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The original of this book is in 
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 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924015812096 
 
HISTORY 
 
 of the 
 Lauteation 
 
 of 
 
 R:. W.\ B^qy Hempstead 
 
 m^ 
 
 Poet Laureate of 
 Freemai^Hiry 
 
 
 October i^e 5tft/ imS': 
 
HISTORY 'jof the 
 LA UREA TION 
 
 of 
 
 R.'. W.-. BRO. FAY HEMPSTEAD 
 
 POET LAUREATE 
 of FREEMASONRY 
 
 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 
 OCTOBER 5th, 1908 
 
POET LAUREATE OF FREEMASONRY 
 
vttntt. 
 
 HHE undersigned were appointed a Committee by the 
 , Grand Lodge of F. & A. Masons of Arkansas to pre- 
 pare for publication a History of the Proceedings incident to 
 the Laureation of R.'. W.'. Fay Hempstead. This we have 
 accompHshed by gathering such matter as has from time 
 to time appeared in Masonic Magazines and other publica- 
 tion relative thereto, and supplying a statement of the in- 
 cidents comprising any portion of the subject that has not 
 appeared in print, drawn from the statements and descrip- 
 tions of Brethren who were present on the occasion of the 
 Coronation, and in this way we have collated what we feel 
 to be as full and accurate an account of the matter as can be 
 obtained, which we herewith present. 
 
 In taking this action we are conscious that the Grand 
 Lodge of Arkansas does so for the purpose of testifying to her 
 appreciation of the action of those Brethren who were instru- 
 mental in bestowing this great honor upon a member of this 
 Grand Body, and her thanks to them one and all therefor ; a 
 fact which we have set forth through the following Resolu- 
 tions, towit: 
 
 The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted 
 Masons of Arkansas has learned with pleasure of the selection 
 and coronation of our esteemed Brother Fay Hempstead, for 
 over a quarter of a century the R.'. W.". Grand Secretary of 
 that Grand Lodge, as Poet Laureate of Freemasonry of the 
 United States. They feel that while the honor is one well de- 
 served by Brother Hempstead whose gifted and poetic life has 
 for forty years been devoted to Masonry, this Grand Lodge 
 feels that it is but proper to show it's appreciation of the great 
 honor conferred on one of its members. More especially does 
 it feel that thanks are due to Brother Roswell T. Spencer who 
 initiated the proceedings, and Ravenswood Lodge No. yyy 
 under the jurisdiction of the M.'. W.'. Grand Lodge of Illinois 
 for the interest they took in the matter. 
 
Therefore be it resolved; That the thanks of this Grand 
 Lodge be tendered to the Masons of the United States and to 
 Brother Roswell T. Spencer and Ravenswood Lodge No. yj"] 
 for the lionor conferred on our Brother Fay Hempstead, and 
 the assurance to all Masonic Brethren throughout the United 
 States of our great appreciation thereof. 
 
 Be it further Resolved; That these resolutions be spread 
 upon the records of this Grand Lodge, and that copies thereof, 
 under the seal of the Grand Lodge, be sent to Brother Roswell 
 T. Spencer and Ravenswood Lodge No. 'j'j'j. 
 Fraternally submitted, 
 
 Jacob Trieber, 
 Chari,es E. Rosenbaum, 
 C. C. HambYj 
 
 Committee. 
 
RESPONSES. 
 
 To the foregoing Resolutions the following responses were 
 received : 
 
 CHICAGO lUJNOIS. 
 Hon. Jacob Triebee^ 
 
 Chairman of Committee on Laureation, 
 Little Rock, Ark. 
 Dear Sir and Brother: 
 
 I am duly in receipt of the Resolutions of your Committee relative 
 to the Laureation of Right Worshipful Brother Fay Hempstead, for- 
 warded by you and greatly appreciate the kind expressions therein 
 relative to myself in connection with that proceeding. I beg to re- 
 turn to your Committee and through you to the Grand Lodge of 
 Arkansas my very sincere thanks for their most gratifying action in 
 this particular, and beg to assure the Grand Lodge and yourselves 
 that it gave me great pleasure and pride to have taken part in so 
 notable a circumstance as the Laureation referred to. 
 Fraternally and truly yours, 
 
 RosvifELL T. Spencer, 
 Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas 
 near the Grand Lodge of Illinois. 
 
 HALL OF RAVENSWOOD LODGE, No. 777 
 A. F. & A. M. 
 
 Ravens WOOD, Chicago, Ile. 
 Hon. Jacob Trieber, 
 
 Chairman of Committee on Laureation, 
 Little Rock, Ark. 
 Dear Sir and Brother: 
 
 I beg to acknowledge receipt of the Resolutions of the Grand 
 Lodge of Arkansas in relation to the Services of R.'.W.'.Bro. Roswell 
 T. Spencer and that of Ravenswood Lodge No. 777 in the Coronation 
 of R.'.W.'. Brother Fay Hempstead of your Grand Lodge kindly for- 
 warded by you. 
 
 This Lodge desires me to advise you, and through you the Grand 
 Lodge of Arkansas, that we appreciate the honor and spirit of the 
 Resolutions, as we did the honor of being selected to do our part 
 in the services of the Coronation. We were only too glad of the 
 opportunity to be of some service in so worthy a cause, and we shall 
 always hold the occasion in grateful remembrance assuring you that 
 fraternal friendships thus formed will always be a source of happiness 
 to all of us. 
 
 Seal of \i Yours fraternally, 
 
 Ravenswood \\ G^°- N- Ackeey, 
 
 II Secretary. 
 
 Lodge No. 
 
 777- 
 
/to-^i-.^-.^^/l'-SA 
 
 GRAND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ARKANSAS, NEAR THE 
 GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS, WHO PLACED BROTHER HEMP- 
 STEAD'S NAME IN NOMINATION FOR POET LAUREATE 
 OF FREEMASONRY. 
 
History of the Laureation of 
 R-.- Wv BRO. FAY HEMPSTEAD. 
 
 NOMINATION. 
 
 The Masonic Voice-Review, of Chicago, for May, con- 
 tained the following editorial, from the pen of Brother Ros- 
 well T. Spencer, Editor: 
 
 THE POET LAUREATE. 
 
 At the recent session of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, Grand 
 Secretary Fay Hempstead read a poem entitled "Sextennial," which 
 pleased the brethren so much that it was ordered published in the 
 Proceedings. Believing that our readers would enjoy perusing it, it is 
 inserted in this number of our magazine. In regard to it, Brother 
 James W. Reese, A. M., Ph. D., of Western Maryland College, West- 
 minster, Maryland, says : 
 
 "I can not deny myself the pleasure of telling you how 
 greatly I admire and enjoy Brother Hempstead's poem, 'Sex- 
 tennial.' Both in sentiment and expression it appeals to me, 
 and as I am, and have been for thirty-six years, Professor of 
 Classical Literature in Western Maryland College, I- therefore 
 ought to know a good thing when I see it." 
 
 Right Worshipful Brother Hempstead for many years has been 
 writing poetry, mostly of a Masonic character, and has the reputation 
 of being an excellent poet. Would it not be a graceful act for the 
 fraternity of this country to choose him Poet Laureate of Freemasonry 
 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of our lamented Brother Rob 
 Morris, who so acceptably filled the position for many years? The 
 Masonic Voice-Review takes great pleasure in nominating Brother 
 Hempstead, and hopes that his election will be unanimous. 
 
 APPROVAL. 
 
 Upon the appearance of this notice a number of letters- 
 were received by the Masonic Voice-Review from prominent 
 Masons in many parts of the United States approving the 
 suggestion, which are collated in the issues of that magazine 
 for June, July and August, as follows : 
 
6 History of the Laureation of 
 
 From Right Worshipful Brother Edward M. h. Ehlers, 
 Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York, in which 
 he says : 
 
 Permit me to be among the first to second the nomination 
 made in the May number of the Voice-Review, of R.'.W.'.Fay 
 Hempstead, to be the Poet Laureate of Free Masonry. 
 
 It has been my good fortune to read many productions from 
 the graceful pen of Brother Hempstead. He is a man of poetic 
 fire, pure sentiment and graphic expression, worthy in every par- 
 ticular to receive the honor for which you have placed him in 
 nomination. 
 
 From Right Worshipful Brother John R. Parson, Grand 
 Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, as follows: 
 
 I am much pleased to read your suggestion that Brother Fay 
 Hempstead be chosen Poet Laureate of Freemasonry. Having 
 known Brother Hempstead for a number of years, and recognizing 
 his ability I cordially approve his selection. 
 
