Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-01
RET|RES FROM POST
WITH HIGH HONORS
AfvIne W. Johnston, Long,
time Secretary of Masonic
Grand Lodge, Resigns.
PUT ON EMERITUS ROLL
Served Three Grand Bodies in
Same Capacity. Claude KEEPER
His Successor.
PUT ON EMERITUS ROLL


last evening. when, at a special COM
munlcation OF the grand lodge Of the
Disirlct OF Columbia, Grand Master
thdries r. Roberts received the res
IsnA,ion OF Grand Secretary Arvine
W. johnston and announced the ap-
pointment of Past Grand Master ].
Claude KEEPER as grand secretary
and then formally installed the latter.
me record with which Mr.. John
ston retires embraces twenty-three
years as grand secretary of the grand
lodge, twenty-eight years as grand
secretary of the grand chapter, Royal
Arch MaSons, and twenty-six years
as grand recorder of the grand com
mandery. knights Templar. He car
ries with him in retirement the rank
grand recorder emeritus. with the
full compensation of each of those
Offices.
Native of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mr.. Johnston was born in Cincin-
natl. Ohio. January 2S, 1856 but soon
after his parents removed to Medina
state.
He received an appointment in the
treasury Department in 1876 and
came to this city, which has since re-
manned his place of residence. Dur
ing his incumbency of the clerkshp
ne completed course of law in the
National University of this city,
graduating with the degree of LII. i.
in 1873. In the sixth auditors office
he worked himself up by regular
chief of his division. During the
war with Spain he was appointed to
q clerkship in the War Department,
Viii which he. he resigned ,si In 1907 to devote
various Masonic offices to which he
had been elected.
MI Mr. Johnston was made a Master
F. "A. A. NJ, September q. 1855, and
was master of the lodge in 1894 He
was exalted in Columbia Chapter,
NO. l. r. A. NJ, February q. $50. and
was its high priest III 1898. May II.
1883, he was knighted in Columbia
Commandery, No. 2. X. T., and in
1895 assisted in forming Orient Com
eminent commander in 1900 He was
appointed grand secretary of the
grand chapter of the District of Co
lumbia in May, 1895, elected al the
annual grand Convocation in that
year and has been reelected every
year since.
Eonored by Grand Commnrdery.
At his first appearance in d con-
clave of the grand commandery as
corder of that body. and has since
been annually reelected March Ii,
1901. he was appointed grand secre-
tary of the grand lodge. to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Will
liam r. Singleton, elected a the next
ensuing grand communication and
reelected annually since. During his
occupancy, of the Office he has made
card index of the more than $1,000
living Master MaSonS of this District
and all who have ever been members,
go copious and full that the complete
gers ends at moments notice, and
he has also made card register of
the membership of the Royal Arch
chapters. In 1897 he was president
of sthe convention of anointed high
priests Of this jurisdiction. He is
also member of Columbia Council.
No: 3, R.. e. $. NJ; Albert Pike Con-
A. A. o. n. NJ. s.: kaIlipolis Grotto,
NJ. %. V. p. L. r., and Esther Chap
ter, No. 5, Q. E S. He has been sec
rotary of the Masonic Temple Asso-
citation since 1911.
Mr.. Johnston was so we'll recog-
nized an authority on the work and
lectures of this jurisdiction that in
1898, during his absence from the
city, he was elected to the Office of
grand lecturer of the grand lodge,
which position he declined. For nine
years he was the reviewer of foreign
correspondence for the grand chapter.
Joseph H. Milans he represented the
grand lodge at the memorable peace
celebration held in London by the
grand lodge of England, in June,
1918.
Pests Assigned to His Successor.
Past Grand Master J. Claude KEEPER
was installed as grand secretary Of
the Grand Chapter by Grand High
Priest Simon Bube at a special con-
vocation of the Grand Chapter last
Wednesday, and as grand recorder of
the Grand Commandery by Deputy
Grand Commander James E. Gibbs in
Washington Commandery, No. 1, the
same evening.
Mr. KEEPER was born in ST. Nicholas,
Schuylkill County. Pa. October 9,
1859, and received his education in the
public schools of Shenandoah. in the
school Of Bloomsburg. Pa. After grad
uation from the latter institution he
taught school for several years in
Shenandoah, Pa, and in 1890 removed
to Washington and accepted an ap-
pointment in the War Department,
from which he recently resigned. after
more than thirty-four years of serv-
ice therein hav ii during of tg tnat p period
sponsibility in the office of the adju-
tant general Of the Army.
Winner Of Two Degrees.
After locating in this city he at
' tended the law school of the Column
bian (now George Washington Uni
versity and holds the degrees Of LIB.
and LIN. from that institution.
His Masonic career began January
1s. 1895: when he was made a Master
Mason in Columbia Lodge, No. 3, F.
A A. NJ, of this city. He became at
once a most active and efficient work
err. He was master of his lodge for
the year 1899. He also filled the posi-
ton Of secretary of Columbia Lodge
from 1904 to the present time, with
thesexception Of the year 1911. when
he held the Office of grand master.
= Higher Degrees Conferred.
he received the Royal Arch degrees
In Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 5. Royal
Arch Masons, October 80, 1895, and
He was knighted in Washington
commandery, No. 1, knights Templar,
March z, 1900; served as commander
I90S-9; was elected recorder of that
body April II. 1909, and is filling that
ONCE at the present time.
A,n He hes sss0 a. 1see 3 n r. g. since
He is a member of the A. A. S. r.
and An officer of all the bodies, except
the chapter. of which he Is past wise
master and is at present M master zsceIve Cd
the thirty-third degree OF the Rite In
Probably the most extensive Of his
rAcent Masonic activities has been
the work of the George Washin gton
Masonic National Memorial eAssocia-
arr For several years he served as q
neuber of the committee on ways and
mems of the association and for the
IaaH three years has been its secre-
tary-treasurer, as we'll as secretary OF
thes board of directors and of the
executive committee.
= Lays Temple Corner Stone.