Evening star., 1923-10-31
MASONIC MASTERS
TO MEET ANNUALLY
Formation of Supreme Grand
Lodge Not to Be Attempted
at Present.
| new epoch In American Freemasonry

A new epoch in American Freemasonry
was reached today, when. for the first
time in the history Of the Masonic
order in this country. grand masters
and past grand masters from nearly
every state Jurisdiction sat down side
by side and made plans for an annual
conference in Washington of grand
masters and past grand masters
In the council room Of the Scottish
Rite Temple leaders of Masonry from
all over the United States made sug-
gestions pertaining to harmony be-
tween the various jurisdictions. Diff
ferences We're discussed, and only q
short time will elapse, 1t was stated,
before existing Observation-Disclosures
will be for all time wiped out in the
craft.
DR.. Mark F. Finley. grand master
of Masons of the District. was host
and was elected chairman Of the
conference, the first honor of its kind
ever to be bestowed upon a Mason.
secretary of the Grand Lodge here,
was chosen secretary.
Finley Is Thanked.
The resolution thanking DR.. Finley
for his invitation and approving the
step to hold conferences of grand
masters and past grand masters in
the future when a call for a confer
ance. be made was offered by Judge
was unanimously adopted.
1t was the sense of the assemblage,
as put forth in the address of well
come by DR.. Finley, that in no way,
for the present at least, was the aim
n Il Amt
grand lodge Of the United States.
Each Jurisdiction still will maintain
its own directorship and authority
What this meeting is for" DIR. Fin
ley stared, lis to get together, obtain
the personal csntact and when pos
sible wipe out by harmonious round
table discussions the differences of
opinion that exist between some of
the grand lodges"
An address of approval of the con-
ference was delivered by Secretary
Davis of the Department Of Labor.
Welcoming the guests. he said no
greater achievement could be OBJ
tanned than that of having the craft
under one leadership in this country.
He pointed out the problems of i'm
migration and education in America
and stated that nothing could be OF
greater help than that of the Masonic
fraternity of 100000 members under
one head. He spoke OF the enroll
Congress as well as the selective i'm
migration bill and asked those pres
ent to support It,
Upon adjournment the delegation.
numbering about 800, was shown
through the temple by Perry w.
Weidner. former secretary general of
the Scottish Rite. Following this a
luncheon was served. This afternoon
the body will be taken sightseeing.
and brought back for dinner at the
temple at o'clock.
Tonight at o'clock the grand visi-
tation will be made to Hiram Lodge,
No. 10, where, for the first time in
history, the ceremony will be of the
nature of national visitation.
Corinthian Lodge of Detroit will con-
fer the degrees.
The members OF the body will at
tend the George Washington Masonic
Memorial corner stone laying tomor-
row, in Alexandria. Va.
a replica of the trowel used by
George Washington, when ne laid the
corner stone of the Capitol was pre-
sented to President Coolidge today
by a committe OF Masons composed
of the following. Former. Senator
Chamberlain, J. Claude Keifer, secre-
tarY and treasurer of the George
Washington Masonic Memorial Asso-
citation; John H. Cowles of Kentucky.
and Leon NJ. Abbott of Massachusetts.