Evening star., 1908-01-11

Sovereign Grand Commander James ID.
Richardson of the Supreme Council of
the southern jurisdiction, A. s. r.. to-
day appointed DIR. A. r. Chamberlin an
active member of the Supreme Council,
acting secretary general of that body to
succeed the late Allison Nailor, jr. Mr.
Nailor was appointed in November last
as the successor of the late Frederick
Webber who was the dean of the Su-
preme Council. and had been secretary
general since 1856
Austin Beverly Chamberin was edu-
Gated in Maine. He was graduated in
medicine from the University of Tennes-
see in 1867 and afterward practiced his
profession in Arkansas and in Texas. He
located in Texas in 1871, taking an
active part in the development of the
Scottish Rite in the Lone Star common
wealth. He was made state quarantine
and health officer at Sabine Pass, Tex.
in 1876. and filled the place for six years
In 1882 he removed to Galveston, Tex,
and practiced his profession. Dr. Cham
berlin is well known to the Masonic fra
ternty in Washington, having been as
Sistant secretary general since l.Wl. lie
was made a Mason in 1869, at Dardanelle,
Ark. received the Royal Arch degree in
Texas in 1883, and became Knight Tenn
plar the same year. The Scottish Kite
degrees up to the thirty-second were COM
municated to him by Gen Albert Pike
and Col Philip c. Tucker, the former
sovereign grand commander, and the lat
ter one of Gen. Pixies successors in that
office. in 1881.
For his active work for the Scottish
Rite DR. Chamberlin was coropeted an hon
orary inspector general of the thirty-thlrd
degree October -. 1854, and was crowned
an active member of the Supreme Coun-
Gil for Texas in October, 1898. He is
member of the Masonic Veterans Society
of Michigan. and an honorary member OF
the Supreme Council of Mexico. He was
appointed assistant secretary general IN
1901.
Sovereign Grand Commander Richard
son today also appointed Sterling Kerr,
ir.. thirty-second degree. X. c. c. H,
bookkeeper of the Supreme Council Mr..
Kerr is popular member or the Masonic
fraternity whose activities have been
largely devoted to the local Scottish Rite
bodies of Washington. He is the presld-
ing officer of Albert Pike Consistory. A. A.
s. r. and first lieutenant commander OF
Robert de Bruce Council of kadosh, and
is also identified with other fraternal or
ganiZatlons.
The oldest two Communicates of knights
Templar will this week celebrate the an
niversaries of their beginnings. Washins-
ton Commandery, No. J. now eiShty-three
years old, was chartered January 1. 1S2o
Just before the beginning of Andrew Jack
sons administration. Columbia CON-
mandery No. ,, the eldest daughter OF
Washington Commandery was instituted
forty years later to the week. just before
Abraham Lncoln'S second administration
began
Each of the bodies will observe the an
niversary at Masonic Temple, Washing
ton on Wednesday and Columbia on
Thursday evening next These comman-
deries have long been the leading bodies
of Washington chivalric Masonry and
have been very close to each other IN
membership, having between them con-
siderably more than 1000 sir knights.
Eminent Sir John s. Beach presides over
the destinies of No. l Commandery and
Eminent Sir Charles E. Baldwin over
those of No. 2. Washington Comma ndery
has fourteen surviving past commanders,
including Past Grand Commanders Eldred
| G. Davis and Harrison Dingman, and the
present grand commander Thomas T..
Morgan Columbia Commandery has
| twenty living past commanders including
Past Grand Commanders George Gibson
and Bennett A. Allen.
The officers of the Grand Commandery
are invited as guests at both the celebra-
tions.
Esther Chapter, o. E. S., opened the
new year with a meeting that called out
an unusually large number of members
and visitors There was fine rendition OF
| the beautiful degree work of the chapter
next meeting of Esther Chapter, the sec
ond of the year. will occur Thursday
evening next at the Scottish Rite cathe-
draI 1907 G street northwest. The officers
of the chapter for the year are Miss Har-
riet B. CrumA worthy matron: Frank +.
Elder worthySpatron; Mrs. Alice r. Brad
| ley, associate matron; Mrs. Charlotte NJ.
| Pine. secretary: Mrs. Julia n. Streater,
Mrs. Effie A. Roberts, associate conduc-
tress; Mrs. Lille TruewdTthy, marshal;
Anna B. Mcintosh, chaplain: Mrs. Clara j..
| Abbot, organist; Mrs Mary NJ. Gordon.
Adah: Mary Godfrey, Ruth: Mrs Willo
| T. Elder. Esther: Mrs. Lille F. Mills,
| Martha; Clemintine X. Pelzer, Electa ::
.irs Freddie E. Bailey, warder, and j..
William Lucas. sentinel.
The last meeting was largely given over
| to an exchange of amenities of the ses-
| sion and to getting acquainted with the
| new officers.
\ Orient Commandery, No. ., Knights
Templar, held it's two hundred and sixty
| third stated conclave last Monday even
| ing The Order of the Red Cross was con-
| ferred The commandery has made a good
showing of gains thus, far in the Templar
period. There are but five more conclaVes
| to be held before the term closes, and Ori-
ent expects to repeat her last record Of
| the largest proportionate gain of any COM
mandery in the jurisdiction. In his most
| recent official circular Eminent Comman-
der Edward H. Tompkins congratulated
the commandery on the large attendance
at the Christmas observance, sixty-seven
sir knights participating. Orient Comman-
derry has among its membership Past
Grand Commander Alex. Mckenzie. Grand
Secretary Arvine w. Johnston, Past Grand
| Masters Jesse W. Lee and Francis J..
| Woodman, and many other prominent
| members of the fraternity.
The most recent circular of Eminent
| Commander Baldwin of Columbia Com
mandery, No. 2, knights Templar con-
| tains portrait and extended sketch OF his
predecessor in office, John A. Meyer. Past
| Commander Meyer is a native of Michi-
gan, born in Ida, Monroe county, in July.
| 1860. He received his education in the To-
| cal district schools. the am Arbor High
| School, and the State Normal School at
Ypsilanti He taught school from 1878 to
| 1885, working on the farm during vaca-
tions. In the fall of 1885 he was appointed
| to a clerkship in the Office of the second
| assistant postmaster general. and is still
| connected with the department. He re-
| ceived the symbolic degrees in Russell
| Lodge, No. IA, LambertviHe. Michigan
in 1888, the capitular degrees in River
kaisin Chapter, Monroe. Michigan, and
Columbia Chapter of this city the most
excellent and royal arch by courtesy, and
was kn:ghted in Columbia Commandery
No 2. X. T., December /, 1893. He affili-
ated with Lebanon Lodge. No. Z. Column
| bia Chapter. No. 1, and was a charter
member of Myron NJ Parker Lodge, No
~. and Capitol Chapter, No. H. He served
as master Of the lodge in 1890, as high
| priest of the chapter in 1903 and as COM
| mander of Columbia Commandery in
| 1867.
| Eminent Commander Baldwin conpratu-