 From Right Worshipful Brother Francis E. White, Grand 
 Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, as follows : 
 
 I note in your issue for May, 1908, a suggestion that Brother 
 Fay Hempstead, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Arkan- 
 sas, be selected as poet laureate of the Masonic Fraternity, to fill 
 the vacancy caused by the death of our lamented Brother Rob 
 Morris. I cheerfully second the recommendation, and know of 
 no one more worthy to fill the station than Brother Hempstead. 
 I have read some of his poetical writings, and believe them to be 
 of high merit, and hope that his selection for the position named 
 above may be unanimous. 
 
 From Right Worshipful Brother Richard Lambert, Grand 
 Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, as follows : 
 
 In your May number I find a very pleasing allusion to our 
 talented mutual friend. Fay Hempstead, the Grand Secretary of 
 Masons of the State of Arkansas, and asking in view of his many 
 contributions to Masonic literature, if it would not be a graceful 
 act on the part of the Fraternity to choose him as the Poet 
 Laureate of Freemasonry, to fill the vacancy caused by the death 
 of our lamented brother Rob Morris. I am in full accord with 
 you. I wish to be put on record as favoring the selection, feeling 
 that no better could be made. 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro. Pay Hempstead 7 
 
 From Right Excellent Companion Robert F. Stephenson, 
 Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons 
 of Missouri, as follows : 
 
 Noting your editorial in the May number of your magazine 
 nominating Companion Fay Hempstead of Little Rock, Arkansas, 
 as the Poet Laureate, in succession to Rob Morris, I desire to 
 second the nomination, and record my vote in favor of the propo- 
 sition. Poets are born, and not made, and Nature has been a 
 little shy on multiplicity. There are plenty who flirt with the 
 Muses, but the inspiration fails in making an impress. It is not 
 so with our friend Hempstead, as I have run across many things 
 from his pen that impressed me to 'not only a second reading, but 
 an assimilation for absorption. He is entitled to encouragement 
 of a laudable ambition, and I bid you "Godspeed." 
 
 From Most Excellent Companion A. B. Andrews, Past 
 Grand High Priest of North Carolina, as follows : 
 
 Please permit me to add my endorsement of what you say in 
 the May number as to designating Companion Fay Hempstead of 
 Arkansas, as Poet Laureate of Free Masonry, to fill the position 
 vacant since the death of Brother Robert Morris. 
 
 His works bespeak more practicable endorsement for th'S 
 position than any words of commendation that a brother may 
 offer for him. 
 
 From Right Worshipful Brother Frank J. Thompson, 
 Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota, as 
 follows : 
 
 I have noted your editorial in the May number of the Masonic 
 Voice-Review regarding Brother Fay Hempstead, Grand Secretary 
 of Arkansas, and the suggestion that the Fraternity choose him 
 Poet Laureate of Freemasonry. I do not know of any one who 
 possesses better qualifications for this honor than Brother Hemp- 
 stead. I was much pleased with his poem, "Sextennial," which 
 appeared in the May number of your magazine. It expresses a 
 thought that all feel when entering the first twilight shadows of_ 
 age. Your suggestion is timely, and I believe that the Masonic 
 Fraternity is sui generis enough to possess a laureate who may 
 express our sentiments in lyrics. 
 
 From- Right Worshipful Brother Christopher Diehl, 
 Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Utah, as follows : 
 
 I hasten to second the nomination of Right Worshipful 
 Brother Fay Hempstead, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of 
 
8 History of the Laureation of 
 
 Arkansas as Poet Laureate of Freemasonry, proposed in the May 
 number of your valuable Masonic magazine. Besides his "Sex- 
 tennial," which is indeed a poetical production that appeals to the 
 heart, his poems published in 1898 have many times refreshed my 
 mind and soul when tired and worn out. A large number of 
 poems in that book express in perfect words and form the most 
 perfect and highest thought. 
 
 From Right Worshipful Brother James C. Munds, Grand 
 Secretary of the Grand Chapter, Grand Council and Grand 
 Commandery of North Carolina, as follows: 
 
 I. have read the poem "Sextennial" and your article "The 
 Poet Laureate" in your May number and heartily agree with you 
 that it would be a graceful act to choose Brother Hempstead Poet 
 Laureate of Freemasonry, and it is with the greatest pleasure that 
 I second your nomination, hoping that he will be unanimously 
 elected. 
 
 From Right Worshipful Brother Joseph S. Murrow, 
 Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the Indian Territory, 
 as follows : 
 
 Most heartily do I vote for the election of Brother Fay 
 Hempstead, of Little Rock, Arkansas, to become the Poet Laureate 
 of Freemasonry of the United States, and in doing so I am sure that 
 I voice the sentiments of the 7,000 Masons of the Grand Lodge 
 of Indian Territory. 
 
 FROM MASONIC PERIODICALS. 
 From the Tyler-Keystone of Ann Arbor, Michigan : 
 
 Since the death of Robert Morris, who was by common con- 
 sent awarded the honorable post of Poet Laureate of the Craft, 
 there seem to have been no ambitious aspirants for the vacancy. 
 And yet American Masonry is not without its sweet singers. 
 Lawrence N. Greenleaf, of Colorado, has long delighted the 
 Brethren with his verses, and Grand Secretary Fay Hempstead, of 
 Arkansas, displays a poetic ability worthy of recognition. The 
 Masonic Voice-Review of Chicago nominates Brother Hempstead 
 for the Laureateship, and we ourselves confess to having been 
 greatly impressed with his genius as exhibited in a handsome 
 volume of his poetic works, now in its third edition. The collec- 
 tion comprises a hundred or more poems, the woi'k of a truly 
 gifted pen ; in many instances, indeed, Brother Hempstead rises 
 
R,'. W.'. Bro. Fay Hempstead g 
 
 to splendid heights, and displays a quality of the "divine fire'' 
 which makes him worthy of any wreath of laurel which the Craft 
 might see fit to bestow upon him. 
 
 From the Corner Stone, New York City, New York. 
 
 We have been asked to give our approval to the nomination 
 of Right Worshipful Brother Fay Hempstead, of Arkansas, as 
 the Poet Laureate of Freemasonry. Here it is for his fine poem 
 "Sextennial," which we here present. 
 
 From The Trowel, Little Rock, Arkansas. 
 
 The Trowel, as the official organ of the Grand Lodge of 
 which Brother Hempstead is Grand Secretary, desires to second 
 the nomination and urge the election of Brother Hempstead. He 
 is worthy in mind and heart of the honor proposed. 
 
 OTHER NOMINATIONS. 
 
 The names of the following Brethren were also placed in 
 nomination in letters received by the Voice-Review: 
 
 Brother Lawrence N. Greenleaf, of Colorado. 
 Brother Nelson Williams, of Ohio. 
 Brother Frederick Speed, of Mississippi. 
 Brother Alfred J. Hough, of Vermont. 
 
 CIRCULAR ISSUED. 
 
 The Masonic Voice-Review issued the following circular 
 and sent it to every Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, Grand 
 Council and Grand Commandery in the United States and 
 Canada; to the General Grand Chapter, General Grand Coun- 
 cil, and Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the 
 United States, and to the Supreme Council of the Scottish 
 Rite of both the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions — -one 
 hundred and eighty-three Grand Bodies in all, and to Past 
 Grand Officers: 
 
 Chicago, July i, 1908. 
 Dear Brother: 
 
 In the May number of The Masonic Voice-Review we called 
 attention to the fact that the post of Poet Laureate of Free- 
 masonry has been vacant since the death of Brother Rob Morris, 
 
lO History of the Laureation of 
 
 and suggested that it would be a graceful act for the Fraternity to 
 bestow the honor upon Right Worshipful Brother Fay Hempstead, 
 Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, whom we nom- 
 inated for the position. This we did because we believed from 
 what we had seen of Brother Hempstead's writings that he was 
 entirely worthy of the honor. 
 
 Our suggestion was taken up in many directions, and such a 
 large number of letters have been received from Brethren promi- 
 nent in Masonic circles from all parts of the country as to indi- 
 cate a very general approval of our suggestion, and a widespread 
 desire that Brother Hempstead be selected to fill the vacancy. A 
 number of these letters have been printed in subsequent issues of 
 The Masonic Voice-Review, and speak highly of Brother Hemp- 
 stead's poetic works, endorsing him for the position. 
 
