The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-11-21
DEDICATION OF
MOSAIC TEMPLE
Important Event For Citizens
Of Arkansas Capital
JOHN {. BUSH TO THE FORE

Thousands Attend Opening Of New
= National Home For Mosaic Tempiars
Of Ameriea-Work Of Grand Master
William Alexander Commended.
Washington the Chief Speaker.
Little Rock, Ark.-The recent dedica-
ton of the new Mosaic temple In this
city was an event Of great Importance
to the secret and benevolent societies
here and to the public generally. The
exercises were attended by over 5000
people from various sections Of the
south. Mayor Charles e. Taylor, who
headed a delegation Of leading white
men and women. declared that the
temple was not to be warmed to the
bosom Of any as belonging to this race
or that: 1t was Little Rocks, and down
in the record as such it goes. and
everybody seemed satisfied
The national temple, to be used as a
home Of the Mosaic Templars, erected
at cost Of 100000. constructed by a
colored contracting firm. came Of the
effort Of the organization founded in
1882 by John Il. Bush and Chester w.
Keats. Mr.. Keats has long since
died, but John r. Bush still lives.
the big figure Of his state and the
, financial wizard, az Booker Washing
ton calls him, Of that fraternal society
not the least Of whose distinctions Is
that 1t was founded and established
by colored men after the fashion of no
order then in existence.
This building, situated at the corner
Of Ninth street and Broadway, Is said
to be one of the finest office buildings
and auditoriums In the south. All it's
appointments being measured by the
cost Of 1t. certainly 1t is the greatest
structure yet reared out of the capital
and energy Of colored people.
While the sessions of the leaders Of
the Mosaic Templars lasted through
three days. the dedicatory exercises
were held with Booker II. Washing
ton as the principal speaker. John II.
McConico. national grand auditor. pre-
sided. and the speakers aside from Dr.
Washington included Mayor Taylor.
William Alexander. the present dis
tinguished national grand master;
John e. Bush. national grand scribe.
and DR.. Joseph A. Booker. president Of
the Arkansas Baptist college. who in
troduced Principal Washington. The
exercises were held in the auditorium
Of the temple. which seats 1.60O peo-
pie. Five thousand people wanted to
get In. but coula not. DR.. Washing
ton insisted that the building Of SO fine
a temple ought to teach great lessons
to his people. He took great pride in
reciting the history Of what he said
had come to be the chief fraternal or
ganization among his race. He said In
part:
"Let me in brief recite something Of
the history Of this organization. 1t
was organized In 1882 by two young
Negroes Of Little Rock. Bush and
Keats. The organization started with
one lodge Of fifteen members. located
in Little Rock. The order now oper-
ates in twenty six states. the Panama
canal zone. Central America and the
West Indies. Its numerical strength
consists of LOO subordinate lodges Of
$4,000 members. The order started
with no funds behind 1t other than
the necessary amount to defray incOr-
poration expenses The surplus in all
departments now amounts to 1927. 900.
The new temple building was erected
Mt cost of 100000 out of the endow-
ment surplus. The temple has been
completed and paid for without levying
any extra taxation upon the members.
This has never been done by any other
fraternity in America.
"Since the organization Of the order
the benefit departments have paid to
our people more than half million
dollars. and today the order has all Of
Its death claims paid up to date. and
such has been its record for thirty-two
years. .. ..... ...,
u. e. Bush has been the financial
wizard Of the order since its birth and
has acted as national grand secretary
and treasurer. All Of the funds Of the
order have been handled by him and
its financial system planned. The Or
der has never lost cent by embezzle-
ment. The greatest growth Of the Or
der has come since the induction into
Office of the present grand master;
William Alexander. He succeeded the
late G. w. Keats. His work shows
up in tangible results. When he as
sumed the head of the order the men,
bership was barely 10000.
II take 1t, however. that this build
ing and this organized body Of men
and women haYe great purpose back