Evening star., 1923-11-03
WS|TAT0NS CLOSE
MASONIC PERIOD
Grand Master Finley and
Grand Lodge Officers Visit
Two Lodges.

Completing one of the most, if not
the most, eventful periods in the
history of Freemasonry, DR.. Mark F.
Finley, grand master of Masons of
the District of Columbia, accompanied
by the other officers of the Grand
Lodge, last evening made official WIS.,
itations to Lebanon Lodge, No. Z, and
Columbia Lodge, No. 8, both housed in
Masonic Temple, 18th street and New
York avenue. Columbia Lodge was
chartered November 8. 1902. and Leb-
anon Lodge, October s, 1911
The visitors were welcomed to Leb-
anon by Charles F. Riecks, master,
and to Columbia by De Witt T. Spen-
Ger, master. Lebanon Lodge had the
short end" of the visitation, but Co.
lunfbia Lodge, with the better part of
the evening at it's disposal. provided
a program of entertainment features,
in charge of Past Master Harry B.
Plankinton, following the transaction
of necessary business.
All the grand masters of the Ma
sonic jurisdictions throughout the
United States were guests of the
Grand Lodge of the District at ban
quet Wednesday evening in the Scot
ttsh Rite House of the Temple, 18th
and s streets, following the confer
ence of grand masters and sight
seeing tour.
1t was the first time In history that
an affair of the kind had been un-
dertaken, and, from the standpoint
of the menu alone, the concensus of
opinion was that 1t surpassed any
thing in the memory of members of
the craft
Personify Host Grand Lodge.
Grand Master Finley, the officers
of his official line and the masters
of the thirty-four constituent lodges
were present to personify the host
Grand Lodge.
1t was also unique in that it was
"a banquet with a POSTMASTER. but
no toasts." j. Claude KEEPER, secre-
tary and treasurer of the George
Washington Masonic National Me-
mortal Association, was introduced
as toastmaster. He made several an
nouncements, but would not permit
any one else to speak.
The committee which arranged the
affair consisted of Charles Cyrus
Coombs. past grand master, chair
man; Past Grand Masters J. Claude
KEEPER, Charles Z. Baldwin and Joseph
H. Milans; Charles F. Roberts, deputy
grand master; Roe Fulkerson. senior
grand warden; Gratz f. Dunkum
grand marshal; c. Fred Cook, grand
pursuivant; Ellwood P. Morey, mas
ter of Albert Pike Lodge, No. SO, and
Harry Zehner, master of Hiram Lodge,
No. 10.
Following the banquet, the assem-
blage adjourned to the Eastern Star
Auditorium, Masonic Temple, 18th
street and New York avenue, where
the visitation was made to Hiram
Lodge, No. 10. Grand Master Finley
welcomed thirty-one visiting grand
masters, an opportunity and an ex-
perience never had by any other grand
master
VI. NJ. Degree ExempIifed.
AT the end of the visitation, the
NJ. NJ. degree was exemplified by a
team from Corinthian Lodge No. 241,
of Detroit, Mich. The visitors were
in costume, with proper accessories,
and the work was conceded to be a
revelation to this jurisdiction.
The visitors from Detroit. headed
by Clifton Ferguson, master, were met
at Union station at noon Wednesday
and welcomed by Harry Zehrer, mas
ter of Hiram Lodge, and a special
committee. They were shown the
National Capital by means of auto
tertained at dinner at the City Club
at $50 o'clock The Michiganders
then proceeded to Masonic Temple to
attend the visitation and put on the
degree. The team was headed by
Frank Lodge, past grand master of
The party from Detroit numbered
110 persons, the women being espe-
cially entertained by a committee of
the wives of members of Hiram
Lodge, Mrs. Arthur Richards. chair
man, through the medium of auto
rides, dinner at the City Club and at
tendance at Keiths Theater in the
evening.