The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-06

amiable and courageous leadership of
Brother w. L. Elliott, now deceased,
but at that time M of the brightest
lights of the fraternity in points of
young, Christian manhood. The mayor
of the city delivered a most cordial
address of welcome and was respond
ed to by Brother r. T. Coles, Grand
Treasurer, in a most delightful man
ner. The Grand Lodge was soon down
to hard work upon plans which the
Grand Master had carefully laid out in
advance. There was not much of con-
structive operations, but a great deal
of refining and finishing.
The brethren were delighted to
learn that the Masons of Kansas City
had purchased a commodious building
to be used for a Temple and that the
same had been consecrated during
the year with imposing ceremonies in
which visiting grand masters had par
ticipated.
In his annual address the Grand
Master had recommended that the
Heroines of Jericho be asked to hold
their annual meetings at the same
time and place with the Grand Lodge.
1t was doubtless an oversight that he
did not include the Order Eastern Star
and when this omission was pointed
out it brought up such d~issension as
finally resulted in the matter being
passed yer without action. Our
Grand Lodge fortunately has at all
times exercised great caution in all
matters which might create a false
impression of our idea. of jurisdiction,
1t has never assumed any monitorial
rights toward either the female rites
or those so-called higher degrees
among the brethren. 1t has at all
times encouraged both and upon a few
occasions has been compelled to break
up contentious among them, but it has
never attempted to influence their ac-
tons SO long as peace and quiet pre-
vailed. This is wholly attributable to
the solid balance and conservatism of
the ruling spirits Of the Grand Lodge
who have never been able to be STAN
peded or moved by impulsiveness.
Thus a great deal of trouble has been
averted and the kindred rites have
Jared all the better. Many grand
lodges of the country have made the
mistake of assuming the right to con
troll the affairs of associate and con-
nected bodies and in no case has such
short of ludicrous confusion. So long
as a digniied and reverential yer
sight Isl practiced toward the sym
bolic degrees it is very likely that
the mere example will be sufficient to
render all necessary control owe the
allied organizations, granting that
these are recognized as such. In the
election of grand officers Brother
Charles G. Williams, who had distin-
guished himself as secretary of the
Relief Department, was the unanimous
choice of the brethren for Grand Mas
ter. He was n of the most agrees
sive young Masons Of the jurisdiction,
with fine constructive ability, excel
lent scholarship and business tact. He
most capably carried out his own and
the Grand Masters ideals in perfect
ing the work of the charity service of
the Grand Lodge and established a
system that made it very easy for his
successor, Brother w. w. Fields, who
had been his assistant during several
years, and who still most a%cceptably
fills the position. Brother NJ. S. Bry-
ant became Deputy Grand Master;
Brother Sonny Vaughn was advanced
to the West, and after a spirited CON
test Brother Thomas A. Jordan, a high
class man and Mason of the city of st.
Louis was elected to the South. Boon
vile was the choice for the next meet
ing place.