The Masonic Veterans'. Associations And General J. C. Smith, P.G.M.

fourth Annual Reunion of the M . V . A . of Minnesota , of which ]) r . G . R . Metcalf is the President . It was formed on June 03 rd , 1892 . Another Organisation is that of Pennsylvania ,

which publishes an artistic Roll of members or menu card in each year , but not of the Proceedings . I believe this branch dates from 1880-1 , soon after which some of us in this country were honoured wilh membership .

The Veterans of New York are also well to the fore , and have most enjoyable Annuals , some brethren in England being honorary members of this Body * . The members must have been at least 21 years connected with the Fraternity , but in

Connecticut 30 years' membership is required as the minimum . For honorary membership , their regulations as to 21 years ' service arc sometimes set aside , but it seems a pity so to do nevertheless .

The best known of the Associations , however , is that for the State of Illinois , which was inaugurated on January 13 th , 1886 , with Bro . De Witt C . Cregier ( P . G . M . ) , as President , who was succeeded as Venerable Chief ( apparently in the following year ) by the zealous Craftsman , Gen . John Corson Smith , also a P . G . M .

of Illinois , and one of the most popular and respected Masons in both hemispheres . The second annual reception was held at his mansion , known by the veterans as " Smith ' s Inn , " because of the unbounded hospitality of the host and hostess , when the old form of the summons used by the extinct Grand Lodge of all

England , held at York , became a feature of the invitation card , and has so continued to this day . There have been nine annual reports in all , viz ., in 188 7 ( ist ) , iSSS ( 2 nd ) , 188 9 ( 4 th report , but

3 rd annual re-union ) , 18 90 ( 5 th ) , and year by year to that of 1895 , just published , being the "tenth annual report . " Throughout this period , Bro . Gil . W . Barnard has been the ever-genial and indefatigable Secretary and Treasurer .

The first report of proceedings occupied 12 pages , the last taking some 170 pages , besides many illustrations , a great increase in size being a feature of each subsequent issue from 188 7 until the present magnificent annual , which eclipses all its predecessors , though some of the late ones have been hard to beat .

From " early candlelight" the veterans and their dames , with other invited guests , had been assembling at the celebrated and historic " Inn , " at 65 , Sibley-street , Chicago , on October 23 rd , 18 95 , until the house was comfortabl y filled , nearly 300 being present . This was the tenth annual reception by General and

. Mrs . Smith , and at 9 p . m . the gavel sounded for the transaction of business by the veterans in the library The decease of three veterans and six honorary members was announced . Over 40

new members were elected . General Smith's address was quite cosmopolitan in character , but briefer than usual , owing to the time taken up in examining the many curios and souvenirs of his most recent tour "Around the World" wilh his beloved

daughter , Miss Ruth Smith , one of our best friends . The letters of regret sent by the members and honorary associates scattered throughout Europe , Asia , Africa and America make very interesting reading , and run to some 40 pages , but Ihe great feature of the volume is the racy and instructive

description of a few of the many places visited by the General and ¦ us daughter , the lodges and other Masonic meetings attended by the Chief , and the sights witnessed by the father and daughter .

who never seemed to have missed an opportunity or overlooked aught of interest wherever they voyaged or travelled , and who s ; hV so many friends , making more as they journeyed onward , that even their excellent memories must be severely strained

to enumerate names and residences of their hosts and hostesses , ' -speciall y in Asia , and Great Britain , and Ireland . Their progress was more like that of monarclisthan . au esteemed American gen tlejuan and his daughter . So popular has the General become , and so highl y valued is honorary membershiinthe Illinois Veteransthat

p , "o . J . C . Smith ' snameisbetterknown throughout the Masonic world than any other that I am familiar with . Several Grand Masters and Past Grand Masters are now on the register of this prosperous and distinguished Association , including H . R . H . the

Jrmce of Wales , G . M . of England ; Earl of Haddington , ; 9 ' - ° f Scotland ; Idris Bey Ragheb , G . M . of Egypt ; and 1 r » ice Rhodocanakis , P . G . M . of Greece . There are about 100 "otiorary members in all , some 20 being in England , and considerab l y over 300 active members .

the organisation might well be termed the International ! ' . ic Veterans' Association , as the membership includes •ive and illustrious brethren of the Craft from nearly every ^ ' ised country under the globe . It is my firm conviction that 0 sing ] c branch of the Fraternity has done so much to promote 1 Cd ee and goodwill between the United States and this Country

The Masonic Veterans'. Associations And General J. C. Smith, P.G.M.

as the Illinois Masonic Veteran Society , not simply through the handsome compliment of honorary membership conferred upon prominent brethren in England , Ireland , Scotland , and India , & c , but especially through the numerous fraternal visits paid by General Smith , who , as an old lighting chief with several

honourable scars , knows what war really is , and does his level best to make it impossible between the two great English speakin ^ ' nations of the world .

Ihe illustrations—costly and most artistic—are too numerous to mention in this article , but I should like to add that the attractive work has been printed and published in a most admirable manner by the firm of Rogers and Smith , of Chicago .

Whilst writing this article a circular has been received announcing the Annual General Meeting of the " National Masonic Veterans' Association" for England , at the Central Masonic Hall , Neweastle-on-Tyne , 21 st March , at 4 p . m . The

Acting Secretary is my good friend Bro . F . Schnitgcr , and the membership includes a number of us Veterans connected with American organisations ; being conducted on similar lines and in imitation of the originals " across the big pond . " W . I . HUGH AN .