 Therefore, for the purJJose of bringing the matter to a prac- 
 tical test and ascertaining, if possible, whether it is the general 
 desire that the honor should be bestowed as suggested, we are 
 sending you this circular, and request that you will be kind enough 
 to indicate what your views on the subject are by inscribing your 
 answers to the inquiries contained on the next page, and mailing 
 the same to us at your convenience, for which enclosed find ad- 
 dressed envelope. We would also be pleased to receive similar 
 answers from any past or present officers of your Grand Body. 
 Kindly send in your reply so that the vote may be canvassed 
 August 1st, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and greatly oblige, 
 Yours fraternally and truly, 
 
 Masonic Voice-Revisw. 
 
 1. Do you favor filling the vacancy in the office of Poet 
 Laureate of Freemasonry by the selection of some Brother whose 
 poetical writings exhibit sufficient merit? 
 
 2. Would you approve the selection of Right Worshipful 
 Brother Fay Hempstead, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge 
 of Arkansas, for that position? If not, will you please indicate 
 to what Brother you would prefer the position should be given? 
 
 3. Are you willing that a Committee of Chicago brethren, 
 consisting of Most Worshipful Brothers John Corson Smith, 
 Leroy A. Goddard, Edward Cook and George M. Moulton, Past 
 Grand Masters of Illinois, and Abram D. Gash, Past Grand Mas- 
 ter of Utah, shall canvass the votes submitted and take in hand 
 the arrangements for bestowing the honor upon the Brother who 
 receives a majority of the votes cast, if sufficient replies are 
 received favoring the filling of the vacancy to constitute a majority 
 of the Masonic Grand Bodies of the United States? 
 
R.'. W.'. Bro. Fay Hempstead ii 
 
 THE VOTE GIVEN. 
 
 Of the one hundred and eighty-three Grand Bodies to 
 which the above circular was sent, one hundred and thirty- 
 four responded, being a majority of the Grand Bodies. Each 
 Grand Body was given two votes, if they saw fit to cast them, 
 but in many instances only one was cast. The one hundred 
 and thirty-four Grand Bodies cast one hundred and sixty-nine 
 votes. Necessary to a choice eighty-five. Of these one hun- 
 dred and sixty-one were given for Brother Hempstead, and 
 eight votes were given for other Brethren. In order to make 
 the vote as near an ofificial vote as possible, the votes of Past 
 and minor Grand Officers and of Masonic journals, of which 
 fully nineteen-twentieths were for Brother Hempstead, were 
 not taken into consideration. 
 
 THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 
 
 \fter the votes were all received the canvassing board 
 met and canvassed the same and signed the following report: 
 
 The foregoing circular was sent to the presiding officer and 
 secretary of each of the Masonic Grand Bodies of the United 
 States, one hundred and eighty-three in number, and one hundred 
 and thirty-four replied to same, signifying their approval of the 
 plan of electing a Poet Laureate of Masonry and of the Committee 
 named in the circular acting as a canvassing board. 
 
 We, the Committee, have canvassed the votes cast, and find 
 that R.'.W.'.Bro. Fay Hempstead, of Arkansas, received i6i votes, 
 and that 8 votes were distributed among four other brethren. 
 
 The above named brother has therefore been selected by a 
 large majority of those voting as the Poet Laureate of Free- 
 masonry. 
 
 In addition to the above Brother Hempstead also received a 
 number of votes from foreign jurisdictions. 
 
 The Committee disclaims any intention of deciding as to the 
 merits of the various candidates voted for, and acted as a can- 
 vassing board only. 
 
 Ravenswood Lodge No. yyj, of Chicago, having generously 
 volunteered to defray the expenses connected with holding the 
 
12 History of the Laureation of 
 
 meeting at which to perform the ceremonies of coronation, the 
 
 method and details of the same are left to the judgment of said 
 
 lodge. 
 
 John Corson Smith, -P. G. M., 
 Leroy a. Goddard, p. G. M., 
 Edward Cook, P. G. M., 
 Geo. M. Moulton, P. G. M., 
 A. D. Gash, P. G. M., 
 
 Committee. 
 
 Chicago, Illinois, Sept. 24, 1908. 
 
 Brother Hempstead was informed of his election by the 
 Committee and invited to come to Chicago to be coronated. 
 Ravenswood Lodge No. yyy began arranging for the cere- 
 mony and issued invitations for the same, the first page of 
 which is here reproduced in facsimile. Three thousand of 
 these were printed and distributed throughout the United 
 States and Canada. 
 

 '07 
 
 C€^a^{y 
 
14 History of the Laureation of 
 
 ^XBtav\tui 
 
 3fn tJfp gpar 17S7 in Qlattongatp KUmming ICnJigp 5fo 2, 
 at Ebinburglj, g»r0tlartl>. W. Iro. ffinbprt Surna was rorottatpJn 
 first l^aet ICaurratp of Sfrppmaaonrg. 
 
 3n tlje gpar 1BB4 ttt tiff CSranii 2JDJ»gp nf Npmj 'gork, at 
 •Nfm fork Qlttg, il. M. Irn. Sob mnrria taaa rnronatph spronh 
 Popt Blaurpatp nf iFcpf maaonrg. 
 
 Sn tiff gpar 1 908 in ffianpnamnnh SloJigp Nn. 777, l|f lb in 
 iMfhinalf ®fmplpat(iIljirago, Sllinnia, S. 1I.lrn.3Fay iJ^pmpatpaJi 
 mill bp rnrnnatpJi tlfirJi J^npt Siaurpatp of Jffrpputaannrg. 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro . Fay Hempstead 1 5 
 
 GENERAL COMMITTEE 
 
 M. W. Bro. John Corson Smith M. W. Bro. Edward Cook 
 
 M. W. Bro. Leroy A. Goddard M. W. Bro. George M. Moulton 
 M. W. Bro. Abram D. Gash 
 
 RECEPTION COMMITTEE 
 
 R. W. Bro. H. W. Harvey R. W. Bro. David D. King 
 
 R. W. Bro. R. R. Jampolis R. W. Bro. W. H. Robson 
 
 R. W. Bro. Albert Roulier R. W. Bro. E. W. Peterson 
 
 R. W. Bro. Lewis Pickett 
 
 COMMITTEE ON ARRANGEMENTS 
 
 R. W. Bro. Roswell T. Spencer, Chairman 
 W. Bro. George N. Ackley, Sec'y 
 and the past masters and present officers of Ravenswood Lodge 
 Committee on Invitations Committee on Music 
 
 W. Bro. C. F. Newkirk, Chairman W. Bro. E. F. Brown, Chairman 
 W. Bro. R. C. G. Schultz W. Bro. F. A. Munson 
 
 W. Bro. J. M. Northmore W. Bro. P. J. Ford 
 
 COMMITTEE ON FLOOR ARRANGEMENTS 
 
 R. W. Bro. F. H. Morehouse, Chairman 
 W. Bro. Charles Truax 
 W. Bro. W. H. Bryan 
 W. Bro. Charles W. Bassett 
 W. Bro. Gordon Bailey 
 W. Bro. R. P. Hagan 
 W. Bro. Charles J. Dale 
 W. Bro. Geo. W. Cope • . 
 
 W. Bro. J. Roy Andrews 
 W. Bro. R. F. Church 
 and the present officers of Ravenswood Lodge. 
 
i6 History of the Laureation of 
 
 OFFICERS OF RAVENSWOOD LODGE No. 777 
 
 Walter Sutton Syrett, Worshipful Master 
 Emil John. Merki, Senior Warden 
 John Bradley Irwin, Junior Warden 
 Robert Frank Clark, Treasurer 
 George Newton Ackley, Secretary 
 John Henry Graham, M-arshal 
 Clarence Carl Gilberg, Chaplain 
 Charles Rufus Casler, Senior Deacon 
 James Herbert Thorne, Junior Deacon 
 Howard Eugene Black, Senior Steward 
 Robert William Rowen, Junior Steward 
 Frederick John Theodore Wendt, Tyler 
 Murrey Chapman Chase, Assistant Tyler 
 Edward Kingscote Howard, Organist 
 William Henry Winkenwerder, Illustrator 
 
 Ravenswood Lodge serves as host because: — R. W. Bro. Spencer is 
 the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas near the 
 Grand Lodge of Illinois. Bro. Spencer proposed the nomination of Bro. 
 Hempstead of Arkansas for Poet Laureate, and Bro. Spencer is a 
 member of Ravenswood Lodge. Hence Bro. Hempstead becomes our 
 guest. 
 
