The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-10
CoLoRED MAsoNs IN CONVENTION
Fortieth Annual Meeting of the Grand
Lodge of Florida

Lodge of Florid.
The Most worshiptul Union Grand
Lodge Of Ancient. Free and Accepted
Masons. composed OF colored men. met
IN their fortieth annual communication
yesterday al noon N MitchelTs Hall
The preliminary was an occasional ses-
sion held by the local lodge. with W.
VI Ponder. worshipful master.
The professional was composed Of
Grand Master J. H Dickerson. Deputy
Grand Master D. D Powell Grand Sen
Tor Warden T T. Gaines. Grand Junior
Warden D. " PapPy. Grand Chaplain
L y Robinson. Grand Treasurer \ J.
Junius. Grand Secretary r. / AIeNan-
der, Grand Lecturer r z. Robertson.
Grand Master OF Ceremony ". \. GLOW
er. and all Of the district deputy grant
masters. making a procession of more
than fifty men who marched around
the hall while all stood and sang.
"Blest be the Tie that Binds"
Prayer was fervently offered. and
the gavel was formally given 20 Grand
Master Dickerson by wor<hipful Mas
ter Ponder. The stations We're filled By
grand lodge officers and the opening
was proceeded with by Grand Treas
urer JuniuS. assisted by Deputy Grand
Master L X. Jackson. Grand Lecturer
r. E. Robertson. Grand Senior Warden
T. T. Gaines and other officers.
This session Of the grand lodge -
viewed with more than ordinary inter
est by the members OF the craft from
the fact that il marks the end Or the
fortieth year Of me history Of the Graf;
among colorea men OF Florida.
The first warrant authorizing me -
IabliShment Of i grand lodge Of colored
MasonS in this state was procured 10y
/ Charles DAILY. who was from the West
Indies, and was al that time private
secretary TO The governor OF Florida
/ That was-in 1870. Among the men who
gathered around and formed the be-
ginning only a few OF them are now
left. \. J. JuniuS. r. z. Robertson. \.
]. Coleman. / y. Robinson. J. w
Eichelberger and a few others can
claim succession from what was 80
we'll laid by the original workers. a
part Of whom they Were.
Weak from a long illness that had
caused him TO occupy his bed much
since last February. and much Of that
time in d hospital where he underwent
surgical operations. Grand Master J. II.
Dickerson visibly showed signs of his
struggle against the inroads on his
health. Equally did he show a deter
mination to do we'll the work of an Of
flee that he had held for twelve years.
on taking the gavel the grand mas
ter spoke length. referring 10 much
that was living history OF the order.
Twelve years ago when ne was placed
at the head OF the order a debt of $4,000
hung Oever its head and there was not
one dollar in the treasury. Since that
time the order had paid 10 the widow
and orphans more than $780, 600. paid
all other debts and has 10 its account
in bank more than $4,000 The order
has bought and paid for a lot in Jack
sonville-a lot that il valued al $50
900. The grand master showed TO the
satisfaction OF all that this had been
accomplished by his giving twelve OF
the best years Of his manhood exclus-
lively TO the interests Of the craft. To
nothing else had he given his time. and
he brought the results that the craft
accepted with full approval.
The events of the past year. events
which required the best judgment Il
combat and the best ability at the com.
mand Of the order 10 overcome. wer,
referred 10 by the grand master and
all of his associates in office.
This address ny the grand master
was heard by all with the closest at.
tention. The attendance at this Ses
sion of the grand lodge il larger thar
Il has been for four years and every in
terest is being manifested in the af
fairs OF the order that will he brough
before the sessions.
The preparations for the entertain
ment Of the grand lodge We're compli
mented by the grand master. who wa
fnlln no Of n y,
Grand Senior Warden T. T Gaines
Grand Chaplain l. y. Robinson. c. T. c
Shavers of Key West and ]. T.. Jone
of West Palm Beach. \ resolution
making a special assistant to tn,
grand secretary to receive the fund
: for the temple tax was offered by DR.
: 5. ]. Patterson and passed. Prof J. c
! Riley of Tallahassee was appointe,
: such assistant. VI. II DeCoursey o
Jacksonville offered a lengthy reSolu
ton touching on many matters con
<Scerning the erection OF the temple an,
= metho DDS of proceeding with that work
= This resolution was referred TO tn
f committee on resolutions.
? There are men in attendance a tn
grand lodge from all over the state
many of whom are those who hav
been foremost in the affairs of the Graf
lot years SucN well known men u II!
order as ]. \. Colyer Of Orlando: ". \
Moore Of Jacksonville: Or. Cone ~ Ap
palachicola: r. RugG Of Tampa; W. I
Sweet of Barlow: l. X. Jackson. 0
Mariana; ]. \. Hall Of Tampa: Fl
Sellers of PaIatka: Rev. T.. W. I.arkir
and scores OF others.
The committee on credentials ap
pointed by the grand master consist.
of r. F. Robertson. O. G. Griffin. l.. X
Jackson, s ]. Patterson. Jno. W. Deklt
\. p. Collins. C. W. Williams. ". :,
Moore and ]. J. swiftly. This commit
tee went at once TO its work and il
report was the first order Of today
proceedings. The incoming trains ar
still bringing more delegates.
The Grand Chapter OF the order O
the Eastern Star is also in session j.
>, the Odd Fellows hall. They appointe
: their committee on credentials an
went TO work. Mrs. Inez T. Aston O
. Tampa. Is Royal Grand Matron an
), Rev. l. y Robinson Of Palatka
- Royal Grand Patron.
The Grand Chapter OF the Roya
. Arch Masons. ! G. Riley Grand hig
; priest: and the Grand COmmandery @
= the knights Templar. ". \. Glove
grand eminent commander. are ais
holding their annual meetings, in con