Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-23
SCOTTISH RITE
MASONS CONFER
HONOR DEGREES
APPOINT FOUR ACTIVE MEM
BERS TO FILL VACANCIES
INSIGNIA OF ORDER OF GRAND
CROSS GRANTED TWO
Several Members Receive Thlrty-third
Degree, One of Highest Desires
of Persons Identified in
Masonry
ICY Associated Press. ]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22.-Interest in
today's work of tba supreme council
for the southern jurisdiction, Scottish
Rite Masons, centered in the election
of four active members to fill vacan-
cies created by death.
Grand Commander Richardson this
afternoon, in consistorial session. con-
ferred on William Hayes Laird of
Winona, Mimi, and Benjamin b.
Allen of Nashville, Tenn, the insignia
of the order of the Grand Cross. This
order was conferred for distinguished
service in the cause of Scottish Rite
Masonry.
Another event of interest was the
recognition of representatives of other
supreme councils near the supreme
council for the southern jurisdiction,
all of them thirty second degree Ma
sons, active. These representatives of
other Scottish Rite bodies were re-
ceived by the grand commander and
asked if they had any message to pre-
sent to the council.
Mr.. Moore, representing Italy, told
of an interesting situation among the
higher Masonic bodies of that country.
Schism in italian Ranks
"About one year ago." he said,
there was a schism in the ranks of
italian Masonry brought about by the
action of certain members of the SUI
preme council who were also members
of the Italian parliament
There was pending in the parlia-
ment a bill providing for non-secta-
rian schools and 'an amendment was
offered to the bill. Eight members of
the supreme council voted against the
amendment and thereupon it was at
tempted to riscipline them for their
votes.
N This mode of using Masonry in re-
eafgious and political matters was dis
puted by the supreme council over
which Chevalier Saverio Fera presides,
and thereon several members with
drew and took sides with the Grand
Orient of Italy, which is somewhat
active in the politics of the kingdom.
The supreme council recognized by the
supreme council for the southern juTis-
diction Of the United States, by its rec
ognition of today, has reaffirmed the
Masonic doctrine that Masonry does
not in any of its degrees interfere with
the religious or political convictions of
any man."
A. c. Stewart, representing the SUI
preme council for Brazil. said he
brought love and greetings from a
daughter recognizing the supreme
council for the southern jurisdiction as
the mother council of the world to
which she pledged loyalty and fealty
Confer Thirty-thlrd Degree
This evening the thirty-third degree
honorary of Masonry was conferred
upon the following, among others:
Arizona, NJ. A. Drachman, Tucson;
California, L. S. Mcclure, San Diego;
Utah. ]. H. Brown. Salt Lake; Wash
ington, w. S. McCrea, Spokane; New
Mexico, f. A. Cahoon, Roswell; A. g.
Fitz, Socorro.
The comforting of this degree occu-
pied three hours. It is looked on by
Scottish Rite Masons as the highest
honor in Masonry with the single ex-
ception of being an active member of
the supreme council, which by Its ac-
tion today was increased to twenty-six
members by the election of four new
members, William Busby of McAlester,
for Oklahoma: John H. Cowles of Lou
tsville, for Kentucky; Melville r. Grant
of Meridian, for Mississippi, and AlonZo
Chase Stewart of ST. Louis, for Mis-
souri,. These newly elected active
members will be crowned in executive
session in the House of the Temple to-
morrow.
While the supreme council was in
secret session today, DR. e. j. Wood
man of Washington, D. G., acting
Junior grand warden of the Royal
Order of Scotland. communicated the
degree of the Royal Order to the eight
Masons of high degree, including John
w. Howerth of Dallas, Tex, and
Henry L. Pittock, Portland, Ore.
Considers Reports
The supreme council in executive
council considered confidential reports
from committees.
A resolution was adopted making two
jurisdictions of China and Japan. In
the case of Porto Rico the letters-tem-
proary creating new bodies were con
tinued for two years, and authorization
was made to translate the ritual of the
order into Spanish. the bodies there
using both English and Spanish.
The translation will be made under
direction of Deputy c. B. Parker, who
was chief clerk of the war department
of Porto Rico. and will be submitted
co IN Rorinn (1urnc