 A beautiful and most artistic souvenir program was pre- 
 pared of which two thousand were printed and distributed on 
 the occasion, to those in attendance and friends, the first page 
 of which is reproduced in fac simile. 
 
" Three poets in three distant ages born. ■■-DovotN 
 
 "They best can judge a poet's worth, 
 Who oft themselves have known 
 The pangs of a poetic birth 
 By labors of their own." 
 
 — Cowpet 
 
 ^otivemr FroMF^m 
 
 
 1000 
 
 Compliments of Ravenswooo Loooe No. 777. 
 
i8 History of the Laureation of 
 
 THE CORONATION CEREMONIES. 
 At Medinah Temple, corner of Walton Place and Dear- 
 born Avenue, Chicago, on the evening of October 5, 1908, 
 there were gathered fully fifteen hundred Brethren to witness 
 the ceremony of the Coronation. Medinah Temple was for- 
 merly Robert Collier's church, with a seating capacity esti- 
 mated at two thousand, and there were but few unoccupied 
 seats on this evening. The meeting was called to order by 
 Brother Walter S. Syrett, Worshipful Master of Ravenswood 
 Lodge No. yyj, who in brief preliminary remarks introduced 
 Most Worshipful Brother John Corson Smith, Past Grand 
 Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, as the presiding officer 
 for performing the Coronation. Brother Smith explained the 
 purpose of the meeting to be the conferring of the post of 
 Poet Laureate of Freemasonry upon Brother Fay Hempstead, 
 of Arkansas, who had been selected therefor by the voice of 
 the Fraternity throughout the United States, who was now 
 to be presented. Brother Hempstead, who had been escorted 
 to Medinah Temple by a Committee composed of Brother R. 
 F. Church and others, was now escorted into the Hall by the 
 Chairman of the Reception Committee and conducted to the 
 platform, where he was warmly greeted by Brother Smith and 
 other Brethren, and was seated on Brother Smith's right. The 
 ceremonies began with an Invocation by the Reverend Brother 
 William White Wilson. This was followed by an interlude 
 composed by Brother Hempstead, played by Brother William 
 Mahan Kirk, an organist of renown, upon a magnificent organ, 
 one of the glories of Medinah Temple. The composition is a 
 stately and majestic one, and as the organ tones, under the 
 skillful touch of Brother Kirk, filled the large Hall with the 
 melody, the audience showed their appreciation in hearty and 
 long-continued applause. 
 
 The next feature of the Program was given as an Ad- 
 dress of Welcome by Right Worshipful Brother Elmer E. 
 unavoidable absence of Brother Beach, Brother Joseph Rob- 
 Beach, Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. In the 
 bins. Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, and 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro. Fay Hempstead 19 
 
 the Dean of the Correspondents of the United States took his 
 place and delivered an Address replete with fraternal senti- 
 ments. Brother Robbins said that it gave him pleasure to be 
 the one to extend a welcome to Brother Hempstead, both 
 because he had formed an agreeable acquaintance with him 
 during the progress of the Masonic Congress which had been 
 held in Chicago in 1893, to which Brother Hempstead had 
 been a delegate, and while they had never met since that time, 
 yet the acquaintance had been deepened through correspond- 
 ence and Correspondence Reports, as he had for a number of 
 years been engaged in reviewing Brother Hempstead's work. 
 But more especially was this so because of a service which 
 Brother Hempstead had rendered to a member of the Grand 
 Lodge of Illinois at Brother Robbins' request, the details of 
 which he related and the remembrance of this added to his 
 pleasure in extending to him a welcome at a gathering intend- 
 ing to bestow upon him the great honor of the Laureacy. 
 
 RESPONSE BY BROTHER HEMPSTEAD. 
 
 To the Address of welcome Brother Hempstead responded 
 as follows : 
 
 Most Wobshipfui, Sir and Brethren : 
 
 I am indeed profoundly touched by the hearty welcome which 
 has been so eloquently expressed by our distinguished Brother. 
 
 To feel that such a welcome exists in the hearts of the noble 
 Brethren in whose name it is extended, is indeed a source of deep 
 gratification to me, the extent of which I am entirely unable to 
 set forth. 
 
 I beg to assure you that my most grateful appreciation goes 
 out to you for it, not only for the welcome itself, but for the kindly 
 terms in which it has been expressed, and that I will deeply cherish 
 the significance of it, while life lasts unto me; that it shall be 
 
 Mine forevermore to keep 
 A grateful mem'ry on my part. 
 
 And hear, until that final sleep. 
 Its echoes ringing in my heart. 
 
 I most profoundly thank you. 
 
 Under the direction of Brother William Boeppler, Musical 
 
20 History of the Laureation of 
 
 Director, the Germania Male Club, then rendered in excellent 
 style a selection by Kreutzer entitled, "It is the L?ord's own 
 day." This Club, of which Brother Walter Seidel is Presi- 
 dent, is an aggregation of twenty-five splendid voices, and 
 which blended in the utmost harmony in the rendition of all 
 the selections which they gave during the evening. 
 
 This was followed by an Address by Brother Elmer E. 
 Rogers, on the subject, "The Laurel Crown, and what it 
 stands for." 
 
 Brother Rogers said, in part, that the Masonic Fraternity had 
 at all times had within its ranks men of letters and of culture, and 
 that this occasion of the bestowing of the Laurel Crown would 
 be of interest to all persons of Hterary tastes throughout the entire 
 world, as it was a moment which might well be graced by Apollo 
 himself; but it would more especially interest the near two million 
 of those who had a more or less direct connection with the event, 
 inasmuch as the bestowal was to be upon one selected from their 
 Order and through Bodies to which their allegiance belonged. The 
 bestowing of a laurel was an incident of contests in earlier ages 
 of the world, wherein he who prevailed as victor was thus recog- 
 nized ; and by analogy its bestowal in an instance like the present 
 was an indication of appreciation for achievements accomplished 
 in literary fields. Its significance consists in being both a reward 
 for what has been, and an encouragement for what may yet be. 
 It stands for intellectual effort in the high planes of verse, for 
 lofty aspirations, for high ideals, of both time past and time to be. 
 
 The Address of Brother Rogers, which was received with 
 enthusiastic applause, was followed by a selection by the 
 Chorus : "All through the night ;" by Rhys Herbert. 
 
 Brother Roswell T. Spencer, who had taken the initiative 
 in the procedings which resulted in the selection of Brother 
 Hempstead as Laureate then delivered an Address on the sub- 
 ject of "The Election of the Poet Laureate." 
 
 Brother Spencer said, that the subject of selecting a Poet 
 Laureate of Freemasonry had many times been suggested since 
 the death of Brother Rob Morris, some ten years ago. Brother 
 John Corson Smith had mentioned the subject a number of times 
 in his Reports on Correspondence, and the inquiry had been, Shall 
 we not fill the vacancy? and who shall be the successor? Finally, 
 upon seeing the poem entitled "Sextennial" by Brother Fay Hemp- 
 stead, he at once recognized it as true and excellent poetry, and 
 
R.'. W.'. Bro. Fay Hempstead 21 
 
 that anyone who could write such poetry as that was worthy to be 
 chosen the successor. It was not the first of Brother Hempstead's 
 poetry that he had read, but none other had impressed him so 
 much. He investigated more of Brother Hempstead's writings, 
 and came to the conclusion that here was the one for the selection. 
 Accordingly he nominated Brother Hempstead for the position of 
 Poet Laureate of Freemasonry in the May number of the Masonic 
 Voice-Review, of which he is editor. The suggestion was at once 
 taken up by a number of Brethren prominent in Masonic affairs, 
 Grand Masters, Grand Recorders and others, in different parts of 
 the United States, to such an extent as to indicate a thorough and 
 widespread desire that the selection should be so bestowed. Ac- 
 cordingly to obtain the views of the Craft at large a system of 
 referendum was instituted by means of a circular which was sent 
 to the presiding officer and the Recorder or Secretary of every 
 Grand Body in the United States and Canada, asking whether they 
 favored the filling of the vacancy in the post of Poet Laureate of 
 Freemasonry, for which he had nominated Brother Hempstead, 
 and if so, by whom; and suggesting the names of five brethren 
 living in Chicago, Past Grand Masters all, to serve as a canvassing 
 board to tabulate and count the votes, provided there were votes 
 received from a majority of the Grand Bodies addressed. These 
 circulars were sent to one hundred and eighty-three Grand Lodges, 
 Grand Chapters, Grand Councils, Grand Commanderies ; the Gen- 
 eral Grand Chapter, General Grand Council, the Grand Encamp- 
 ment of Knights Templar, and to the Supreme Councils of the 
 Scottish Rite Bodies of the Northern and Southern Jurisdiction. 
 Of these one hundred and eighty-three, ninety-two would constitute 
 the pecessary majority. Replies were received from one hundred 
 and thirty-four Grand Bodies, being forty-two more than the num- 
 ber necessary for making a selection. 
 
