Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07
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In FRATFpNlTlES|

The present year has been a very active
one in Eastern Star work. and there has
been a great deal of animated but friendly
rivalry between the several chapters. The
Grand Chapter, o. E. s.. offered a prize
pennant to the chapter making the best
report at the end of the year-that is,
showing the greatest proportionate gains.
The conditions of the contest as fixed by
the Grand CHAPTER were as follows:
First. the chapter initiating the largest
number Of. members from November 1.
1906. to October 81. 1907. 80 points. Second,
net increase in membership, 10 points.
Third. net increase in resources, 10 points.
Fourth. lowest indebtedness per capita,
10 points. All the conditions were to be
based on the annual re port of the chap
tiers to the grand secretary and grand
treasurer. The chapter making the best
percentage to win the pennant. The
worthy patrons of the several chapters
acted Jointly as judges for the Grand
Chapter.
Bethlehem Chapter. No. 7. having made
o9.9 points out of the possible 60 points.
was awarded the banner. and 1t was pre-
sented to the chapter by the grand mar
shall of the Grand CHAPTER in the presence
of the grand officers on the occasion of
their annual visitation to Bethlehem
Chapter The record made by Bethlehem
Chapter has. it is said, never been excell-
ed by any chapter since the organization
of the first chapter in the District of Co.
lumbia. Worthy Matron katherine
Glenn has made an efficient officer and
work and generalship. Her associate
officers are: ]. NJ. Mclaughlin. w. P;
Carrie l.. Kidd. A. M: Mrs. Jennie A.
Meyer, secretary. and Mrs. Mary E. Hus-
sey. treasurer.
The report of Chairman Charles F.
Roberts of the committee which decided
the contest shows. that it was a. close and
interesting one. On some points other
chapters did better even than the winning
one. Ruth Chapter showed higher per-
centage in net increase of resources. and
several chapters tied Bethlehem in hav-
ing no indebtedness.
The net result of the contest is ;,J6
limitations in the subordinate chapters, a
net increase of ,166 in membership and
$2.119 in resources. The limitations, net
gain in membership and total percentages
by chapters are reported by the Grand
Chapter committee.
Grand Master Francis ]. Woodman paid
the last annual visitation of the year to
Benjamin B. French Lodge, No. Is, F. A.
GERS were greeted by one of the largest
attendances of the series. Owing to the
circumstance of the annual election falling
on the same evening as the visitations the
exercises of the evening were brief. The
reports of the rand secretary and grand
treasurer exhibited the lodge in excellent
financial condition. and still growing, thus
continuing the record it has maintained
for many years. The administration of
Worshipful Master Arthur L. Bryant has
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closes its f1fty-fourth year still in the
front ranks of the local subordinate bod
les. Past Grand Master Myron NJ Par
ker was worshipful master in 1880, Past
Grand Master James A. Sample in 1888 and
Past Grand Master James A. Wetmore
was worshipful master in 1894. The
other surviving past masters of Benjamin
B. French Lodge. with their terms of
service in the chair, are as follows: War
rem H. circuit, 1879; Frederick Johnson,
1872; George H. Lilebridge. 1873; John
Tweedale, 1919: John R. Garrison. 1876;
Slater. 1859; William II. Lemon, 1884
William Barnum, 1887; Gabriel F. John
ston, 1888; Nathan Hazen. 1850: Howard
NJ. Gilman, 1890; Frank NJ. Higgins. 1852;
1895; Henry NJ. schooley, 1897; john c.
CLANCY. 1898: Alex. Grant, 1893; Saint
Clair Thompson. 1900; James T. Gibbs.
1901; Herbert -lacNamee. 1902: Henry A.
Fellows. 1903: Noel w. Barksdale, 1904
Towley a. Mckee, 1905, and Andrew Will
eight past masters by service B. 3.
French has the following past masters
by utilization. Durham w. Stevens, John
S. Tomlinson, Convis Parker, Donald B.
Munchell, George F. Foote, Edward w
Woodruff. Frederick w CUP and Fred
D. Griffith. giving the lodge thirty-eight
past masters In all. Among the number
are Past Master Durham W. Stevens, now
adviser to the Mikado of Japan: Past
tive in Congress from Indiana, and Past
Master Alex. Grant an officer of the
Grand Lodge line. who is superinte- ..ent
of the railway mail service. 1.mong the
members Of B. B. French Lodge is Au-
miral Winfield Scott Schley.
Benjamin B. French Lodge was named
for an eminent Mason and citizen, long a
figure in local. traternal and national sf-
fairs. He was grand master of Templars
and general grand high priest of Royal
Arch Masons. Benjamin B. French was
clerk of the House Of Representatives In
the Twenty-eghth and Twenty-ninth
Congresses. serving from 1913 to 1871.
The lodge named for him was chartered
December ~. 1858. and has been prosper
GUS during its long life.
Perhaps the most celebrated man. ever
chosen for worshipful master of a Wash
ington lodge of Free Masons was Gen.
James Shields of Illinois, who was the
presiding officer under the charter of
National Lodge, No. r. which was In
stituted March Z. 1886 Just before the
Mexican war, in which Shields won his
first great military renown. At the time
National Lodge was chartered he was
President Folks commissioner of the
general land office, having previously been
a member Of the Illinois legisla ture and
ind 10
of Abraham Lincoln and his rival to some
extent in affairs both Of the heart and
politics During his long career he rep
resented three states in the Senate-the
only man who has ever done so-and had
frequent opportunities during more than
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