The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-26
BY ROTARY ANN.

On Board the Camerona, June tSpecial)-On the afternoon of the fourth day out from New York a re- quest was made that since the Ro- tary convention was to be held in Edinburgh the home of the oldest Masonic lodge in the world, all Ma sons met at o'clock for confer ence in order that plans might be ar ranged for getting an opportunity to visit the lodge. This was not a secret meeting and has since been the topic of discussion by all on board ship.
 . To the surprise of the uninitiated practically every man on the ship proved to be a Mason. Rotary and Masonry seem to be synonymous. Not only the passengers but the ship of ficers themselves are every one mem bers of the Masonic order
 Even the fine young Welsh boy who serves at our table. Brynley Johns. by name, q feel sure he is kinsman of Wallace Johns) claimed with great pride to be a member of Kilwinning lodge No of Edinburgh, |, the oldest lodge in the world. Bryn- ley boasts also of being the only Welshman In the entire crew. His name. Brynley, he says. means in Welsh "a hill' and was given him because he was born at the foot of a hill. He has shown us a directory of his lodge and small blue book contain ing it's by-laws. One wonders at the sentiment and deep feeling of such fine young fellows.
 Scottish Masonry.
 At the Masonic conference 1t seems that Mir. Henry w. Robinson a thir- tythird degree Mason of New Or leans, presided introducing Mir. A. B. Stuart of Tampa, "a, wh claims to be the youngest thirty third de- gree Mason in America. He is a na- tive of Scotland and told the group some of the differences between Scottish Masonry and American Ma sorry.
 Regarding the name and number of the oldest lodge he said that for a long time Mary Chapel lodge No. 1 was thought to be the oldest. but when Kilwinning proved it's claim to priority it was designated Kilwin- hing lodg@ No. 0. being the only lodge in the world numbered 0.
 On this trip there have been many evidences of the presence of the real spirit of democracy One such was shown in the Masonic conference when one of the passengers arose and said that two men from the steerage learning of the conference mad asked permission to come up and wished to know if they might be ad- mitted. They were immediateIy in vited in and asked to say word. whereupon one of them, who was a native Scotchman now living in Iowa. told that not being able to secure first or second class accommodations on board he had taken steerage rather than miss returning to Scot land at this time in order to be pres ent at the golden wedding of his father and mother.
 He announced that there were forty other Masons among the steerage pas sengers. all of whom were invited to attend the next conference.
 Needed More Light.
 Much amusement was created over the large number of confessions of men who feared they would not . able to pass the necessary examina- lodge in Edinburgh.
 The fact that the oldest known records of the Masonic craft are found in Scotland has aroused the interest of all Masons on board and a school of instruction is planned in order to prepare those interested more fully to appreciate what they will find in Edinburgh.
 Both members of the Birmingham delegation are thirty-second degree Masons and anxious to visit the moth Yer lodge.
 The Captain and Crew
 Our snip's crew Is almost entirely English and Scotch, and a more cour- tecus. efficient grous from the conn