The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-17
Scottish Rite Reunion Is on in
Full Blast.
Masons of High Degree Are
Here in Force.
IN THE NEW ROOMS.
Valley OF Topeka Well Equipped
for Solemn Rites.
Banquet Room Will Seat Twelve
Hundred.

A Freemason. therefore, should be a
ring bis 6i h9mpr 9lf and OF fSnscience prefer,
to his life: independent in his opinions,
laws devoted to hnmanity to hs co4nry
to TO ms family: kind and induigent to his
ready to assist his fellows by all means
Thus viii you be faithful to yourself. to
your fellows, and to God, and thus will you
do honor to the name and rank of a
Mason. which, like all other honors de-
grades II 1t. be not observed.
Such are the morals and dogma of
the great body that meets in Topeka
today, Wednesday and Thursday. The
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Free Masonry in which is situated the
orient of Kansas and the valley of
Topeka are conducting their regular
fall reunion in Topeka this fall and
delegates are here from all over the
state of Kansas.
The Scottish Rite bodies will confer
degrees upon a class Of about fifty
Masons who come from different parts
of the state for the purpose.
One of the most interesting and in
structive of the ineffable degrees of
Masonry is the thirteenth, or the Royal
Arch of Solomon, and yet it is the one
quite generally omitted from the cur
riculum of conferred degrees. In To-
peka it has been neglected as it has
been in most of the other valleys of
the state, although it is thought that
Edward p. Baker, who died last
spring, gave the degree in a partial
form.
However, during the past few years
and especially since the Masons have
acquired new floor space in their Ma
sonic temple on Jackson street, the
lodge has been studying and working
out the beautiful and impressive thir-
teenth degree and it will be conferred
I'm JrfT l1n 70 y, foI,
menced today. The study of this
degree has proven exceedingly inter-
esting to the members of this valley
and it will be presented in full dram
attic form. 1t will prove one of the
most attrac ctive degrees of the system.
The degrees of the Scottish Rite of
Free Masonry when carefully and
analytically studied form most COM
plete system of symbolic moral and re-
ligious instruction in which every de-
gree in it's completeness has it's own
peculiar use.
The accommodations for the reunion
are excellent-the best in the history OF
the Valley. For a number of years the
Scottish Rite bodies and Masons in
Topeka, occupying the fourth and fifth
floors of their Masonic Temple have
been cramped for room. Since the new
stage was erected about three years
ago only one lodge or an assembly
room has been available and with the
activity of the Masonic circles in the
three lodges. chapter council, COM
mandery, Eastern Star, Toltec Rite and
four Scottish Rite bodies occupying the
Temple, the lodge room has not only
been in continuous demand but re-
quests for extra evenings had to be
frequently denied. The Elks who have
for many years occupied the third floor
vacated their premises on the fifteenth
of July and moved to their new build
ing at the corner of Seventh and Jack
son. When this happened the Scottish
Rite bodies decided to remodel the
third floor of the building for Masonic
purposes and this work has been com
pleted The new plans include an ad-
ditional lodge room, banquet room,
capable of seating 1900 people, a model
kitchen ample reading, writing, rest
and toilet rooms. These new additions
will be put in use for the first time
during the fall reunions and the work
of comforting degrees can be carried
out with every needed appliance.
The Valley of Topeka in the Orient
of Kansas includes the Oriental Lodge
of Perfection No. 8, Unity Chapter of
knights Rose Croix No. 1, Godfrey de
ST. Omar Council of knights Kadosh
No. 2 and the Topeka Consistory No. /.
These bodies will entertain the candi-
dates who come from all over the state
to receive their degrees
Music during the reunion is furnished
nv the uuartette which includes Mrs.
Alice Widney Conant, soprano; Mrs.
Nina Thomas O'Neil, alto; Mr.. Hamp-
ton L. Shirer. tenor; and Mr.. Ernest
Bancroft Conant, bass. The music VIII
he under the dictatorship of Ernest
Bancroft Conant-