The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-20

ture of the theme and as DR.. Ricketts,
said at its conclusion showed that
THE Grand Lodge has been particu-
larly fortunate in electing to the Of
flee of Grand Master persons who
were competent to not only give ma
sonic light but to present matters of
interest in choice language and in an
eloquent manner"
A feature of the address which de-
serves special notice was a statistical
summary of subordinate lodges which
had been derived from direct CORES
%pondence. In this it was shown that
the membership had grown to over
four and one-half thousands. Lodges
had collected during the year over
thirty-one thousand dollars, over half
of which still remained in their treas
uries. Forty-six lodges had come into
possession of real estate and over
half of these were out of debt. On
ward Lodge No. II, of st. Louis, was
reported to have nearly twenty-five
hundred dollars cash on hand and at
least a dozen others had saved sums
ranging downward to five hundred
dollars. The heaviest property own
ers were the lodges at ST. Charles, ST.
Louis, Kansas City, Salisbury, Licking
ton, Liberty, Boonville, Cape Girar-
deau, Parkville and DeSoto. Future
Great Lodge No. so, st. Louis, with
143 members, had the largest enroll
ment at that time while Williams
Lodge No. 81, Keytesville, had only
six members in good standing. There
were several other interesting sum
maries in the various tables given and
the whole showed a remarkable de-
gree of preparation in the making.
The annual address not only sup
piled plans for work during the SEES
sion but it offered food for reflection
long after the meeting should close.
The very earnest words concerning
the proper conduct of lodge meetings,
the preparation of lodge rooms, the
conservation of funds, the inspection
of material, the general aspect of the
race question, all well directed, had a
lasting effect upon the brethren.
The Walker faction of the o. E. S.
had decided to take one parting shot
at the Grand Lodge and through an
attorney who needed two hundred dol
lars had brought suit for some sort
of imagined damages. The Grand
Lodge made an appropriation to con
ENID with the female adversary, being
| aGG11rnH fhaf fhavo yr-ae nnaEIs,,a -,
it" which was true in more ways than
one.
Now visions of the Masonic Home,
the ideal of the Grand Master, drew
nearer when the committee recon-
mended a site near Hannibal which
could be purchased for five thousand
dollars. Other sites, too, one near
Liberty and one near Glasgow were
suggested, but the one near Hannibal,
favored by the Grand Master, had the
preference and an augmented commit
tee was given power to proceed with
the project, the Grand Lodge pledging
its absolute support.
Brother Joe E. Hereford was chair
man of the committee on Masonic Re-
lief and brought in a report which es-
sayed to increase the per capita tax
to n dollar quarterly and to pay a
benefit of two hundred dollars upon
each death. The idea provoked much
discussion and a roll call was even
made, however, by a large majority
vote and the system has continued to
the present time. The same commit
tee recommended that a tax of one
dollar be levied against each member
of the jurisdiction for the raising of
a fund to pay for the Masonic Home
The recommendation was carried and
the chairman of the committee paid
the first dollar on the Masonic Home
fund. At this time after nearly ten
years the Home is free from debt and
to Grand Master Nelson c. Crews is
due the credit for having paid the last
dollar.
The election of grand officers was
u%neventful. Brother G. c. Kimbrough
became Junior Grand Warden and the
others moved up" We have previ-
ously referred to Brother Kimbrough