Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-07-30
A GREAT CONFERENCE.
Largest Number of Grand Masters
Ever Met in the U. s. At One
Time-Iowa Honored With
the Presidency.

Detroit, Mich, July ~, 19l5.-For
the first time in the history Of Free
masonry Michigan Union Grand
Lodge celebrated their fiftieth ami
versary and pursuant to their call of
Grand Master Of Michigan Dungey,
a conference Of grand masters, past
grand masters and grand secretaries
met Wednesday morning in the Bap-
fist church 81 g p N e. lh{fte
called the meeting to order and intro
duced Grand Master Dungey Of Michi-
gan, who in an excellent manner stat
ed the object of the conference. After
the call had been read, on motion Of
G. M. Thompson Of Iowa roll of
states was called and those present
responded. 1t was found that ten
states and one foreign country was
represented. Then they elected P. G..
M. Evans, the oldest P. G. M. in Mich
igan, temporary president, and A. L..
McCoo, grand secretary Of 1lli-
nois, was elected temporary secre-
tary, and the committee on
organization was appointed, consist
ing of C. A. White, P. G. M. of Michi-
gan, s. C. Straymore, G. M. of Ten
nessee, John L. Thompson, G. M. of
Iowa, w. H. Mayo, grand secretary of
Kentucky, J. W. Moore, P. G. M. Of
Illinois. They made the report and
after some changes and amendments
the report was adopted. The next Or
der of business was permanent or
ganization. John L. Thompson, G. M.
Of Iowa, name was presented by P.
G. M. C. T. White of Michigan and
he was unanimously elected. The fol-
lowing were unanimously chosen:
First vice president, W. H. Mckinney,
G. M. of Texas; second vice president,
E. A. Turpin, P. G. M. of New Jersey;
secretary, W. H. Mayo, grand secre-
tary of Kentucky; assistant secre-
tary, J. S. Campbell, grand secretary
of Michigan; treasurer, A. L. McCoo,
grand secretary Of Illinois; grand
chaplain, A. Mundy, G. M. of Ken
lucky; sergeant, E. j. Hawkins, G. M.
of Kansas; executive committee, C.
T. White of Michigan, F. F. Bailey,
grand secretary of Oklahoma, Mr..
Richards, G. M. of Toronto, Canada,
S. Straymore, G. M. of Tennessee, A.
E. Hope, G. M. of New Jersey. Ad-
journed for lunch. Afternoon session
was taken up in reading and discus
sion of the papers as suggested in the
program. The morning session was
a continuation Of the great question
of uniformity Of ritualistic work.
Finally committee of seven was ap-
pointed to make a study Of the differ
ent rituals that the various grand
jurisdictions have adopted and decide
or suggest the best ritual that comes
the nearest to our ancient landmarks
and not exposed so that we may dis
cuss it at the next meeting, and if
it appeals to the conference then the
conference suggest that the various
grand lodges consider the adoption of
it and then we would at least have a
uniformity of ritual. The committee
named by the president follows: Cara
Adams, G. M. of Ohio, A. L. McCoo of
Illinois, c. T. White Of Michigan, E..
A. Turpin, grand secretary Of New
Jersey, w. M. Coleman, grand lee
turer of Texas, E. J. Hawkins, G. M.
of Kansas, J. M. Mundy, G. M. of
Kentucky. A committee on member
ship to secure the cooperation of all
the grand Masonic lodges in this or
any other country was selected as fol-
lows: John L. Thompson Of Iowa,
Straymore Of Tennessee and Bailey Of
Oklahoma. After speeches by many
distinguished craftsmen pledging their
support to this worthy movement the