern Supreme Council and
was seen at the House of the Temple. He
reports the session one of the most interest
ing he has attended in any jurisdiction.
He was a speaker at the principal BAN
quet and also addressed the Supreme Coun-
Gil. Mr., Richardson says that Lieutenant
Grand Commander Lawrence will attend
the session of the Supreme Council for the
Southern Jurisdiction. Sovereign Grand
Commander Palmer will be unable to at
tend by reason of advanced age. The sub
stitute however, is one of the most distin-
guished of American Masons and has been
member of the Northern Masonic Juris-
diction since 1856, matter of over forty
years.
Grand Commander Richardson brought
back from Boston a fine gold badge pre-
scented to him on behalf of the Supreme
Council of Canada 1t represents the dou-
ble-headed eeagie of the Scottish Rite rest
ing on the maple leaf emblem of the Do
mlnion and is suitably inscribed.
A host OF Odd Fellows and Rebekahs
gathered at the Pennsylvania railroad sta
ton last evening for the purpose of saying
goodbye to Past Grand Master w. II. Nc
Mel and his wife, who were starting to
New Orleans where Mr. McNiel enters the
customs service. The gathering was COM
posed of representatives of many Of the
subordinate and Rebekah lodges all anx-
| ious to attest their high regard for Brother
and Sister McNiel," who for several years
| have been among the most energetic and
| earnest workers in this jurisdiction. They
| go to the southland primarily for Mrs.
| McNiels health, believing that warmer win
| ters will be beneficial Both of them are
| natives of Texas 1t was declared by all
| that Odd Fellowship in the District of Co
| lumbia suffers greatly in the loss of Mr..
| and Mrs. McNiel, who enjoyed the conf
| dence and respect of the membership to
| an unusual degree.
Mr. McNiel brought his membership to
| Washington when he entered the govern
| ment service in 1856, his first evening in
this city being spent In an Odd Fellows
| lodge. He became a member of Metropolis
Lodge No Is. shortly after his arrival
| here. He remained an active member OF
| that lodge until 1899. whens on account of
| his home being in the northeast section
| OF the city, he moved to Federal City Lodge,
No. 90 in which he still retains his men,
| bershp.
He was appointed grand conductor of the
| Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia in
| July 1889. and filled successfully the Offices
| of grand marshal, grand warden and depu-
| ty grand master, and in 1904 became grand
| master. His administration marked by
| great activity in all branches of the order,
| and through him many progressive and up
! to-date ideas and plans were, brought for
. ward and carried INTO effect.
| Mr. and Mrs. McNiel were charter mem
| bers of Dorcas Rebekah Lodge. No. 4, in
stituted October II, 1885, and have always
. vorly,,