The Knights Templar Mission To America.

The Knights Templar Mission to America .

ALTHOUGH the important deputation of Knights Templar which left London on the 13 th August for America , cannot , strictly speaking , be considered as representing English Freemasonry , it is not devoid of importance , inasmuch as that body has attained an importance , and possesses an influence , amongst our transatlantic brethren , largely in

excess of its sister organisation in this counrty . It is , however , progressing steadily in England , where its beautiful ritual and impressive symbolism appeals to an incieasingly large number of Craftsmen . Such a representation , headed as it is by the Great Prior of England and Wales , cannot fail to promote the interest of Masonry generally , and help to weld

into one harmonious whole the fraternal interests of the two great English-speaking Nations . The following interesting circular is issued with the "Provisional Itinerary" for the 29 th Triennial Conclave of the Knights Templar , at San Francisco , 6 th September , 1904 : — " ChicagoJul 1904

, y , . " In sending you pamphlet ( under separate cover ) containing the itinerary and arrangements of the distinguished visitors who are coming from Great Britain to attend the Twenty-ninth Triennial Conclave of Knights Templar , to be held in San Francisco , September 4-9 , 1904 , there is nothing more I can add of interest other than the following brief

biography of the Earl of Euston : — "The Right Honourable Henry James , Earl of Euston , G . C . T ., Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master , Great Priory of England and Wales and the Dependencies of the British Crown .

" I he Rt . Hon . Henry James FitzRoy is the eldest son of His Grace the Duke of Grafton , K . G ., born Sth November , 18 4 8 , London , England . Entered the Army in the Rifle Brigade , 186 7 , serving in Canada during the ' Fenian Raid , ' for which he received the medal . For live years he commanded the Adelaide Volunteer Rifles in South Australia .

He is now and has been for twenty-two years the Colonel Commandant of the 1 st Volunteer Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment , and has received the V . D .. Has served as Aide-de-Camp to His Majesty King Edward VII . He is a widower , having but recently lost his wife , and has no children .

" Lord Euston is one of the most prominent and wellknown Freemasons in England , and among the many Masonic and other offices he holds , we may name the following : — " Colonel the Right Honourable Henry James , Earl of Euston , Colonel Commandant of the 1 st Volunteer Battalion

Northamptonshire Regiment , Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Suffolk , Justice of the Peace for the Counties of Suffolk and Northampton , Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent for Northampton and Huntingdon , Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the United Orders of the Temple and Hospital , Grand Sovereign and Knight

Grand Cross of the Red Cross of Constantine , Provincial Grand Master of Mark Master Masons for the Province of Northampton , Huntingdon and Bedford , also for the Province of Leicester and Rutland , Grand Master of the Allied Degrees , Grand Master of Royal and Select Masters , etc ., is appointed and installed Pro Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , and the Colonies .

" Of this visitation , William J . Hughan , the distinguished Masonic writer , says : "' I believe it is the legitimate outcome of the welcome visits of General John Corson Smith to our three Great Priories , and the good feeling , sympathy and co-operation thus engendered through his visits and labours inTemplarism and for the Masonic Craft , have resulted in one of the most Masonic events of all time . The visit is intended as a

compliment from this country and I know , as you do , that it will be very much appreciated . ' " From Chicago they will go to San Francisco in the private car of President Stickney of the Chicago Great Western Railway . The party will be in charge of J . P . Elmer , general passenger agent of the road , who is a thirty-second degree

Mason , and he will act as their host on the trip to San Francisco and return . " The members of the party are the most distinguished Knights Templar that have ever visited the United States . In all probability the Grand Master and other officers of the Great Priory of Canada will also be present at the encampment . "

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