 When all the votes were in, the committee which acted as a 
 canvassing board met and counted the votes. Each Grand Body 
 was given two votes, but in many instances only one from such 
 Grand Body was cast. On counting the votes it was found that 
 one hundred and sixty-nine votes had been cast by the one hundred 
 and thirty-four Grand Bodies voting ; necessary for a choice eighty- 
 five ; of which Brother Hempstead received one hundred and sixty- 
 one votes, there being eight votes given for other brethren. There 
 were a number of votes given by Past Grand Officers and minor 
 Grand Officers, which with very few exceptions were given for 
 Brother Hempstead, but as counting them would not have changed 
 the result, would have intensified it in fact, and in order to make 
 the vote as near an official vote as possible, the committee decided 
 not to take these votes into consideration, and proclaimed the 
 result only on the official figures which they gave in their official 
 report. 
 
22 History of the Laureation of 
 
 Brother Spencer then read the official report of the Com 
 mittee, giving the figures as stated by him. 
 
 Ravenswood Lodge No. yyy, having volunteered to take charge 
 of the ceremonies of the Coronation, he said, was the reason why 
 they were acting as hosts on the occasion. 
 
 Continuing, Brother Spencer said : 
 
 The custom of crowning a poet had a very early origin. The 
 Greeks and Romans crowned with laurel those who were adjudged 
 best in musical contests. In the Twelfth Century the Emperor of 
 Germany, following the custom, instituted the title of Poet 
 Laureate, and the position was definitely established through the 
 crowning of Petrarch, the first of poets to create for himself a 
 name as a lyric poet, who by invitation of the Roman Senate was 
 crowned in the Capitol by the Roman Senator Orso, Count of 
 Aguillara, April 8th, 1341, King Robert of Sicily being his patron 
 therein. 
 
 The custom was introduced into England in 1367, when King 
 Edward IIL, emulating the crowning of Petrarch, granted the 
 office to the Poet Chaucer, as an official gift. It was lield in 
 • succession by Spenser, Ben Johnson and others. From the time 
 of Johnson, in 1619, it became an office dispensable by the crown, 
 carrying with it an annuity and certain perquisites ; and since 
 that time there has been a regular succession of Laureates of 
 England down to our own time, embracing such familiar names 
 as Dryden, Southey, Colley Cibber, Wordsworth and Alfred Tenny- 
 son, the greatest of the series; the present Laureate of England 
 being Alfred Austin. 
 
 No doubt the maintenance of the position as one of official be- 
 stowal in England suggested to the Brethren of Scotland the pro- 
 priety of instituting a similar position within their own circles, and 
 accordingly, by the general consent of the Fraternity, Robert Burns, 
 the idol of the Scottish Craft, as he has been of the world at large, 
 was given the honor as the First Poet Laureate of Freemasonry, 
 by his being crowned in Canongate Kilwining Lodge at Edin- 
 burgh in 1787. After Burns' death no one arose to receive the 
 general selection of the Craft as the representative of Freemasonry 
 at large, until 1884, when Rob Morris, of Kentucky, the first in 
 America to receive the honor and the second through general 
 selection, was by the common consent of the Craft, crowned as 
 Laureate in the Grand Lodge Hall in New York City. Morris 
 died in 1898, since which time the post has remained vacant, and 
 now after this interval of ten years we are to crown the Third 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro. Fay Hempstead 23 
 
 Laureate selected by the general consent of the Craft, in the 
 person of the Brother on whom the honor is to be bestowed in this 
 hall to-night. 
 
 The Address of Brother Spencer which was Ustened to 
 with close attention and was received with hearty applause, 
 was followed by a Vocal Solo by Miss Edna Sands Dunham, 
 a gifted vocalist, possessing a voice of great richness and 
 power. The selection was entitled "Great is the Holy one of 
 Israel," and was most admirably rendered, ehciting hearty ap- 
 plause to which the singer graciously responded with an en- 
 core, as in fact she was compelled to do many times during the 
 evening, as often indeed as she sang. 
 
 The next feature of the- program' was "A Biographical 
 Sketch of R. W. Bro. Fay Hempstead," by Brother Jason R. 
 Lewis, Editor of the Masonic Chronicler of Chicago. 
 
 Brother Lewis said : 
 
 I am assigned in these exercises the duty of presenting to you 
 a biographical sketch of Brother Fay Hempstead, who is to-night 
 to be crowned Poet Laureate. Happily the material for the 
 making of such a sketch is readily at hand, in part at least, through 
 a postscript which Brother Hempstead has inserted in the third 
 edition of his poems, newly edited and issued during the summer 
 just past. This postscript, supplemented by information obtained 
 through inquiries concerning points that it does not touch upon, 
 enables me to give the following outline at least. 
 
 We learn from this postscript that Brother Hempstead was 
 born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 24th day of November, 1847, 
 at what is now 610 East Markham Street, where his parents re- 
 sided until 1853. One-half of the house is still standing, flanked 
 by grand magnolia trees, which were planted by his father. It is 
 small wonder to us that Brother Hempstead should be a poet, for 
 he tells us that both of his parents were literary; his mother 
 having artistic accomplishments in music, painting and the compo- 
 sition of verse, and his father possessing oratorical gifts and a 
 splendid faculty for composition. As a draftsman and letter- 
 writer of clearness and force his father was excellent; and he 
 held a high position at the bar, having for two terms been Solicitor 
 General of Arkansas. Brother Hempstead received schooling under 
 private tutors, somewhat of the "old field" variety, I surmise, as 
 would most likely be the case in those early days. Afterwards 
 he was at St. John's College at Little Rock, finishing at the Uni- 
 versity of Virginia at Charlottesville. 
 
24 History of the L,aur cation of 
 
 Brother Hempstead remembers to have occasionally written 
 verses in his boyhood, but nothing, he says, worthy of considera- 
 tion until, during his college days, when seeing the soldiers' graves 
 in the university cemetery strewn with flowers, he was moved to 
 write a poem on the subject, which was published in the university 
 magazine and elicited favorable comment. It is contained in the 
 latest edition of his works under the title "Memorial Day" with 
 added verses. And this is the early plant which has grown steadily 
 on, until now, forty years later, it has blossomed out into the 
 ceremonies of this night. The publication of this poem brought 
 requests for others, and it was followed up by fugitive pieces now 
 and then, but Brother Hempstead says he did not seriously begin 
 to write poetry until in the early seventies, and that a volume of 
 Tennyson's poems, given him by his wife at Christmas in 1875, 
 was the turning point in his poetical career. As he read and re- 
 read those noble poems, with which he had not previously been 
 thoroughly familiar, a new inspiration was opened to him, and he 
 wrote readily and frequently thereafter. In 1878 his first volume 
 of poems was published, and which was fairly good and successful. 
 But the poet had other and better powers in growth, and in his 
 second volume, issued in 1898, twenty years later, is to be found 
 greatly improved work; the recent third edition contaming his 
 best. It is development onward from good to better. 
 
 After only occasional efi^usions, occupied as his time and at- 
 tention were with the exacting demands of business and official 
 duties, a visit to California to attend the Twenty-ninth Triennial 
 Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, which 
 was held in San Francisco in 1894, was the means of awakening 
 farther inspiration, which resulted in some of his best pieces, one 
 of which in particular, "A Tribute to California,'' for the boundless 
 hospitality shown by her people on that occasion, was published 
 in very many papers, both of California and in the East, and was 
 incorporated in the official History of that Triennial. But Brother 
 Hempstead's best known and most widely commended production 
 was his poem "Sextennial," written on the occasion of his sixtieth 
 birthday, and read before his Grand Lodge at its November ses- 
 sion, 1907, which poem has really been the means of bringing to 
 him. the high honor of the Laureacy, as its high quality demon- 
 strated his worthiness for that position. 
 
