Evening star., 1928-12-28
OFFICERS ELECTED
BY GRAND LODGE
Wisdom D. Brown Succeeds
James T. Gibbs as Master
of Masonsf in District.

OF WdSOtlS' III UiSIiCts
Deputy Grand Master Wisdom D.
Brown was elected grand master OF
NTasons in the District Of Columbia at
the st. Johns day communication OF
the Grand Lodge, F. A. A. M, last night
in Masonic Temple, Thirteenth street
and New York avenue. He succeeds
James r. Gibbs, who had been the head
of Blue Lodge Masonry in the Masonic
Jurisdiction of the District OF Columbia
since December 81, 1927. .-..~--... -.-.
Appointed to the foot OF the Grand
Lodge official line as junior grand stew
ard In 1921, Mr.. Brown progressed
through the several places and stations
in regular order from year to year until
last night, when he reached the top.
The vacancy at the foot Of the Grand
Lodge line as Junior grand steward was
filled by the election OF Paul B. Crome-
lin, past master. of Benjamin B.
French Lodge. No. Is. Should he ad-
vance through the chairs in regular
order, the new Junior steward VIII be-
come grand master December ~, 1888:
Other Officers Elected.
At the election last night Senior
Grand Warden James A. West was ad-
vanced to the Office of deputy grand
master, Junior Grand Warden G. Fred
Cook to the Office of senior grand war
den, Grand Marshal Reuben A. Bogley
to the office of junior grand warden,
Senior Grand Deacon Harry G. Kimball
to the Office Of grand marshal, Junior
Grand Deacon Vernon G. owen to the
Office of senior grand deacon, Grand
Sword Bearer George r. Davis to the
Office of junior grand deacon, Grand
Pursuivant Robert 8. Regar to the office
of grand sword bearer, Senior Grand
Steward Clyde j. Nichols to the office
of grand pursuivant, and Junior Grand
Steward Otto B. Roepke to the ONCE Of
senior grand steward. ...
The following were reelected: Past
Grand Master J. Claude KEEPER, grand
secretary; Past Grand Master Charles
z. Baldwin, grand treasurer; Past Mas
ter Frank M. Roller of st. Johns
Lodge. No. II, grand lecturer; Rev. John
G. Palmer, past master of Benjamin B..
French Lodge, No. Is, grand chaplain;
Rev Charles e. FtiltZ, assistant grand
and Past Master William P.
Herbs. Of Hiram Lodge, No. 10, grand
tiler.
The new, grand master is not only
we'll known and active in Masonic circles
here but elsewhere. He is member Of
Dawson Lodge, No. 16, In which he was
years later he was its worshipful mas
ter. He was appointed to the foot of
the Grand Lodge line by Grand Master
Charles j. O'Neill in December, 1921.
He is a member of Mount Pleasant
Chapter, No. 13. Royal Arch Masons; of
Commandery, No. l, Knights
Templar; a knight commander of the
court of honor Of the Scottish Rite Of
a past commander Of
Robert De Bruce Council of Kadosh
and a noble Of Almas Temple of the
Mystic Shrine.
Native of Greensboro. u
Grand Master Brown Is a native of
N. c., where he received
his early education. He Is q graduate
Of the National University Law School
Of this city. When II years Of age he
entered railway service, and at the age
Of rs years had the distinction Of being
the youngest general freight and pas
senger agent In the United States. For
20 years he owned and was. editor OF the
Rural Free Delivery News, was attorney
for the organized rural mail carriers
throughout the country. and repre-
ser1ted them in securing favorable legis-
lation by Congress. =,
Prominent In Masonic Circles.
Mr.. Cromelin, the new Junior grand
is not only past master, but
French Lodge, No. IS. He also holds
In Mount Vernon Chapter,
No. 8, Royal Arch MaSons; Washington
Commandery, No. !, Knights Templar
the Royal order of Scotland, the Level
Club of Montgomery County, Md; is
chairman of the jurisprudence commit
tee of Alnas Temple of the Mystic
Shrine, is thirty second degree Mason
of Albert Pike Consistory of the Scot
tish Rite, is past patron of Lebanon
Chapter, No. Is. Order of the Eastern
Star, and was president Of the ASsocia-
ton of Worshipful Masters of 1920.
Mr.. Cromelin Is married and has three
children. He was born in this city in
January, 1890, and attended the public
schools, Is q graduate of Business High
School and of Georgetown Law School,
receiving the degrees Of LII. a., LII. M.
and M. L. D., having been awarded the
faculty prize. He enlisted as private
in the Signal Corps at Fort Myer in
1917, was commissioned second lieu
tenant at Kelly Field. was successfully
promoted and discharged as captain, Air
Service, in February, 1919.
In May, 1920, he was appointed as
sistant United States attorney in and
for the District Of Columbia, and for
10 months was engaged in the prose-
cut1on OF many important cases. He Is
AE fINA tfurA 49,
OF the Acacia Mutual Life Association,
chairman Of the insurance committee
Of the Washington Board of Trade, di-
rector and general counsel Of the Wash
ington Savings Bank, trustee Of Trim
ity M. E. Church, on the executive
committee of the Methodist Union of
the District, director and general coun-
sci of the Masonic and Eastern Star
Home, trustee and general counsel Of
the Methodist Home, member Of the
Bar Association of the District and Of
the American Bar Association, past
president of the BarriSterS' Club, men,
Der Of George Washington Post, No. 1,
Of the American Legion, member of the
Sigma Nu Phi Fraternity, past president
Of the Alumni Association Of Business
High School, and a member Of the Ma
tional Press Club.
During the evening tne retlrnS BEanu
master, Mr.. Gibbs, was presented with
a chest of silver and watch, gifts from
the A constituent lodges Of the juris-
diction. The. addresses Of presentation
were made by George @. Ober, Jr, as
president, on behalf of the Association
of Worshipful Masters Of 1928, and
George r. Harris, past master of Trim
ity Lodge, No. IL. Mr. Gibbs made ap-
response. The retiring grand
master, also received the customary
diamond studded jewel Of past grand
master, engraved. the gift from the
Grand Lodge. The presentation was
made by Past Master Carter B. Keene
Of Temple-Noyes Lodge, No. 80, life
long friend.
Newspaper Is Bombed.