The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-11-13

round of successfulness. His decis-
ions and official conduct had made
real history for the jurisdiction and
were real classics in the archives of
the fraternity.
Considerable funds had been col
lected for the Masonic library and
many valued books and pamphlets had
been collected. 1t was voted to es-
tablish the library at Kansas City un.
der a board of three members, the
local member to be the active libra
rian.
The Masonic Relief Association had
been in operation for one year and
many minor changes had to be made.
The chief features of the department,
after these changes, were: (1) Each
Master Mason was compelled to be
a member and was taxed so cents to
join. (2) Upon the death of a mem
Der each survivor was taxed 80 cents.
(9) OF this amount 5 cents was with
held together with the joining fees
for operating expenses and the re-
naming rs cents per member was
paid to the relief of the heirs.
Naturally the plan had its enthu-
siastic advocates and it's equally de-
cided opponents. Among the latter
was Past Grand Master Clark, who
held that Masons should not be COM
PEELED to be members of the associa-
ton, such compulsion being regarded
as un-Masonic. The majority, how
ever, thought otherwise and the
schedule was sustained.
Members failing to pay their dues
were not suspended from their lodges,
however, but were merely denied the
benefits of the relief department. This
practically answered the end sought
by Brother Clark, as it entailed no
further obligation upon a member than
to simply join and let his dues lapse
if he chose. This many did and thus
was the real object of the movement
defeated and weakened in it's aim to
make the distress following the de-
cease of a brother the equal financial
concern of all the members.
A grand body had been organized in
Iowa under the title of the African
Grand Lodge, but as some of the Iowa
lodges had refused to participate in
the formation and had bitterly op-
posed it, Jul Grand Lodge, after much
elaboration, refused to recognize it
and asked other friendly bodies to
take the same position. 1t seems that
Illinois had already extended the
friendly hand to the African brethren
and this brought about some disap-
pointment which, added to the fact
that the sister across the Mississippi
had been receiving into her folds Ma.
sonic material from Missouri, bid fair
to cause nc end of trouble.
New grand lodges in Colorado and
Mississippi were formally accorded
recognition.
The election of grand officers came
on the afternoon of the second day
and was attended with it's usual
thrills. Grand Master Brent's an
nouncement that he would not accept
another term was the signal for al
sorts of entries into the field. First
entered Brother ]. M. M. Stokes, close
ly followed by Brother Alexander
Clark, who could not let a thing like
that pass after having dined with Ma
sonic royalty. Brother ]. H. Pelham
was offered just to feel his strength
and the Grand Secretary, Brother r
o. Smith, came in in earnest. Broth
err Amos Johnson and Brother G.. w
Guy were offered in closing. Pelham
and Johnson declined. The vote was
cast and Robert o. Smith was found
to have beaten the bunch easily. He
must have had the support Of the re-
firing Grand Master. for the rest OF
the list shows Brother Brent safely
slowed away into the office Of Grand
Secretary.
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