The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-18
ALL IS IN READINESS
FOR SPRING REUNION
OF SCOTTISH R|TERS
Will Begin Tomorrow Night
at Temple and Continue
Through Friday-Greet-
ings of Officers

Everything is In readiness for the spring
fish Rite of Free Masons which will COM
mence In Birmingham tomorrow evening
and continue throughout Tuesday.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this
week. The registering of the classes win
be started tomorrow evening at, the Ma
sonic Temple and all those elected to take
the degrees are requested to be on hand
tomorrow night. In the event anyone
cannot appear tomorrow night they are
requested to report at o'clock on Tues
day morning In order that the ceremonies
may be commenced Tuesday morning at
schedule time. 9 o'clock.
AS all the degrees from the fourth to
the thirty-second will be conferred the
officials state 1t is necessary for the can
didate to be on hand promptly a sched-
ule has been fixed for the comforting of
the degrees, which of necessity must be
adhered to.
The greeting of the officers of the sew
eral Scottish Rite bodies is as follows.
Greeting: The bodies of the Rite, sit
ting in the Valley of Birmingham. Orient
of Alabama, have selected Tuesday, April
20; Wednesday, April 81; Thursday, April
%, and Friday, April %. as the time for
holding their spring reunion and to con-
fer all degrees from the fourth to the
thirty-second, inclusive. as herein given.
I'VE extend to you a most cordial in
vitation and we trust that by your pres
ence and your assistance, you will help
to make this reunion a memorable event
In the history of the Birmingham Scot
fish Rite. Fraternally yours, John B.
Bethea. Sr., thirty-second degree, veneer
able master; Colman Blach, thirty-second
degree. wise master: ]. u. Ray, thirty
third degree, honorary. commander; w.
W. Ransom, thirty-third degree honorary,
master kadosh; John Herbert Phillips
thirty-thrd degree, honorary, deputy for
S. G. l. G. for north Alabama
PREDATORY Greeting: To the masters of
the Royal Secret, in our verbal convoca-
ton assembled, extend the joyous greet
ings of the Eastertide. Here, once again,
we strengthen our faith in the sublime
principles of the Ancient Rite and renew
the obligations of brotherhood.
"In all ages and In all countries where
the light of Scottish Freemasonry shines
among men. the principles Of education,
virtue and morality have been deemed
fundamental to human liberty. To give
a nation the franchise of the intellect
is the only sure mode of perpetuating
freedom To elevate the people by teach
ing loving kindness and wisdom; to de-
veiop the free state from the rough ash
lar; this is the great labor In which Ma
sorry desires to lend a helping hand.
Thus spoke Albert Pike, the venerated
prophet of Freemasonry in Alabama.
The recent action of the Blue Masons
of Alabama, espousing by resolution of
the grand lodge, the advocacy of the
cause of public education, commits
Freemasonry irrevocably to the promo
ton of intelligence among the people
1t is a recognition of the fact that pov
erty, disease and crime together with
injustice, Intolerance and oppression
the inveterate enemies of human prog
ress, are the results in the main of
ignorance. Our civilization has essayed
to provide remedies for these social
ailments, but these remedies have
proven Intellectual. Society with one
hand relieves poverty through charity.
but with the other through ignorance,
increases its paupers; II relieves its sick
through its physicians. but through ig-
norance multiplies the number of suf-
ferers in hospitals and sanitariums; IL
provides costly agencies for the pre-
vention of crime, but through Ignorance
and selfishness. 1t creates new agencies
for the multiplication of criminals
Freemansonry would strike at the root oil
these ancient enemies of humanity by
the removal of the cause Ignorance is
the greatest crime. because here will be
found ultimately the primal cause oil
individual and social ills. That The peo-
pie are destroyed for lack of knowledge
Is as true today as when uttered by the
prophet in the olden time.
The great brotherhood of Freema-
sons will not relax the outstretched
hand of charity, nor Will 1t cease ia
relieve the sick. and aid in bringing the
criminal to swift Justice, through the
appointed agencies of society. But its
highest mission is, and shall be, the ex-
tirpation of the primal curse of ignor-
ance, by the diffusion of the light OF
true knowledge among men, until the
practice of the cardinal virtues, for
titude, prudence, temperance and justice
shall be established upon the earth
ITO this noble mission may all who
attend this convocation consecrate theii
lives and dedicate their powers.
I'm the spirit of love for the brother
hood and of devotion to the principles
of the order, on behalf of our beloved
grand commander and of the. supreme
council of the 33d degree of the south
ern jurisdiction of the United States.
extend to all this fraternal greeting
And may our Father who Is in Heaven
have you always In His holy keeping.
JOHN HERBERT PHILLIPS.
"33d Degree Hon., Deputy to the Sow
ereign Grand Inspector General fol