Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-19
SELLS MASONIC DEGREES.
Investigations Under Way Al spokan,
Promise Sensational DeveIo on, ents.

Investigations Under Way At SPOKANE
Promise Sensational DeveIopms nts.
Spokane, July 19.-Investigations by
Denton NJ. Crow, deputy prosecuting
attorney of Spokane county, and Alex
ander Macdonald, member Of the
city detective department, following the
arrest here of Thomas Perrott. Of Seat
tie. state president OF the F'raternal Or
DER OF Eagles in Washington, charged
with obtaining money under false pre-
lenses In bargaining to confer the de-
gree Of the knights Templars in the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
Masons for $50, has disclosed the fact
that any of the degrees, from the first
to the thirty-second in the alleged
American and foreign Masonic orders.
may be bought in the open market.
Perrot's prices range from $35 for the
blue lodge work to SITS for the more
advanced degrees.
Major r. D. Gwydir, a member of
local Masonic lodge, preferred the
charge in the Spokane police court,
where, after passing several hours In q
cell. Perrot gave bond Of $500 for his
appearance. Del Cary Smith, past
worthy grand president Of the Eagles,
who has been retained as counsel, says
Perrot is a member in good standing
Of twelve secret and fraternal orders.
adding that he holds a certificate sign
ed by I. NJ. Howell, secretary Of the
state of Washington, authorizing him
to do business" under the American
Masonic Federation Of Idaho. also that
Perrot Is an official of the American
Federation Of Masonic lodges, incor-
porated under the laws Of the state Of
Washington.
nfes = t..
pied by Perrot show he is an agent for
the Scottish Grand Council Of Rites
and is working here under the direction
of A. L. Lucas, of Tacoma, deputy
grand marshal Of Washington, while
some of the stationary picked up in the
raided quarters indicates that the six
tieth" and the "ninetieth" degrees OF
Masonry were also dealt in by Perrot
The police found ritual and seal OF
the order of the Scottish Grand Council
of Rites and books and papers dealing
with that organization.
S. Harry Rush, secretary Of the Ma
sonic Temple Association of Spokane,
said in an interview that no degrees
conferred by the Idaho organization
are recognized by the lodges in Spo-
kane. The Masonic order has no So
licitors and 1t never solicits members"
he added. and it is not probable that
Perrot has been authorized by any rec
ognized body to sell the degrees"
Perrot declares he has the right to
confer the first three degrees in Ma
sorry by virtue Of holding office in the
American Federation OF Masonic
Lodges. saying also that the power to
confer the degrees, from the fourth to
the thirty second, is vested by author.
ity sent to him by the Scottish Rite
Masonic Order OF Scotland. He has
been organizing Thistle Lodge No. 6 in
Spokane and had applications from five
men. each of whom paid $35 for mem
bership.
While officers OF the Masonic lodges
in Spokane decline to discuss the mat
ter for publication, 1t is known that an
investigation is under way to ascertain
II the credentials found among Per-
rots effects are authenticated by any
Masonic order in the world. Reports
are also current that the arrest OF Per-
rot is another brush in the battle be-
tween the American Masons and tho
western organizers Of the Scottish
Grand Lodge, but prominent Masons
here deny there is any trouble among
the recognized orders.