Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21
CONTROL OF TEMPLE
Masonic Grand Lodge to Take
Over Ownership.
VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS
Full Representation Of Constituent
Lodges Present.
TO LEVY A PER CAPITA TAX
Stock Held by Lodges and In
dividuals to Be Turned Over.
Step Long Considered.

IcpsA<OuS SoAsIOSISos
BY a vote that was unanimous at every
stage Of the proposition the Grand Lodge
Of Free and Accepted Masons for the
District Of Columbia decided to accept
the practical ownership and control of the
new Masonic Temple, at a special ses-
sion last night, at which there was full
representation OF the constituent lodges
Of the District. Furthermore 1t was voted
to levy tax Of 81 per capita on Septem-
Der 30 Of each year. on every lodge within
the Jurisdiction. the first assessment to be
levied and payable upon the returns o.
the constituent lodges for the Masonic
year ending September 80, 1910 Two
conditions, however, govern the action of
the Grand Lodge. Ninety per cent of all
the stock held by lodges and individuals
must first be Internationally assigned
over to the Grand Lodge, and the Masonic
Temple Association. which now owns and
controls the temple must secure the
necessary legislation amending its char
ter so as to provide that the Grand Lodge
shall be represented In the association in
proportion to the amount Of stock owned
by it,
The proposition Of transferring the own
ership and control Of the new Masonic
Temple from the Masonic Temple Asso-
under consideration. A Joint committee.
representing both the Grand Lodge and
the association. was appointed some time
ago. to take such preliminary steps as
might be necessary to bring about the
contamination of the idea. Past Grand
Masters Lurtin r. CHM and Waiter A.
Brown, with A. r. Fox, W. r. GUIDE and
Isaac 8. Birch. constituted the commit
tee representing the Grand Lodge. while
Fast G we1mo1 ma sng James A. s.mR.s
son. with Past Grand Commander Thomas
P. Morgan of the Grand Commandery OF
knights Templar and Past Grand High
Priest S. r. Bond Of the Grand Royal
Temple Association. Past Grand Mas
ter CHM was chairman Of the Joint COM
mittee. Past Grand Master James A. Wet
moro secretary and Frank r. Underwood
assistant secretary.
Stock Shares Donated.
Through the efforts OF this joint COM
mittee approximately 1880 OF the 10000
shares Of stock in the Masonic Temple
Association were donated to the Grand
Lodge. some OF them under certain con-
ditions. Many hundreds of shares, in
addition, are ready to be turned over to
the Grand Lodge as soon as substantial
evidence is forthcoming of it's intention to
take over the ownership and control of
the temple.
At the special meeting OF the Grand
Lodge at Masonic Temple last night that
portion of the joint committee which rep
resented the Grand Lodge presented a re-
port covering the receipts and expenses
from the inception Of the project to build
a new temple. the revenues derived from
hn Yrnr nrtx md ocfi
to how the proposition should be handled
by the Grand Lodge. Accompanying its
report were three recommendations. all
of which were unanimously adopted by
tho Grand Lodge, with the greatest en-
thusiasm prevailing both before and after
the announcement of the vote.
A motion to print the report and defer
further action until the next meeting OF
the Grand Lodge, December Is, secured
but two votes.
The recommendations made by the com
mittee and adopted unanimously by the
Grand Lodge are as follows:
THAT the Grand Lodge accepts the
management Of the business affairs and
thereby the practical ownership and con-
troll of the property. provided there Is do
mated to 1t for such purpose at least no
per cent of the stock held and owned by
individuals and organizations, such dona-
ton 10 be absolute and unconditional, ex-
cept that the Grand Lodge shall accept
the management and practical ownership
as aforesaid, and that the act OF fncor-
poration Of the Masonic Temple Associa-
ton is SO amended as to permit such
MANAGEMENT and practical ownership:
'That conditioned upon the p rformance
Of the foregoing recommendation, num-
bered 1, by the Masonic Temple Associa-
ton, the Grand Lodge levy pro rata
assessment according to membership
upon the several constituent lodges OF the
jurisdiction under the authority contained
in section 10 of the constitution of the
Grand Lodge. Of 81 per capita per annum
pro rata according to membership OH
easement to be levied and payable upon
the returns of the constituent lodges for
the Masonic year ending September 80
1910. and
:'That the Masonic Temple Association
be required for the purpose of making
the aforesaid change to secure the dona-
tion transfer to the Grand Lodge Of the
requisite amount of stock and to obtain
the necessary legislation In the prem
iseS."
Amendment to the Act.
1t was announced as the opinion of the
counsel Of the Grand Lodge. j. J. Oar
lington. that the only legislation required
is an amendment to the act Incorporating
the Masonic Temple Association. which
will permit the Grand Lodge to be rep
resented In voting power in the associa-
ton, in proportion to the amount or
stock owned by it.
The financial statement submitted by
the committee showed the following:
Receipts from all sources 5000 119 -
Disbursements for all purposes $50. sos 1872 g.;
Balance on hand September TO- 1909. ABS -
Bonded Indebtedness. committeeman 75,050 %
Balance Of unpaid stock subscriptions
Assets ................... sic, 400 81
Cash on hand Observation-Disclosures. 1925 81
Fixed annual sources Of income 49, 1850 Ga
Estimated receipts from other sources I, 800 on
Fixed charges ............. 24.114 10
After it's action upon the special
proposition for WHICH the session was
called the Grand Lodge was closed.
The action taken last evening Is re-
garded as one Of the most important In
Masonic circles since the building OF the
new temple was undertaken.