 And also during the twenty-seven years that Brother Hemp- 
 stead has been Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, 
 and in the years in which he has been Grand Recorder of other 
 Grand Bodies in Arkansas, the Proceedings which he has issued 
 from year to year have abounded in poetic and artistic touches, 
 in which we recognize the work of the true poet. 
 
 Besides his poetic works, Brother Hempstead has been most 
 prolific and abounding in his prose works; in addresses, essays, 
 
R.'. W.'. Bro. Fay Hempstead 25 
 
 letters, lectures, articles, reports and histories. In these latter are 
 two of his greatest achievements. In 1889 he prepared and pub- 
 lished in one year's research, a History of the State of Arkansas, 
 the first history of that State ever written, a library volume of 
 1,240 pages; and in that time he halted the work while in a period 
 of sixty days he wrote a History of Arkansas for the use of 
 schools ; an admirable treatise of 236 pages, which has been ex- 
 tensively used in the public and private schools of Arkansas. 
 
 In his Masonic career Brother Hempstead has been most 
 active. He was made a Mason in Western Star Lodge No. 2 of 
 Little Rock in i86g, and received degrees in Union Chapter, Occi- 
 dental Council and Hugh de Payens Commandery in succession. 
 And in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry he has attained the 33rd 
 Degree honorary. Since 1881, a period of twenty-seven years, he 
 has been, and is now. Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of 
 Arkansas, and since 1899 has been such in the Grand Council, High 
 Priesthood and Grand Commandery of Arkansas. He is locally 
 Secretary of his Lodge, in which capacity he has served for more 
 than twenty-five years; is Secretary of his Chapter, Council and 
 Commandery; is active in all manner of committee work, and hav- 
 ing an active part in whatever goes on ; and along with this he was 
 for several years custodian and manager of the Masonic Temple 
 at Little Rock. At the last session of the General Grand Council 
 held at Boston he was made General Grand Steward. And still, 
 with all of this to attend to, he finds time to write poetry when the 
 notion strikes him, and good poetry it is. 
 
 Brother Hempstead is an ardent churchman, having been for 
 over fifty years a member of Christ Church, Episcopal, of Little 
 Rock, and for more than twenty-five years was a Sunday School 
 superintendent, and at other times a teacher in Sunday schools. 
 Becoming imbued with the missionary spirit, he took up the cause 
 of a small and struggling mission church in his town, and so built 
 it up by his indefatigable efforts that it bears locally the name 
 of "Hempstead's Church." In this work he organized, and for 
 three years drilled to a high state of efficiency, as choir director, 
 a splendid choir, to render the musical services of this church; 
 and anyone who has had any experience in church choir duties 
 knows how much labor and pains this involves. While engaged 
 in this way as often as special hymns were needed for particular 
 occasions, it was Brother Hempstead who supplied them both in 
 words and music. And then, to fill up his time, he officiates as lay 
 reader in the mission church, conducting services when there is no 
 preacher around. 
 
 Brother Hempstead has been most happy in his domestic rela- 
 tions. He was married at Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1871 to 
 Miss Gertrude Blair O'Neale of that place, whom he had met m 
 
26 History of the Laureation of 
 
 his student days. Seven children have blessed this union; four 
 sons and three daughters, all of whom have lived to reach man- 
 hood and womanhood, two of the daughters being married; and 
 all of these, with the loving wife, in their homes in Little Rock, 
 look with pride upon the great honor which is being bestowed upon 
 the husband and father this night in Chicago. 
 
 Brother Lewis' paper, which was greeted with prolonged 
 applause was followed by two selections by the Germania 
 Chorus, "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Dixie Land," sung 
 with spirit and enthusiasm. 
 
 This was followed by an eloquent Address by Rev. 
 Brother R. R. Lloyd, on the "Mission of Masonry." The Ad- 
 dress, which was spoken extemporaneously, was a torrent of 
 eloquence and beautiful diction, which could hardly be done 
 justice to in a mere summary. It was along lines that the 
 mission of Masonry was to upbuild and to instruct; to make 
 better men, better husbands, better Brothers, better fathers, 
 better sons. It antagonizes no sect, no creed, no Religion. 
 It's doors are not opened so wide that all may enter, but it 
 bade a welcome to every upright, honest, honorable man, who 
 sought it's portals ; be he great or be he small. It's themes 
 are lofty, and it's ideals high. It's teachings are elevating, 
 and improving, and it's great power in the world has been ob- 
 tained by steadily adhering to these great aims throughout the 
 ages of the world. 
 
 Brother Lloyd's periods were frequently clothed in poetic 
 phrase and he concluded his remarks by reading two of Brother 
 Hempstead's Poems, "A Tribute to California" and "In the 
 Golden .West." The latter a Poem relating to the destruction 
 which befell the Cities of the West in the earthquake of 1906. 
 
 Following the Address of Brother Lloyd, which evoked 
 most hearty applause, the Germania Club Chorus rendered with 
 good effect two of Brother Hempstead's songs "A National 
 Song," and "Oh the Glory of the Lilies," which were well 
 received. 
 
 Brother Abram D. Gash, Past Grand Master of the Grand 
 Lodge of Utah, residing in Chicago, then recited a Poem 
 written by him and dedicated to Brother Hempstead. It was 
 entitled : 
 
R.' . W.'. Bro. Fay Hempstead 27 
 
 A POETIC PRAYER 
 
 Father above, we feel thy love 
 
 Upon this world of sin; 
 
 Give us this day, we humbly pray, 
 
 A hope secure within. 
 
 Blest Power of Might, show us the right, 
 
 And lead us to the land of light. 
 
 While here below, we pray to know 
 
 Thy will most good and wise, 
 
 That when at last our days are passed 
 
 We'll gain thy paradise. 
 
 Blest Power Divine, we would be thine 
 
 To worship thee in heaven's sweet shrine. 
 
 When in the strife of this brief life 
 
 We'll praise thee o'er and o'er 
 
 That when, at last, our days are passed 
 
 Thou'lt save us evermore. 
 
 Then, Lord of Light, look from thy height. 
 
 And receive us in thy heavenly sight. 
 
 Take us, O God, with all thy love. 
 In perfect peace, no more to rove. 
 Through all the ages may we send 
 Thy praises, O Most Holy Friend! 
 Our heavenly home, we feel, will prove 
 A blooming field of blissful love. Amen. 
 
 THE CORONATION. 
 
 Following the recitation by Brother Gash, Brother John 
 Corson Smith in most impressive manner performed the act 
 of Coronation. In prefatory remarks he said: 
 
 It gives me great pleasure to be the one to perform the act of 
 Coronation for Brother Fay Hempstead, because I have known him 
 for a long time, and have known members of his family and kins- 
 men for more than fifty years, and they have been close friends 
 of mine. And I have for many years been a reader of Brother 
 Hempstead's poetry. Do you see this book (holding up a volume 
 of poems) ? That is a copy of the first edition of Brother Hemp- 
 stead's poems which I purchased of him when it was issued ten 
 years ago. I have read the poems many times, and to-day I took 
 this book down from my bookshelves and read over again one of 
 
28 History of the Laureation of 
 
 the poems that I want to read to you, and then to tell you some- 
 thing farther connected with it. It is the poem entitled "The 
 Second Burial of Payne," Payne the author of "Home, Sweet 
 Home.'' 
 Brother Smith read the Poem, and continued : 
 
 When this poem appeared in the Boston Transcript, at the 
 time it was written in 1883, the Poet Whittier addressed the fol- 
 lowing letter to Brother Hempstead : 
 
 "Amesbury, Mass., 4 Mo. 14, 1883. 
 
 "Dear Friend: — ^Let me thank thee for the beautiful verses in 
 
 the Boston Transcript on the 'Second Burial of Payne' — a fitting 
 
 tribute to the author of 'Sweet Home' and to the liberal-hearted 
 
 gentleman who has given the poet a last 'Home' in his native land. 
 
 "John G. Whittier." 
 
 The circumstance that I wanted to mention to you is the fact 
 that the beginning of this movement which resulted in bringing the 
 body of John Howard Payne to this country for burial was when 
 our United States Consul at Tunis, Africa, Worthington, called 
 the attention of Mr. Corcoran to the fact that the body of Payne 
 lay buried in a graveyard at Tunis, and suggested that it ought 
 to be removed to America, and acting upon this suggestion Mr. 
 Corcoran caused the body to be removed and brought to this 
 country, where it was buried in Georgetown as is stated in the 
 poem. So that while it was Mr. Corcoran's act, the bringing the 
 body here and its second burial, that act arose out of Mr. Worth- 
 ington's suggestion. 
 
