Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-25
GRAND MASTERS
ELECT. OFFICERS
Massachusetts Man Heads
Masonic Body. C. KEEPER
Reelected Secretary.


Masters of Masons in the United State!
for this year, at meeting of the con.
ference in the Willard Hotel He sue
ceeded Milton L. Meyers OF Oregon.
j. Claude KEEPER of this city, granc
secretary of the Grand Lodge here
was reelected secretary-treasurer Of
the conference for the fifth successive
year.
The grand masters and other high
Masonic officials attending the confer
ence were greeted by President Hoover
at the White House at noon. James
T. Gibbs past grand master here, lee
the delegation. There was a luncheon
at O'Clock at the Willard, and it was
expected that the conference would ad-
journ late this afternoon.
Expect d. c. as Conference Site.
This city was expected to be selected
as the place for the next annual con-
ference, and the time was to be set
some time in the second week in May,
to bring the MaSons here during the
week of dedication of the George Wash
ington Masonic National Memorial at
Alexandria.
The session this morning opened by
singing of America, led by Rev. DR..
John C. Palmer, grand chaplain of
the Grand Lodge Of the District Of
Columbia, who also pronounced the in
vocation.
The address of welcome was delivered
by Col. c. Fred Cook, grand master OF
the District of Columbia Col Cook
expressed appreciation for the fact that
the conference had met here again for
the annual conference.
General plans for dedication Of the
Washington memorial at Alexandria
were discussed at the morning session,
with William S. Snyder of Pennsylvania
as chairman of the Committee on
Agenda.
Melvin NJ. johnson of Boston, Mass,
q member of the Executive Committee
of the memorial association, suggested
that there be nothing official in the
dedication ceremony, except the Blue
Lodges" Money was said to be in
sight for heating, ventilating, wiring
the memorial and building road, but
he appealed to the grand masters -, 70
raise further money so that Memorial
Hall and the auditorium should be
ready for the dedication next year.
Samuel Goodyear of Pennsylvania
suggested that each grand jurisdiction
make plans to take to its own mem
bership a celebration.
Hits Soviet Propaganda"
At the annual dinner of grand mas
DeTS IlSlQ ldSI dJ LIl6 w
the Right Rev. James z. Freeman, D. D.,
Bishop of Washington, delivered a STIR
ring appeal to Masonic leaders to pre-
sent strong front against the forces
which he declared characterized a
peril in these times of unemployment
Scoring the propaganda" which he
said was pouring out from Soviet Rus
STA, and affecting many nations lar as
tant from Russia, Bishop Freeman said
America should now be prepared to re-
sist any such invasion upon the moral
principles of this Nation. The princi-
piles he recalled were those which pro-
tect the right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness"
Honest workmen, forced into unem-
ployment throughout this country, he
said, had begun seriously to reflect on
conditions, wondering as to the Sc
curity and stability of our form of gov
eminent, wondering as to the economic
justice, as to the political justice OF this
Government"
Such situation the bishop described
as "perilous." The peril IN it, he said,
would not pass away until the economic
situation has cleared.
In Russia, he said, organizations had
deliberately committed over 100000
youths ito ideals lower than anything
ne have dreamed Of in this land" These
lower ideals, he charged, were being dis
seminated as propaganda, and he warned
against the spread Of its poison" into
the United States.
Prepare to Resist Invasion.
I'VE should be prepared" he warned
TO resist at any time any such invasion
Millions of our unemployed are thus
placed at the disposal Of the propagan-
oists"
Bishop Freeman described the eco
nonlic situation as worldwide. He re-
ferred TO conditions he had found in
England, where he said the dole" had
been adopted to supply a sop to the
unemployed to enable them TO bridge
the present difficulty"
God forbid the dole should ever be
established here" he declared. But in
the modern world, where all nations
are brought closer together than ever in
the past he emphasized anything in
England affects the United States, and
anything in the United States affects
Europe. What is happening In Mos
COW" he warned. may be reflected in
this great republic of ours
The speaker stressed that now was
the time for emphasizing loyalty TO the
ideals Of the republic.
II have unbounded faith" declared
the bishop, that We shall weather any
3. storm. But eternal vigilance is the
pIAIS VI IlS pCO~
pie, he charged, had become affected
by kind Of supineneSs -compla-
cency," because the Nation lies between
Two seas and between two other ma
tons which give no trouble.
Appeals to Masonic Leaders.
Calling upon the Masonic leaders
TO keep on the lookout and on the
alert, he appealed to them to carry
back TO all sections Of the country
a determination 10 "insist upon the
most utter loyalty to the ideals you
and hold indispensable to the security
Of life and property"
Christian institutions of the country,
he said, were on the defensive" re-
siSting attacks on them which were
never greater than at this critical
hour" The church, he said, was hold
ing its line, protecting its 'front.'" but
be- shared with Gen. Pershing great
nope TO see the churches take the
offensive" The National Cathedral
which is being built here in Washing
s5l, he said, was considered by Perish
bug 10 hold the most strategic posi-
ton In the republic"
The presiding officer at the dinner
was Milton L. Meyers, past grand
master Of oregon. And other speak
ers included j. Claude KEEPER of this
city, secretary of the Conference OF
Grand Masters; George D. Riley, past
grand master OF Mississippi, and Otto
G. Hagmeier of Oregon.