The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-02
Moore Than 10000
Gather In Cincinnati
Ia. Prominent In Nat
ional Masonic Meet

lOnal Masonic Meet
The eight Interstate and Inter-Na-
tional conferences Of as many Of the
various departments of Masonry in
cluding Blue Lodge, Royal Arch,
Knights Templar, Shriners, O. E. s.,
Daughters Of Isis, Heroines Of the
emplar Crusades and Administrative
Degree of O. E. s. held at Cincinnati
last week, have passed into history and
when the history of this the greatest
Masonic gathering ever held in Amer
ica among the members of any race is
written it will disclose the fact that
present and former residents Of Iowa
with Negro population Of less than
twenty thousand, played in said confer
sences more prominent part than those
of any other one state regardless of the
size of its Negro population.
To begin with there was the Inter
National Conference of Present and
Past Grand Masters and Grand Secre-
taries representing the Blue Lodge Ma
sons from practically every State in the
Union and also from Ontario, Canada
and it was presided over by Past
Grand Master, John l.. Thompson with
Past Grand Master E. T. Banks acting
y
Grand Master S. Joe Brown as mem
Der Of the committee on jurisprudence.
This conference adopted new consti-
tuition and at it's close elected the fol-
lowing officers:
. President, W. T. Wood, Alabama;
First Vice President, g. M. Parker,
New York; Second Vice President Crit
tenden Clark, Missouri; Third Vice Pres
T u sp;o
E. J. Hawkins and Secretary T. B. Man.
diman, Tennessee.
Conference Of Grand and
Past Grand Masters
In the Inter National Conference of
Present and Past Grand High Priests
and Grand Secretaries of Royal Arch
Masons, Attorney 8. Joe Brown, of this
state who was made Chairman of the
Committee to Revise the Constitution
and also member of the committee to
recommend uniform ritual to be used
by all Negro Royal Arch Masons in the
United States and Canada. Other Off
GERS elected were: President, Juitt AL
lison, Tennessee; First Vice President,
Willard w. Allen, Maryland; Second
Vice President, H.. N. Gregory, New
York; Third Vice President, Rev. A. w.
Edwards, Texas; 49, Treasurer, Leroy
johnson, Ohio; Secretary, r. J. B. FL
1ington, ILL.,; and Assistant Secretary,
J. w. Wheatley, Kentucky.
knights Temple.
In the Inter National Conference of
Knights Templar of the United States
and Canada is the oldest of these Ma
sonic conferences and in which all
knights Templar are eligible to men,
bership Iowa was represented by Sir
E. T. Banks, Past Deputy Grand Com
mander; Sir w. H. Humburd, Past
Senior Warden; Sir w. G. Rhodes pres
Ient Senior Grand Warden and Sir s.
Joe Brown, Past Grand Warder Of the
Grand Commandery of Illinois and
Iowa, also by Past Commander G. F.
Topson and Sir Knights Henry West
and Bert a.. Harris all Of .Des Moines
| and Sir knight r. 8. Taylor, M. D. Of
Davenport.
! The newly elected officers of the
knight Templar Conference are: Pres
] ident, Sir Marshall T. Clay, Kentucky;
:, Vice President, VIM. G.. Smith, District
of Columbia. This conference also ap:
| pointed committee on uniformity of
work with Past Grand Commander J.
(gVf.Ss MQSIc VI %Cu1CdSO dS Tvs CAdAA AAe-A
Mobiles Of the Mystic Shrine.
In the Supreme Council of the Mobiles
Of the Mystic Shrine Iowans took no
conspicuous part; but Illustrious No
bles, w. n. Humburd, Bert A. Harris,
Henry West and w. G. Rhodes Of Des
Moines and DR.. R. S. Taylor Of Daven.
| port were present in the sessions and
marched in the parade on Tuesday aft
| e1noon which was conceded to be the
most gorgeous ever staged upon the
streets Of Cincinnati during a more
than century of history; and while
no lady who is at present a resident of
Iowa was in the Supreme Council Of the
Daughters Of Isis, the ladies auxiliary
of the Shrine, Mrs. Ruth B. Bright,
Past Grand Matron Of Iowa, 0. E. s.
but at present resident of Denver,
Colo, was present as member Of this
body and at the annual memorial serv-
| i:ce at the big A. M. E. Zion church
! on Sunday afternoon the sermon was
J delivered by Illustrious Noble, w.
Sampson Brooks, now Bishop of the A.
n. E. church, but formerly pastor Of st,
Paul A. M. =. church Of Des Moines.
| The most important enactment OF
this Conference was the settlement OF
the controversy which arose at the last
conference in Chicago four years age
concerning the proper degree for an O
E. 8. chapter to work in by the report
OF the committee consisting Of Grand
Patron J. C. Scott Of Texas, Past Crane
Continued on page I.