 At the conclusion of Brother Smith's remarks the corona- 
 tion was performed. Brother Hempstead knelt, and Brother 
 Smith placed upon his head a crown of laurel, and proclaimed 
 him POET LAUREATE OF FREEMASONRY. 
 
 Meyerbeer's Coronation March was then rendered on the 
 organ by Brother Kirk after which Brother Hempstead deliv- 
 ered the following Address and Poem. He was listened to 
 throughout with the most minute attention by the large audi- 
 ence, and on concluding was greeted by most hearty and en- 
 thusiastic applause. His address was as follows: 
 
 Most Worshipful Sir and Brethren : 
 
 I would certainly be something less than an ordinary human 
 being, if I did not feel a thrill of exquisite pleasure at this moment, 
 and indulge in what I conceive to be a most pardonable pride in 
 being in this wide hall, made bright with the triumphs of decorative 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro. Fay Hempstead 29 
 
 Art; and standing in this magnificent presence, to receive this 
 laurel, which comes to me 
 
 "... greener from the brows. 
 Of him who uttered nothing base." 
 
 But, O my Masters, in doing so, I am borne down by a sense 
 of my entire unworthiness to receive an honor so great as that 
 which you have conferred upon me ; and reflecting on how small 
 my merit is, compared with those illustrious Brethren who have 
 been honored in this way before me, I can not escape the belief, 
 that this great distinction has been conferred upon me more 
 through the kind partiality of my Brethren at large, than for any 
 abounding merit of my own. I have therefore hesitated under the 
 consideration of whether it would be decorous in me to receive 
 this trophy, seeing that I am so "small and of no reputation," but 
 on the other hand I have looked upon it that, in view of the very 
 generous manner in which it has been tendered to me, it would 
 be an act of the greatest unappreciativeness in me did I not receive 
 it, and that most gratefully and thankfully, notwithstanding the 
 fact that in the world of Metric Art. I seem to have accomplished 
 so little. 
 
 For the writing of poetry has not been the constant and unin- 
 termitted occupation of my life. By the grace of God I am what I 
 am, and I have but written from time to time, as the Spirit has 
 moved me. And it seems to me that this is the manner in which 
 the truest poetry must necessarily be written, in its best effects. 
 The poem must come warm from the poet's sopl ; while the occasion 
 serves; or else it does not possess that essential glow, so necessary 
 for endowing it with warmth and life. He who proposes to him- 
 self, "I will now write a poem," unless there be the impulse that 
 compels him to write, working actively within him, is most likely 
 to find his production lifeless and mechanical. It must be vitalized 
 by a touch of that mysterious force which compels its utterance; 
 an outcrying of that inward speech, that forbids that silence should 
 ensue; the product of an impulse which will riot be throttled nor 
 thwarted, but struggles until it finds expression in the thoughts 
 and the words in which it expends itself. When this is the case 
 the poem simply writes itself. It is born of almost a single flash; 
 like that in which Tennyson wrote his immortal lyric, "Break, 
 break, break," with the sorrow for his dead friend weighing upon 
 his heart ; or that in which Reginald Heber wrote his grand Mis- 
 sionary Hymn; with the voice of the untutored ones over seas, 
 calling to him for enlightenment and aid. 
 
 Some one asked Victor Hugo if it was not a very difficult thing 
 to write first-class, good poetry. "Oh no," he replied. "It is either 
 very easy, or else it is perfectly impossible." It must come as the 
 product of the poet's rarer hours, or else it comes not at all. But 
 
30 History of the Laureation of 
 
 given the capacity, the inspiration and the theme, the production of 
 the verse comes readily as a consequent, bearing the stamp of the 
 Spirit which gave it birth. 
 
 I have said that it seems to me that I have accomplislied but 
 little in the fields of Verse; and vifhen I look backward at the 
 years that have flown, this fact stands bare before me, painfully 
 evident. In earlier years, "When all was fair, and life was fresh 
 and sweet," I wrote frequently, but later, when Time, with his 
 velvet-shod feet, treading lightly, has stolen upon me, borne down 
 by the tide of incessant engagements and the exacting demands of 
 business and official life, I nave written more rarely; but probably 
 more effectively. For it forces itself upon my observation, as a 
 circumstance which I can not fail to see, that while I have been 
 writing verses for something like fifty years, the last poem that 
 I have written, the very last in that series of half a century, is the 
 one which has received the most extended notice of anything that 
 I have produced. It is the poem entitled "Sextennial," which was 
 read by me before the Grand Lodge of Masons of Arkansas at 
 our November session, 1907.' And if I never write anything other. 
 Brethren, I hope to be remembered by the sentiments which that 
 poem contains. 
 
 But I trust that it may be given me at some time to produce 
 something that may merit your regard. For well I know that not 
 all of poetry has been written. Although from the ages past the 
 world has been thoroughly filled with the Spirit of Song, yet well 
 I know that there still lies in the Future many an harp, as yet un- 
 strung, and many a song as yet unsung. For certain it is that 
 
 "All the years invent 
 Each month is various to present. 
 The world with some development. 
 And men, through novel spheres of thought. 
 Still moving after Truth, long sought, 
 Will find new things when we are not." 
 
 And gloriously yet, in the years that are to be, the Genius of 
 Poetry, stalking through the world, will find many a silent tongue, 
 which it will wake to sing in a glad refrain ; will, many times, 
 and in many places, touch the sleeping forms of Measure, and bid 
 them arise and come forward into the stronger light. 
 
 The fields of Poesy are not close-garnered; nor are its well- 
 springs dry. Each year finds something new, where all seems old. 
 Each Spring, new verdure and fresh flowers crown the hills, that 
 have stood from everlasting. 
 
 And it is my earnest hope, Brethren and friends, that in what 
 of fife there lies before me, I may be so fortunate as to experience 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro. Pay Hempstead 31 
 
 some moment in which it may be given me to speak something 
 that may be worthy of the great Fraternity, which has so signally 
 honored me; that the Muse may at some time, and in some way, 
 lay upon my lips her magic touch, that will bid me speak some 
 thought or word winged with her message, that will find an affec- 
 tionate lodgement in the hearts of the Craft. And my humble, 
 fervent prayer is, God grant that it may be so. 
 
 To all who have so kindly and generously favored me with 
 their approval and acclaim, I beg to tender in this public way my 
 most sincere and grateful thanks. Their kind favor, whomsoever 
 they be, has rendered me all the more solicitous, for fear I may 
 fall below the measure of their expectations. 
 
 In particular do I desire to place on record in this way, the 
 deep sense of obligation that I am under to Brother Roswell T. 
 Spencer for his having kindly suggested my name as one suitable 
 to fill the vacancy in the post of Laureate ; flowing from which 
 suggestion this great honor has come unto me. The eternal grati- 
 tude of myself and all of mine is with him for his kind office in 
 this respect. 
 
 And I desire to express to the officers and members of Ravens- 
 wood Lodge my most grateful thanks and appreciation for the 
 interest that they have taken in this matter; and for the thorough 
 and gratifying mann'er in which "they have arranged and carried 
 out the exercises incident to this occasion. 
 
 And now. Brethren, as my last word to you on this great 
 occasion, I have desired to put into verse an epitome of these 
 thoughts with which to conclude my remarks upon receiving this 
 trophy, and which I now beg leave to render in your hearing. 
 It is as follows : 
 
 Strike hands with me, O Brethren mine; 
 And hear me each, with hand in thine. 
 If yet that grace reside in me. 
 Make promise for the time to be. 
 
 If yet the Muse, of Measure true. 
 
 Doth not in listless fashion, through 
 
 The slow decease of high desire. 
 
 Sit silent by a faded fire : 
 
 If yet there comes, in finer hour, 
 
 Some lingerings of that Spirit's power, 
 
 That creeps within the inner soul. 
 
 Her gems of beauty to unroll; 
 
 O, then, I trust, if even slight, 
 
 Some ray of that ungoverned light 
 
 Upon my waiting soul may stream, 
 
 And light it with her clearest beam : 
 
32 History of the Laureation of 
 
 May wake to life this feeble tongue, 
 To sing deep lays, as yet unsung; 
 Then would my Spirit joy amain, 
 As thirsting plants drink grateful rain. 
 
