Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-29


the General Grand chapter, Royal Arch
Masons, OF the United States will meet
/ This body IL composed OF past grand
high priests and grand high priests, dep
/ uty grand high priests, grand kings and
grand scribes In each OF the forty-eight
states and the District OF Columbia Ar
engagements are being made for a large
attendance.
The general grand chapter in It's pres
ent form car into existence In 1875,
when IL assumed the name Il now bears,
and took jurisdiction over the entire
country. Previously there had been an
organization somewhat similar IN char
acter which had assumed control over
the Royal Arch Masons Of New England
and New York In 1896 the septennial
meetings were abandoned, since which
time II has met triennially
Originally this body possessed consid-
cradle authority, but by It's present con-
stltution It has mo power OF discipline.
admonition. censure or instruction over
the grand chapters, nor any legislative
powers whatever not specially granted"
by lts constitution. It Is thus apparent
that It IL scarcely more than n great
Masonic convention, meeting triennially
for consultation; but even with these
restricted powers It has been able TO &C
complish great deal Of good. and It is
strl accomplishing much in that direc-
ton.
OFFICERS of the Organization.
/ Following IL q list of the officers OF
the general grand chapter: Bernard @.
/ Witt Henderson, KY, general grand
high priest; George Il. Corson, Washing
ton, ID. c., deputy general grand high
priest; Frederick w. Craig, Des Moines,
I Ia. general grand king; William II.
Kuhn. Kansas city, Mo. general grand
scribe; Thomas ]. Shryock, Baltimore,
Nd. general grand treasurer (Rcting):
Charles A. Conover, Coldwater, Mich,
general grand secretary; Bestor q.
4 Brown. Topeka. Kan, general grand cap
tain OF the host; Charles N. Rix Hot
Springs, Ark, general grand principal
so1ourner; ]. Albert Blake. Boston. Mass,
4 general grand royal arch captain;
Henry Banks, La Grange. Ga, general
grand master third veil; Henry De witt
Hamilton, New York city, general grand
master second veil; Charles c. Davis,
Centralia, ILL.,, general grand master first
veil.
As is the custom In many Masonic
bodies, the line OF officers excepting
/ treasurer and secretary, which are sta-
tionary) is advanced one position tri-
ennially the general grand high priest
\ stepping down and out, the deputy TAX
I ing his place, and the other officers NOV
/ Ing up one place behind him. new
officer IL elected at the foot Of the line.
TO be general grand master OF tho first
VEIL and II takes him twenty-seven years
TO reach the top, George NJ CorBon of
A. A.. 49,. al ~
high priest at tho san Francisco triennial
convocation. was elected 10 the first veil
az the Minneapolis trlennial In 1891. He
is making the journey from the bottom
TO the top OF the line In twenty-four
years, instead OF twenty-seven. because of
an extra vacancy in the line years ago.
sketch OF the New Head.
Mr.. Corson II New Englander. having
been born In 1s42 at Lebanon. Me. After
brilliant service In the union army, he
came TO this city where he has since re-
sided. In 1878 he was department COM
msnder OF tho Grand Army OF the Re-
public OF the District Of Columbia
Mr.. corson took his blue lodge degrees
here In 1870, and his chapter degrees in
1871. He has gone through the chairs
In lodge, chapter council and comman-
derry. In 1885 he was grand high priest
ana In 1904 grand commander of District
OF Columbia knights Tempiar. He served
in the official line of the grand lodge
here for g number OF years, rising to tho
station OF Junior grand warden, when he
dropped out He received tho thirty-thlrd
degree. honorary. Scottish Rite. in 1901.
Mr.. corson has been connected with
the War department for more than a
generation.
Authority Of General bodies.
II h interesting TO note. In connection
with the thought that the general grand
chapter has so little real authority. that
American Masonry, although frequently
solicited. has been very chary OF organ
ixing natlop4s bodies with legislative and
other power. The grand encampment.
Knights Templar also meeting trien-
nially. 10 clothed with considerable de-
gree OF authority. and to all intents and
purposes It Is the supreme governing body
OF knights Teniplar In this country; but
Il Is the only Masonic body so organized.
The general grand council. Royal and
Selected Masters OF the United States
meeting at the same time end place as
the general grand chapter, like II. exer-
olsea no functions other than those OF a
purely advisory character The two
bodies call together many OF the most
prominent members OF the fraternity In
the country and the result Of this meet
ing Of prominent Masons IL always good
In this direction IL found a considerable
, part Of that which makes these two trton-
NAL gatherings worth while.
SO far as blue lodge Masonry IL con-
cerned. II never has been possible to or
ganiHe q national body. although there
have been perhaps q score OF attempts,
beginning during the Evolutionary war,
and continuing at intervals down to the
civil war. II IL now generally admitted
that. IN all probability, such a body will
never be formed In this country.
wanted Washington 90 Lead.
The agitation In favor OF general
grand lodge sheds q good deal OF inter
esting light on the subsequent organiza-
ton OF the general grand chapter. gen.
erai grand council and grand enoamp-
ment. The American grand lodges. at
the outbreak OF the revolutionary war
began TO abandon their dependence upon
the grand lodge OF England and OF Scot
land. and quite naturally they at once
cast about to find some new authority