Evening star., 1945-01-08
-Four Masonic Groups
Cancel D. {. Sessions
10 Comply With Ban
By the Associated Press.

Heads of four Masonic bodies
wired War Mobilization Director
James F. Byrnes today that they
had Cancelled their meetings sched-
uIed here next month to conform
with his voluntary convention ban.
Carl H. Claudy, executive secre-
tary of the Masonic Service Asso-
citation of the United States, said
his organization as we'll as the
George Washington Masonic Ma
tional Memorial Association, the
Grand Masters Conference and the
Grand Secretaries Conference
agreed unanimously to call Of their
meetings.
Expected 200 Delegates.
Mr.. Claudy said hotel engage
ments had been made for more
than 200 delegates to the four
meetings, scheduled February 21-24.
While precise Interpretation of
Mr.. Byrnes' request" has been left
to a committee of top war agency
officials, it is indicated the move
will not apply to local gatherings
If they involve no considerable
travel
Selection of the committee to
pass upon applications for holding
meetings of so or more persons after
February was announced by Di-
rector J. Monroe johnson of the
Office OF Defense Transportation,
who at the request of the White
House, will serve as chairman. The
group will include Undersecretary
of War Patterson. Undersecretary
of Navy Bard, WPB Chairman j.
A. Krug and Charles M. Hay,
deputy chairman of the War Man
power Commission. 80
Hits Large Conventions.
Although Mr.. Byrnes' appeal to
cancel all large meetings not direct
ly of interest to the war effort made
no exception, a spokesman for the
war agencies said the statement was
designed to apply only to national
or regional conventions that would
tax transportation system or hous-
ing accommodations. He said he
understood the Byrnes' request was
not directed at the local level"
The committee was expected to
hold its first session this week.
Meanwhile, Col. johnson said he had
appointed Richard H. Clare, a Penn
sylvania Railroad executive on leave
with the Government, as special as
sistant to handle the conventions
ban and will recommend his selec-
ton as committee secretary.
Under the heading of local meet
ings" and exempt from the Byrnes
proposal were basket ball tourna-
ments and other athletic meets. the
Government spokesman explained.
He said there was no relation "at
the present time" between "conven-
tions and athletic events" although
admitting some vagueness on the
point. A strict definition there also
will be up to the committee"
Cooperation Is Promised.
Promises of Cooperation with the
official suggestion came from organi-
cations, from convention bureaus
and from hotel associations through
out the country. Spokesman for two,
however, urged strongly that war
important" and 'non-essential'
meetings be defined sharply so that
there would be no misunderstanding
The National Automobile Dealers
Association postponed indefinitely
its annual convention scheduled for
January 29-February l at Chicago.
The biennial general assembly of
the Council Of State Governments,
which was scheduled to meet at st.
Louis, Mo-, January 17-19, also was
cancelled.
The centennial meeting of the
Southern Baptist Convention, plan
ned to be held at Atlanta in the
spring, may be postponed indefi-
nitely, DR.. Louie D. Newton, con-
vention vice president, announced
at Atlanta after conferring by tele-
nhOnn with Mr. pvrpoc