Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-19
MASTER MASONS MEET
Grand Lodge of the District in
Annual Session.
A GAIN IN MEMBERSHIP
Grand Master Woodman Submits
Report for the Past Year.
SUBORDINATE LODGES VISITED
Tribute to Deceased Members-Ref-
erence to Recent Masonic Fair
and Prospective Temple.
SUBORDINATE LODGES VISITED

oAAo ASo PCCt1NS 1cuPAc.
The Grand Lodge. F. A. A. NJ, held it's
annual communication for the reception of
reports and the transaction of business at
Masonic Temple last evening. The Ma
sonic fraternity has flourished greatly
during the year, and there has been a net
gain in membership of the subordinate
lodges of 1854, the total affiliated member
ship OF the jurisdiction now aggregating
S,365.
Grand Master Francis j. Woodman SUBJ
mitted report of his work during the
year, which was the ninety-sixth in the
history of the Grand Lodge.
The grand master said: 'In conformity
with the provisions Of ou- constitution, we
are again assembled in annual commune
cation. The past year has been a strenu-
Gus and most prosperous one for the era t.
and with 1t all peace and harmony have
prevailed among the several constituent
lodges. and no contention has arisen save
That noble contention, or rather emula-
ton, of who can best work and best
agree.
Visits to Subordinate Lodges.
according to the requirements of the
constitution of the Grand Lodge.
nave accompanied by the other officers
OF the Grand Lodge, made a visitation
to each of the twenty-seven lodges
within this Jurisdiction, and testify, to
the general prosperity exhibited The
reception of the grand officers by the
masters and brethren of the lodges was
most cordial and courteous, and the
ment were of high order and exceed
inely entertaining. The visitation to
Naval Lodge. No. 4, was, perhaps. the
most most noteworthy. The brethren had
Ior the orator of the evening Brother
States" ~ '''e '''eu
The grand master referred to visits
made by him to other jurisdictions and
SPOKE feelinsly of the courtesles ex-
tended him on the occasion of the fu-
neral OF his only son by the grand mas
ter of New Hampshire He visited
grand and subordinate lodges in Alex
a It Va; Fredericksburg. Va, and
Wilmington. Del, and was cordially re-
ceived by the fraternity in all three
cities
Grand Representative System.
During the year." the grand master
says, gave attention to the grand
representative system with a view of
bringing about an equitable distribu-
ton OF commissions and giving repre-
sentative honors to some valuable mem
bers of this Grand Lodge" The number
OF deserving brethren being sreatIy in
excess or the opportunities Tor such
honors Afforded by death or lesigna-
ton. 1t was his opinion that it would
pc 10 the best interest of the Grand
Lodge to adopt the rule which is in
1orce In many grand lodges-that no
member should hold more than one
commission. thereby making a wider
9 IIs OF representative honors.
t.,
bers who represented two or more for
e1gn Jurisdictions, all of whom resigned
all but one OF their commissions, and
enabled him to carry the sinsI, conn
mission rule into effect.
OF the Masters Association the grand
master said: This association was for
merry composed Of the masters Of the
several lodges in this Jurisdiction. into
senior wardens Of the lodges and elected
the grand master as honorary member
The. association has come to stay. 1t
has been, and will continue to be, of great
benefit to the lodges in the diffusion of
knowledge and In the promotion of
closer bond Of union and good fellowship
between them The association by its
study and discussion of the Masonic code
and practice of this Jurisdiction that the
necessity OF calling upon the grand master
for decisions has been reduced to the
minimum.
First Grand Masters Tomb.
Through the instrumentality of Lem
Towers, jr., past master Of Potomac
Lodge. No. 8, the grand master was en-
abled to discover the last resting place
of the remains of the first grand master
of the District of Columbia, Valentine
Reintzell. The vault was found under
ground in the old Presbyterian cemetery
in Georgetown, now being leveled and
graded by the District authorities. The
remains were positively identified by
means of the official chart or plan of the
original old cemetery, and were disinterred
and removed to Glenwood where they
were buried November Of this year In
the Masonic circle in that cemetery, two
sites having been purchased for that pur
pose. and suitable stone will later mark
his last resting place.
Masonic Dead.
The grand master paid tribute to the
Masonic dead of the year, reviewing the
careers of several of the most eminent
of that period. The list is as follows
Past Grand Master Robert Bruce Donald
son, born Waterford. Va. October IL.
1896 died November 90, 1907: Past Deputy
Grand Master John Locke, born Heath,
England, January %, 1928. died May IA,
1907; Past Senior Grand Warden William
Easily Hutchinson, born Georgetown. D
Past Senior Grand Warden George w.
BalIoch, born Sullivan county, n. H.,
December 3, 1928, died May II, 1907; Past
Senior Grand Warden Andrew Glass. born
Londonderry. Ireland. July q, 1893. died
November 16, 1907; Frank Hillebert
Thomas. past maste- of William R. Sim
gleton Lodge, No. 80. died April 49, 1907:
James F; R; Appleby. past master Isl 20, Of
November 81. 1907; Edmond Cotterill, past
master of Columbia Lodge. No. B. died De-
cenber g. 1907: Edward NJ. Boteler. past
master of Naval Lodge. No. 4. died June
= 1907: Benjamin F. Peters. past master
of Naval Lodge. No. 4. died August II,
1907; William E. Dennison. past master
of the New Jerusalem Lodge. No. 0, died
June IL. 1907; Richard H. Pegues past
master of National Lodge. No. II. died
December 30. 1906; Charles H. Cliffo d.
past master of Washington Centennial