The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-22
Three Hundred Virginians Of
Scottish Rites Body See
States Largest Class Given
Degrees.
Reunion Closes
With Banquet
F inished Address by Vice Pres
ident and Other Splendid
Speeches Heard = General
Richardson, Ill, Unable to
Attend Ceremonies

The most perfect exempliacation Of
ceremonial and official degrees was
that which last night, in the Masonic
temple, marked the ceremonies Incl
dent to the closing of the annual re-
union Of the scottish Rites Masons OF
Virginia. The largest class of candi-
dates ever presented in Virginia for
the thirty first and thirty second de-
sFees--a class including many of the
most prominent business and profess
sional men of the State-received the
highest hon0rs the Masonic frater-
nifty can bestow.
The work was not only "a revela-
tion to the Scottish Rites Masons OF
Virginia, bat TO Vice President OF
the United States Thomas K. Mar
shall and Ia the representative Of
the grand commander Of the SOUTH
ern jurisdiction Of the United States,
General James u. Richardson. OF
Washington, who, because of poor
health, could not be present
The ceremonial was successful be-
yond the most sanguine expectations
of Virginia Scottish Rites Masons. be-
Ing beautifully and ifnpressveiy
staged by degree team of forty from
Albert Pike lodge of Washington,
whose members. handsomely gowned
and splcndidiy drilled. were perfect
IN their knowledge of all the intri-
caeies Of the ceremonial.
Beautiful and Impressive.
The lighting effects. which ac-
eonpaHied the work of comforting the
thirty second degree, added tn the
beauty and in1pressiveness Of the
scenes and the taheau, in which two
prominent young ladies of Richmond
participated were the most splendid
the Alasons, had ever witnessed The
thirty-first degree was communicated.
Following. at o, the ceremonies,
which began Mt o'clock. was the ban
quot at which more than three hun
dred were served While Thlow's
orchestra played. Great enthusiasm
greeted the spea kers, and the mes
sages they conveyed.
Vice President Marshall made very
finished address. one that expressed
the ideals Of the Masonic fraternity.
ard one that carried with it general
interest to all Masons. Jdhn H.
Gowles, secretary general of the SOU
thern jurisdiction. personal represen-
tative of Commander General Richard
SON: Sterling Kerr, assistant secretary
general OF the supreme council, and
Leon Wailersteiu, NJ Richmond, were
the other chief speakers.
Reception At jefferson.
During a simple, informal reception
given Vice. President Marshall in the
State suite nj the Jefferson yesterday
afternoon, the vice-president discussed
with Governor Stuart, Mayor George
Atnsiie, members of the governors
staff and others various declarations
Of independence, and was told by the
governor of one some four months
older than that Of the Mecklenburg
Declaration
The viee-presideut arrived at the
fe4ffaTGNy from Country rllfh
where he had been entertained at
luncheon by the local committee of
Scottish Rites Masons. headed by
HAY r Thornton. Mfr Thornton ac-
companied him TO the hotel In ali au-
tomohNe.
Mrs. Marshall remained at the
Country club. the entertainment be-
ladies with Mrs. ] TAYLOR Ellyson at
its head having not been concluded.
Were DAYS of Unrest.
on arrival al the jefferson the vice.
president declared he was feeling fine,
having overcome the weariness that
the train trip from Charlotte had pro-
duced He explained he had gone to
Charlotte to participate in the ceie-
hratlon Of the anniversary of tho
Meckleuburg Declaration of Inde-
pendence. Replying to a question
from the governor the vice-president
declared he had received many So
called proofs that the Mecklenhurg
declaration was genuine, and so many
that ii was NOT, that ne ct1use TT be-
ueve in the genuineness of the docu-
ment
Governor Stuart then informed the
vice president that in January, ITS.
some four months before the date OF
the North Carolina declaration, the
mountain people of Fincastle adopt-