Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois - University Library

30 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [ N Tu ^ da ^ (
/ Nov. 18. 1013
Each of these Schools and Special Sessions was advertised by
a circular similar to the one used for Springfield and in addition there-
to there went from the Grand Master's office to each Lodge and to
every District Grand Master in the counties surrounding the city where
the School was being held, a circular letter urging the Brotherhood to
attend.
The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Secretary, Chief
of Examiners and Instructors, all attended the majority of these
Schools. Many of them were attended by other Grand Lodge Officers,
by Directors of Work, District Deputy Grand Masters and Degree Staff
Captains.
It was not possible for the Grand Master to attend all of these
Schools. Those he did attend demonstrated, far beyond his expecta-
tions, the great interest that the Brotherhood has taken in the proper
exemplification of the Ritualistic work and I do not hesitate to say
that the good done by these schools will be far reaching and lasting;
and that the effects of these schools, should they be not continued, will
be seen and appreciated for at least five years yet to come.
There was upon an average fifty Lodges represented at each of
1 these Schools. Many of the Brothers came over one hundred miles in
very inclement weather and staid until the School was over, not
missing a session.
Brother Blood, Brother Darnall and Brother Abney I have not
seen beaten in their respective rolls. While it was no part of Brother
Darnall's duty to assist Brother Blood and Brother Abney in conduct-
ing these Schools, I do not believe he missed any of them, nor did
Brother Blood and Brother Abney only a few.
As an illustration of the regard in which our Chief of Examiners
and Instructors and Deputy Grand Master is held by the Fraternity,
I desire to say that during the School at East St. Louis Brother
Wiikerson, the Grand Secretary of the State of -Missouri, was present at
one or two of the sessions.
Through the office of Grand Secretary Sikes, Brother Wiikerson
invited Brother Blood and Brother Darnall to come to St. Louis as the
guests of the Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri and render just
such a School as' had been given throughout Illinois by these Brothers.
Brother Sikes accepted the invitation upon the part of Brother Blood
and Brother Darnall and they visited St. Louis June 20 and 21. After
their return to Illinois your Grand Master wrote a letter to Brother
Wiikerson and received in reply the letter as follows: