The Washington times., 1915-10-19
Twenty Thirty.TMrd Degree
Masons, in Secret Session,
Plan Orders Business.
ARRANGE TWO BANQUETS
New Center Of Fraternity Scene
o! Masonic Activity Today
and Tonight.

Reading OF Sovereign Grand Com
mander George F. Moores address and
report on the progress OF the order
was the high light of todays business
session of the Supreme Council. Scot
tish Rite Masons. in their newly dedi-
Gated temple at sixteenth and streets
northwest.
Although considerable other business
of interest exclusively to thirty-third
degree Masons was transacted at the
secret session. the lengthy and informa-
tive allocution dealing with the accom-
plishments of the past year. chronicing
deaths of high Masons and making rec
omme mendations, absorbed the interest OF
those within the sealed portals.
Thirteen Vacancies.
Business sessions will be held by the
Supreme Council every day this week
Although the council is supposed to con-
sist Of thirty-three thirty-third degree
Masons, the body Ia now constituted
by twenty men. there being thirteen
vacancies because OF deaths and otheT
causes.
One of the items of business to come
before the supreme council this week,
no one knows the exact day. VIII pe
the selection of successor to Edward
spector general, who died here yester.
day, and whose body today was shipped
to his home in Aberdeen, S. D.. for
burial.
The selection will be made In execu-
tive session, the date of the meeting.
names considered, and everything else
in connection with the subject being
kept a strict secret until the choice has
been made.
Arrange Banquets.
Among the other business matters to
be decided by the supreme council will
be the fixing of dates for comforting
degrees and for the two big banquets
to be held here this week
At registration headquarters today It
was reported that l.095 Masons had
registered at the temple. and the num-
ber probably would exceed 100 before
the end of the week. The ban1uets are
expected to be large and brilliant az
fairs. They probably Will be held IN
the spacious banquet hall OF the temple
where the sovereign grand commander
and members of the, supreme council
were entertained at luncheon this after
noon.
Open Next Week.
This afternoon, the Royal Order OF
Scotland, composed of Masons Of the
Northern and Southern Jurisdictions
convened in regular business session
lOnlRnt at o ClOCh, LeoH Appottt
tenant grand commander Of the North
ern Jurisdiction, will confer degrees
upon a large class OF candidates for the
Royal order of Scotland The organiza-
tion will give its annual banquet In the
Shoreham Hotel tomorrow night.
Today hundreds Of men. women and
children went to the temple expecting
to be admitted. but all except thirty,
cards were stopped at the front door
because Of the secret session Ill
progress. A.
They were informed that the mag.
nifcent temple would be open to the
public next week. after the supreme
council adjourns.
A brilliant reception to Scotlsn
Rite Masons and invited guests last
the social use of the structure ana
was also the concluding feature OF
the dedicatory exercises
Officers Welcome Guests.
All the officers of the supreme
council stood in line and welcomed
the Masons and their friends. Among
those invited to the reception were
Masons Of high degree from all over
the United States and Canada. In
GLIDING Leon Abbott. lieutenant grand
commander Of the northern jurisdic-
ton of the United States. An ex-
cellent musical program featured the
ception.
With oil. corn and wine brought from
Jerusalem. with an unbidden but well
come dove participating in the cere.
monies. and with all the pomp and
splendor with which Masonry can In.
vest a service. the temple was dedicated
before a crowd estimated at 1900 per-
sons yesterday afternoon.
The oil. corn and wine were the con,
tributions OF Thomas J. Shryock, of
Baltimore. who recently visited the
Holy Land. Following the announce
ment by the grand commander that
they had been brought from Jerusalem
women in the audience went to the steps
OF the temple and dipped their handker'
chiefs in the oil and wine, and there
was a scramble for kernels of the corn
used in the ceremonies.
Impressive Ritual.
washingtonians who gathered at thu
temple agreed that no more impressive
or awe-inspiring ritualistic ceremonies
had been witnessed here. and th'
100000 temple is declared to he thu
peer OF any structure in the Nationa
Capital The structure Is fashioned
after the famous mausoleum erected TO
King Mausolus by Queen Artemisia a
Halicarnassus. one of the seven won
ders OF the world. II is the work o
Ar,hitact Iohn pona whoxe Inn