The Alaska daily empire., 1915-06-16
JUNEAU IS PRAISED
 BY NOTED MASON

With good word for Juneau, her people, and her "matchless scenery William Homan, prominent New York manufacturer who is also thirty third degree Mason, left for Skagway last night. on his way to Fairbanks and Nome, by way of the Yukon river route. He was accompanied by his sister. Mrs. MagdaIene Krope, with whom he has travelled through every State in the Union, through South America, and through Europe and Asia. He will be back through Ju- neau on Che steamship Victoria, late this summer
 q realize that as yet l have only peered through the key-hole of Alas lsa, and l am sure that when my trip is over, and I have seen part Of the great Yukon and Interior, and all the coast towns, including Nome, per haps will be able to tell my friends down east something authentic about your wonderland"
 Mr. Homan confesses that few peo- pie in the East know the truth about Alaska. Why thought Sitka was about an eighthour run from Juneau; that I could get a boat at any time of day or night, go to Sitka. spend eight hours there, and get back, all in day And I had intended making 24-hour trip to the former capital, to see 1t. until reached Juneau and was told that it was impossible"
 Is Noted Lecturer
 Mir Homan is noted in the Masonic lodge for his lectures and writings. He is the author of "The Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite and the Ger neau Wrong for which he was hon. ored with a vote Of thanks by the In- ternatiopal conference of Masonic SUI preme councils at Brussels in June, 1907. He has been a Mason for 26 years. His activity in the Scottish Rite earned for him the nomination for and election to the thiry-third de gree at a session in Chicago in 1893 In 1894 he was enrolled. In the Nor thern Jurisdiction of Masonry, there are but 5S thirty-third degree Masons He is an active member of the su preme council. of the Masons North ern jurisdiction, an honorary member of the tEirty-third degree council of the Southern jurisdiction, and honor ary member of.the councils of Canada Mexico. Colon. (for Cuba). Brazil Chile, Peru, Argentine. Belgium, Italy and Portugal, and a representative tC the supreme council of the thirty third degree Masons of Brazil, Ecua dor. Belgium and Grand Lodge of Ed inburgh, Scotland.
 Knows First elk Initiated.
 Mir Homan is said by his friends tC have most remarkable memory both for faces. and for names. Yes lterday at the EllSs Club he told of hay ling met and known the first member of the Elks Lodge to be initiated, VII liam Lloyd Bowron, the "Numbei One" Of New York lodge No. l. H' met Bowron in New York 14 year. l lago. Bowron is now in his eighty first year.
 MT. Homan stopped off in Juneau t meet Judge Royal A. Gunnison, whom Inc has personally known for the pas twenty years He delighted the loca bodies of Masonry last week at special session featuring on "The par Ffeemasonry plays in the governmen of the United States Monday nigh at the Elks Flag Day exercises h llectured on "The Evolution Of th Flag, during which he exhibited re productions of every flag that ha waved over America since the dis covery ol the nation by Columbus l.It was a rare treat for the large crow' that attended the exercises.
 Wac Award Judge at Fair.
 Mir. Homan spent the month of Ma lin San Francisco, having been chose 1 as one Of the members Of the Interna tional Jury of Award Panama-Paei iic Exposition