Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-22
AUTONOMY IS DENIED
Scottish Rite Masons of Dis
trict Linked With Arkansas.
ACTIVE MEMBERS ELECTED
Supreme Council Divides Jurisdiction
of China and Japan.
SPANISH RITUAL AUTHORIZED
Translation for Use in Porto Rico.
Agreement With Mexican
Jurisdiction Ratified.
SPANISH RITUAL AUTHORIZED

Scottish Rite Masons of the District OF
Columbia are again disappointed in the
hope that the Supreme Council would &C.
cord them autonomy, under the authority
of a member of the local body, as their
active inspector general. For two years
at least, and perhaps longer, they must
put aside the aspiration.
BY the action Of the Supreme Council
they are linked with the jurisdiction of
Arkansas. in charge of Inspector General
Charles E. Rosenbaum of that state.
Active Members Elected.
In secret session, the Supreme Council.
Southern Jurisdiction, Scottish Rite Ma
sons, elected the following active mem
bers: William Busby of McAlester, act
i've member for Oklahoma; John H.
Cowles, Louisville, active member for
Kentucky: Melville r. Grant. Meridian,
active member for Mississippi; Alonzo
Chase Stewart st. Louis, active member
for Missouri. Arthur S. Cunningham, a
present active member of the council.
was transferred from Oklahoma to New
Mexico.
Alonzo Chase Stewart. who was elected
in place of the late Martin Collins of
Missouri. was born in Lebanon. Tenn,
August q 1913. He went to St. Louis,
Mo, in 1873, his earlier life having been
passed in Mississippi.
He is lawyer by profession and is
ex-president of the board Of police COM
missioners of st. Louis. having served in
that capacity from 1895 to 1909 He is
connected with a great many corpora
tons of ST. Louis. and is counsel of the
St. Louis Union Trust Company.
Melville R. Grant was born in Hart
wick. n. V November %. 1851, and now
lives in Meridian Miss
William Busby was born in Trenton.
N j.. September ), 1854. He lives in
Okla.
John Henry Cowles was born in
Smiths Grove. Ky. August -. 1863. He
is cleyk and resides in Louisville, Ky.
China and Japan Divided.
The Supreme Council, in executive ses-
sion this morning, considered confidential
reports from committees. \ resolution
was adopted making two jurisdictions Of
China and Japan. Heretofore these coun-
tries have been under one jurisdiction, in
charge of deputy.
In the case of Porto Rico the letters
temporary, creating new bodies. were
continued for two years and authorize
ton was made to translate the ritual of
the rite into Spanish. the bodies there
using both English and Spanish. The
translation will be made under the di-
rection Of Deputy c. b. Parker chief
clerk of the war department of Porto
Rico and will be submitted to the grand
commander for his Endorsement.
An amendment to the statutes was
adopted concerning the status Of those
bodies operating under letters tempo
rary, and prescribing the form in which
permanent letters shall be granted.
The agreement drawn up between Presi-
dent Diaz. sovereign grand commander
tor Mexico, and Sovereign Grand Com
mander Richardson of the Southern Juris-
diction, making three years resident IN
prerequisite to membership in the order
was ratified by the Supreme Council.
High Rank Conferred.
The second highest rank in Scottish
Rite Masonry-knight commander Of the
court of honor--was yesterday conferred
on PSI 32d degree Masons by the Supreme
Council of the Scottish Rite for the
Southern Jurisdiction of the United States
This does not mean that a new degree
will be conferred upon that number, but
letters patent certifying to the honor will
be issued, making each one who receives
a patent eligible to be chosen for the
highest honor. the 33d degree. when in
the Judgment OF the Supreme Council the
holders services to the order merit It,
OF the 1872 knights commander OF the
court of honor who were elected to re-
ceive the 33d degree honorary Wednesday
evening, about fifty will receive the de-
gree at the House Of the Temple this
evening. Included in the number will be
Francis Asbury Sebring. Stirling Albert
Kerr, jr, and James Edward Shepherd,
al of the District of Columbia.
In addition to Elmer E. Simpson and
Monte Sanger. prominent members of AL
bert Pike Consistory. whose election to be
knights commander Of the court OF honor
was announced III yesterdays Star. the
honor was also conferred upon Mai: u.
II. Boughton, L. S. A, who is credited
with residence in Washington.
Busir esq Considered.
The Supreme Council yesterday con-
sidered number of matters relating to
the internal affairs of the order, such as
committee reports and jurisdictional af
fairs, but its action has not yet been
made public. The complement of the
Supreme Council is thirty-three thirty
third degree active inspectors general.
At present there are but twenty-five.
leaving eleven vacancies. some of which
will doubtless be filled before the Supreme
Council closes its final session tomorrow
The customary pilgrimage to the grave
Of Albert Pike will probably be taken