Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-28
]. 7. GIBBS HEADS
MASONS Of D. c.
..sst
Deputy Unanimously Elected
Grand Master-Otto P.
Roepke Fills Vacancy.

James T. Gibbs. deputy grand
master, was unanimously elected
Erand master of Masons In the Dis.
yrict OF Columbia. at, the 81. Johns
Gay stated communication of the
ssrand Lodge, F. A. 4. NJ. last night
an Masonic Temple. Thirteenth street
and New York avenue. He succeeds
GRAND Master Gratz 4. Dunkun,. who
nad been the ofiicial head Of the Blue
Lodge Masonry in this jurisdiction
since December -. 1926.
Elected to the foot of the Grand
Lodge Official line az Junior grand
steward in 1919, MIR Gibbs progressed
through the several places and sta.
lions in succession until last might.
when he reached the top.
The vacancy at the foot of the Off.
cial line was filled by the election Of
otto f. Eoepke. past master of
Naval Lodge. No. {. as Junior grand
steward. Under customary procedure
he will become grand master in De.
cember. 1885.
Other Officers Advanced.
At the election last night Senior
Grand Warden Wisdom y. Brown was
advanced to the office of deputy grand
master. Junior Grand Warden James
"A. West to the Office of senior grand
warden. Grand Marshal {. Fred Cook
TO the Office of junior grand warden.
Senior Grand Deacon Reuben A. Bog
ley to the office of grand marshal,
Junior Grand Deacon Harry G. Kim.
ball to the Office of senior grand
deacon, Grand Sword Bearer Vernon
G. Owen to the Office OF junior grand
deacon, Grand P,irsuirant George r.
Davis 10 the Office of grand sword
bearer. Senior Grand Steward Robert
< Regar To the Office of grand pur-
sniHante and Junior Grand Steward
Clyde ]. Nichols to the Office Of senior
grand steward
The following were reelected: Past
Grand Master ]. Claude KEEPER. grand
secretary: Arvine W. Johnston. grand
secretary emeritus; Past Grand Master
CHARLES E. Baldwin, grand treasurer;
Past Master Frank NJ. Roller of st.
johns Lodge, No. II. grand lecturer:
Rev. John {. Palmer. past master Of
BenJamin b. French Lodge. No. Is,
grand chaplain: Rev. Charles E. Fuitz.
assistant grand chaplain. and Past
Master William p. Herbst of Hiram
Lodge, No. 10. grand tiler
The new grand master is an out
standing figure in Masonry. among
other things being past grand com.
mander.. of knights Templar and
past potentate of AlFnas Temple of
the Mystic Shrine. hapinS held the lat.
ter office for two terms. Mr.. Gibbs
was made a Mason in Benjamin E.
French Lodge, No. Is. October i. 1894.
and after serving in, the various places
and stations. was elected master in
1901. He has been treasurer since
1902. He received the Royal Arch
degree In Mount Vernon Chapter, No.
>. Fl. 4 NJ. Juivs.4, 1899. and was
its high priest in 1907. He was elected
secretary of the chapter in 1908, and
still holds that office. Gibbs is a men,
her OF tWashington Council. No. /.
Royal and Select Masters: was knight.
ed In Washington Comma ndery, No. /,
Knights Templar, November IL, 1902.
and became eminent comma nder April
s. 1914. He entered the Official line OF
the Grand Commander May II, ,lsI7,
and was una nimously elected grand
ccmmanderc.Aay IL. 1925.
Was Aimas Potenfate.
He il also member of the Ancient
and Accepted scottish Rite. He
served as potentate OF Alunas Temple,
Ancients3 Arabic Order Mobiles Of. the,
Mystic Shrine. for 1sf2 and 1914. .andl
vas elected representative OF Aimas
Temple to the Imperial Council for
nine terms he iS also Inember OF
kallipolis Grotuo. Mystic Order Yelled
Prophets Of the Enchanted Realm of
this city. He is now secretary.treas-
urer Of the asonic Hall Association
OF the District OF Columbia
Grand Master Gibbs was born In
Fincastfe. Bofetourt County. Va. and
in his early youth moved TO Louis.
vile. KY. from which city he came
10 Washington In 1881. having resided
here since. He was educated in the
public schools Of Louisville and this
city, attended Columbian. now George
Washington: University, and was
graduated from the law school Of that
institution. receiving the degrees of
LIB. and LIN. the latter in 1891.
For many years he was employed
in the United States Treasury Depart.
rnent. resigning in 1910 10 engage in
the practice Of law. He was married