Presentation To Bro. J. R. Lord, At Plymouth.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . J . R . LORD , AT PLYMOUTH .

In recognition of long and valuable services to Freemasonry , and especially to its Charitable institutions , Bro . ] . R . Lord , P . G . D . C . and P . P . G . T . Devon , was entertained at a high tea and presented with a testimonial from the brethren of the Provinces of Devon and Cornwall , at the Masonic Hall , Plymouth , on Tuesday ,

the 10 th instant , the 26 th anniversary of his initiation into the Order . The presentation took the form of a splendidly-executed portrait of himself , an illuminated address , a smoker ' s cabinet , and a purse of g ) Id . Nearly 100 brethren and ladies attended the tea , and at the presentation the company was largely augmented .

Bro . G . S . Strode Lowe , P . P . J . G . W ., presided , supported by Bros . J . Quinn , P . J . G . W . ; J . Gover , P . P . G . S . ; Du Pre , P . P . G . D . C . ; VV . Allsford , P . P . G . T . ; J . W . Cornish , P . P . G . T . ; R . Radmore , P . P . G . S . B . ; f . Kinton Bond , P . P . G . D . ot C ; R . Pike , P . P . G . Org . ; ] . Burns , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . Merrifield , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . Parkhouse , P . P . G . D . ; J . Gilford , P . P . G . D . C . ; R . C . iwsey , P . P

G . D . ; W . Chappie , P . P . G . D . ; R . J . Bird , P . P . G . T . ; J . Rendle , P . P . G . O . Major Tracy , P . P . S . G . W . ; H . Barton , W . Stanbury , G . Dusterville , Parker , T . Eyre , P . P . Pearce , W . Morgan , J . C . Hannaford , J . Stenlake , C . R . Stebbing , J . T . Allingham , Dr . Dutton , B . Widger , Vigers Harris , J . Jacobs , Wallis , A . J , Rider , C . Knight , and Dyke , and a large number of ladies . Bro . Lord ' s aged father was also amongst the company .

Bro . QUINN , in inviting the Chairman to present the testimonial , remarked that Freemasonry was characterised by very deep and serious lessons on life and conduct , and those lessons demanded of all Freemasons continuous study and devotion . Amongst true Freemasons there was a very earnest feeling of gratitude and pride in the fact that their ranks contained very many who conscientiously practised in their daily lives the lessons they learnt ^ during their Masonic

education , and who constantly strove to promote the highest aims of their great Brotherhood . But no catalogue of those most worlhy to be honoured amongst them would be complete if it did not contain the name of John Russell Lord In the performance of his Masonic duty , Bro . Lord displayed an unswerving loyalty to the great principles upon which Freemisonry was founded , an unfailing activity in the cause of all that was good , pure , and noble , an unceasing scorn ol

all that was mean , base , and wrong , an unfaltering courage in the face of disappoint ment and opprsition , and an unselfish surrender of himself to the good of the great cause he had so much at heart . His life and character proved most conclusively that he had learned one of the greatest lessons in life—lhat of all the powers which a man could command to influence his fellow men for good the strongest was the force of his own example . He did not know how to pay a

proper tribute to the sterling merit of Bro . Lord , but if he paid him the simplest compliment he could think of he should pay him , perhaps , the only compliment which his modesty , which was equal to his merit , would accept . He was a grand Freemason . They were met that night to express their approbation of his conduct , and he had never performed any social duty with greater pleasure than he felt at that moment in calling upon the Chairman to present those gifts to Bro . Lord as a material token of their warm and fraternal regard .

The CIIAIKMAN , in making the presenation , said Bro . Quinn had not praised Bro . Lord one iota too much . At all times Bro . Lord had thrown himself heart and soul into Freemasonry . Indeed , they could not find anyone in the county of Devon who had done harder or steadier work for the Order . Initiated in St . John's Lodge , No . 1247 , > March , 1870 , he shortly afterwards became Mister of the lodge . Besides / illing at one time the office of Provincial Grand Treasurer , he had been appointed Permanent Director of Ceremonies . In the Knight

Templar Degree , Mark Masonry , and Arch Masonry , he had also taken provincial rank . In the foundation ot the Devon Masonic educational scheme he qualified as Life Governor , and for some time had acted as Treasurer of the fund , and he had also taken an active part in promoting other Masonic Charities . In asking his acceptance of the portrait and other gilts , he expressed the hope that he might live long to enjoy the esteem of the Masons of Devon and Cornwall . Bro . Ai . i . iNuiiAM read the illuminated address as follows :

" We , the undersigned , on behalt of some 500 subscribers , beg to ask your acceptance of these small tokens of our esteem and regard , which we tender to jou as a slight recognition of our appreciation of the long and devoted " services you have rendered to Freemasonry in general , and to this province in particular . " We feel that no measure of intrinsic value could of itself express adequately the hearty good feelings we have towards you , hence we consider that a number of small subscriptiorfs trom your many friends would be more gratifying to you than a limited number of larger ones .

" We wish also to offer you our sincere thanks for that ever ready help and counsel which no personal inconvenience , or loss of time , has ever prevented you from cheerfully giving us . Providence has blessed you with a genial disposition