Evening star., 1912-10-07

third degree (knightS commander OF
the house of the temple of Solomon),
of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern
Jurisdiction of the United States, who
compose the Supreme Council of the
rite for that degree. Its object, as given
out for publication. is to systematize
the general work and methods of the
order throughout the world, the ritual
and ceremonials now being the same.
and to cultivate closer fraternal rela-
tions and intercourse.
Opens With Addresses.
The conference was opened this morn
ing with an informal address to the dele
gates by Sovereign Grand Commander
Richardson. Sovereign Grand Inspector
General Charles F. Buck of New Or
leans, La, delivered the address of vel
come, which was responded to by seven
sovereign grand commanders, including.
in the order Of the seniority of their
Supreme Councils, as follows: J. NJ. Ray
mond of France, Barton Smith. northern
jurisdiction of the United States: Saverio
Fera of Italy. who was followed for Italy
by Grand Minister of State Giovanni
Camera Manuel S. Castelanos of Colon
Paul Etier. Switzerland. and Sir John NJ
Gibson, who Is also governor general of
the Province of Ontario, as well as
sovereign grand commander of Canada
Several of the sovereign grand com
manders delivered their addresses in Eng
lish. notably Jose Castellot, whose re-
marks aroused much enthusiasm; Saverio
Fera of Italy and others. 1t was devei-
Oped that for the first time In the history
Of the rite eight sovereign grand COM
manders attended a conference. "--.
Preceding the opening address of Grand
Commander Richardson there was an
organ prelude BY Harry G. kimball. thir-
ty-secOnd degree. Organist of the rite.
Rev. DR.. Richard P, Williams, rector OF
the Trinity Episcopal Church, delivered
musical director of the rite and it's chief
soloist. sang Kiplings "Recessional." The
proceedings were all conducted under the
ban of Masonic secrecy, no Mason of a
lower than the thirty degree being
allowed to be present
Following the addresses the committee
on credentials began its work. prepara-
tory for the serious business of the con-
ference.
Initial Conference at Brussels.
The world has never seen but one other
International conference of its kind. and
that was held in Brussels. Belgium, In
1907 The benefits to the rite derived
from that conference it is said. prompted
the assembling Of the second conference,
which opened at 10 o'clock this morning.
BY the organic law of the Scottish Rite
there can be but one Supreme Council or
authority in any one Independent nation
or state. except in the United States
where there are two, those of the south
ern Jurisdiction. which is the mother
council of the world. and of the northern
Jurisdiction its direct offspring. From these
two Supreme Councils have emanated
directly or indirectly the authority which
makes the other Supreme Councils OF the
world regular bodies in Freemasonry. Ac-
cording to the statutes OF the rite, all
others. it is said, are termed clan
destine."
There are twenty-nine Supreme Councils
of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite, each absolutely independent of the
other and sovereign in its own right.
subject only to the general statutes OF
the rite which, as a constitution. govern
them ALL From twenty-siX of these Su-
preme Councils Sovereign Grand Com
mander Richardson has received letters
accepting the invitation to participate In
the second international conference, now
in session In Washington. which is what
is known as the "Orlent'' of the rite, in
which the Supreme Council for the South
ern Jurisdiction sits or assemblies. What
is known as its see is Charleston. S. c.,
where was organized the first Supreme
Council Of the world. This fact, it is
explained. and the further fact that the
Supreme Council there organized. May 81.
1901, in an old building still standing
at the corner of Church and Broad
streets. make the Supreme Council for
the Southern Jurisdiction 1.-The mother
council Of the world
Announced a Year Ago.
In his allocution at the biennial session
Of the Supreme Council for the southern
Jurisdiction held in October, 1911, Sow
ereign Grand Commander Richardson an
nounced the fact that the meeting of the
tional conference of the Supreme
Councils of the world at this time in
had been agreed to at a con-
ference between himself and the SOW
ereien grand commanders of the northern
Of the United States and of
Canada; and that as early as February
l6, 1910, formal invitation was prepared
and duly signed by the three sovereign
grand commanders. copy of which was
mailed promptly to the sovereign grand
of each of the Supreme Coun-
ellis of the world. Three Supreme Coun-
ellis did not accept the invitation to enter
the conference, the Supreme Councils OF
England, Ireland and Scotland which
had also declined to enter the first inter
conference held at Brussels, Bel
gium. Since then, 1t is understood, all
the remaining twenty-six Supreme Coun-
ellis have signified their intention to be
represented.
Many of the delegates to the confer
ence come attended by their wives or
other members of their families.
Delegates in the City.
The revised list of those who have thus
Tar arrived. including the distinguished
party which reached the city yesterday
afternoon under the escort Of honor of
Secretary General John H. Codding Of
The Supreme Council of the Northern Jur-
sdiction of the United States. and Gen.
Thomas J. Shryock, sovereign grand in
spector general Of the thirty-third de-
gree of the Supreme Council of the South
ern Jurisdiction for the state of Mary
and, includes the following: Sovereign