 If so, O then, I dedicate 
 Whatever strength that, soon or late. 
 May come to me, to this fair Cause, 
 Wrought out through scope of higher laws; 
 That all that beareth Beauty's name, 
 Be hailed with welcome and acclaim ; 
 The Good be ever forward set; 
 The cause of Truth be stronger yet. 
 
 So may it be. That grace abide 
 In gentle measure by my side. 
 God grant my life, imperfect here, 
 Some essence from that higher sphere. 
 
 Following the Address and Poem was a Soprano Solo by 
 Miss Edna Sands Dunham; the selection being "A Song of 
 Thanksgiving" by Frances Allitsen. This was one of the 
 triumphs of the- evening. Miss Dunham's splendid voice most 
 admirably interpreted the selection, and greatly delighted her 
 hearers. She was recalled again and again, responding with 
 delightful Scotch airs, than which there are none more musical. 
 And possibly an added' pleasure was in their suggesting^ the 
 First Laureate, who through the ceremonies of the evening 
 was being recalled. 
 
 Brother William E. Edwards then recited with excellent 
 effect the Poem "Sextennial," the Laureate's chief Poem, and 
 which had more particularly brought him into notice. 
 
 Brother George W. Donaghey, Governor-elect of Arkan- 
 sas, Master Mason, Royal Arch Mason, and Royal and Select 
 Master Mason, occupying a seat upon the platform, was then 
 introduced by Brother John C. Smith. The applause which 
 greeted his being presented was so pronounced and long con- 
 tinued that it was several moments before he was able to pro- 
 ceed. When it bad subsided Brother Donaghey responded 
 briefly but most appropriately, expressing the pride he felt that 
 so great a distinction had been accorded to a citizen of his 
 State, in which he and his associates shared. 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro. Fay Hempstead 33 
 
 PRESENTATION OF POEMS. 
 
 At this point Brother Hempstead rose and said : 
 
 Most Worshipfui, Sir and Brethren : 
 
 Before we reach the close of these exercises, seeing that we 
 are nearing the end of the programme, I ask your permission to 
 occupy but a single moment of the time. 1 have been the recipient 
 of numberless courtesies from the officers and members of Ravens- 
 wood Lodge, for which I am deeply grateful, and which I desire 
 to recognize and acknowledge. At present the only means within 
 my power is by presenting to that Lodge a copy of my Poems, 
 which I now confide to you, Brother Syrett, as its Worshipful 
 Master, for that purpose. I ask the Brethren of that Lodge to 
 accept it as an expression of my gratitude for their many kind- 
 nesses. 
 
 Brother Syrett in response on receiving the book, said : 
 
 Brother Hempstead: 
 
 We receive this beautiful volume with many thanks. As we 
 have a small library forming for the Lodge, it will be a most ac- 
 ceptable addition to what we have collected, and we greatly appre- 
 ciate your thoughtfulness in presenting it ; and I assure you it 
 will be highly prized among us. 
 
 The Chorus sang "A Prayer of Thanksgiving,'' by Krem- 
 ser, and then the audience, standing, led by Brother Kirk with 
 the great organ, the Germania chorus, and the superb voice 
 of Miss Dunham, joined in singing "Auld Lang Syne," by 
 Robert Burns, in special memory of him. It was rendered 
 with a strength and fervor that no one will ever forget who 
 heard it. Reverend Brother R. C. Hughes pronounced the 
 Benediction, and the Coronation ceremonies, which all united 
 in declaring to have been most successful and inspiring, were 
 at an end. 
 
 Very many of the audience, both those who occupied the 
 platform and a great number from the main body of the audi- 
 torium, offered their congratulations to the Laureate, both for 
 the honor bestowed, and for the happy manner in which the 
 exercises had passed off. 
 
34 History of the Laureation of 
 
 DISTINGUISHED BRETHREN PRESENT. 
 
 Among the distinguished brethren present were Brothers 
 John Corson Smith, Past Grand Master of Illinois ; Joseph E. 
 Dyas, General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chap- 
 ter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States; Leroy A. 
 Goddard, Past Grand Master of Illinois; Henry W. Mord- 
 hurst, General Grand Recorder of the General Grand Council 
 of Royal and Select Masters- of the United States ; Joseph Rob- 
 bins, Past Grand Master of Illinois; Abram D. Gash, Past 
 Grand Master of Utah ; Smyth Crooks, Grand Commander of 
 the Grand Commandery of Illinois ; George W. Donaghey, 
 Governor-elect of Arkansas ; George B. Cook, State Superin- 
 tendent of Public Instruction of Arkansas; William' S. Mitchell, 
 President and Manager of the Democrat Printing and Litho- 
 graphing Company of Little Rock ; George B. Pugh, Attorney 
 of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway of Little Rock, 
 and many others. 
 
 Among those present representing foreign Grand Juris- 
 dictions were the Grand Representatives of the Grand Lodges 
 of Cuba and West Virginia near the Grand Lodge of Arkan- 
 sas ; the Grand Lodge of Arizona near the Grand Lodge of 
 Indiana ; the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland, Colorado, 
 District of Columbia, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Michi- 
 gan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New South Wales, Wash- 
 ington, Victoria and- Tasmania near the Grand Lodge of Illi- 
 nois ; the Grand Commandery of Virginia near the Grand Com- 
 mandery of Arkansas ; the Grand Commanderies of Connecti- 
 cut, Maine, Missouri and New Hampshire near the Grand 
 Commandery of Illinois ; the Grand Chapter of New York near 
 the Grand Chapter of Indiana ; the Grand Chapters of Kansas, 
 Ohio, South Dakota, Victoria and West A-'irginia near the 
 Grand Chapter of Illinois ; the Grand Chapter of Missouri near 
 the Grand Chapter of Arkansas ; and the Grand Council of 
 New Jersey near the Grand Council of Illinois. 
 
R.'. W.'. Bro. Fay Hempstead 35 
 
 LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS. 
 
 During the evening W. Brother Walter S. Syrett read a 
 number of congratulatory telegrams and letters which had been 
 received from distinguished Masons and Masonic bodies from 
 all parts of the United States and Canada. 
 
 It would be most gratifying and desirable indeed could 
 the whole number of these be here inserted, but they are not 
 accessible to the compilers of this history at this time, owing 
 to the fact that the greater number of them have been gathered 
 into a volume and bound together for Ravenswood Lodge No. 
 yyj, along with all other matter coming to them relative to the 
 Laureation, and deposited in their library in Chicago, and 
 there is not opportunity in the time within which it is neces- 
 sary to prepare this compilation, to secure reference to the 
 same. Hence, the compilers are restricted to presenting only 
 such of those used on the occasion as they have secured in the 
 progress of their own researches. They are as follows : 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 Savannah, Georgia. 
 Accept my congratulations on your Coronation as Poet 
 Laureate of Freemasonry, a most distinguished position, which I 
 have no doubt you will worthily fill. 
 
 W. S. Rockwell, 
 
 Grand Recorder. 
 
 Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 
 I congratulate you upon the honor that you have justly earned 
 and trust you may live a long and prosperous life in this new 
 realm. , 
 
 Newton R. Parvin, 
 
 Grand Secretary. 
 
 Manchester, Iowa. 
 I take pleasure in saluting you as the worthy successor of 
 Robert Burns and of our own Rob Morris. 
 
 W. H. NORRIS, 
 Grand Standard Bearer Grand Encampment. 
 
 Reed City, Michigan. 
 You have my heartfelt and sincere congratulations and befit 
 wishes that you may be with us for many, many years to enjoy 
 the honors conferred upon you by your admiring Brethren. 
 
 Lou B. WiNSOR, 
 
 Grand Secretary. 
 
36 History of the Laureation of 
 
 Meriden, Connecticut. 
 I desire to express my gratification that the mantle of Robert 
 Burns and of Rob Morris is to fall upon your shoulders, and to 
 assure you it would give me great pleasure to be at your Laurea- 
 tion and to contribute in my small way to this interesting occasion. 
 which I trust may be most pleasureable to all who may be so 
 fortunate as to participate, and especially to yourself. 
 
 Eli C. Birdsey, 
 Grand Recorder. 
 
 Jacksonville, Florida. 
 Allow me to offer ray sincere congratulations upon your re- 
 ceiving this high honor. May you live long to serve the Fraternity 
 in that capacity. 
 
 WiLBER P. Webster, 
 
 Grand Secretary. 
 
 Hot Springs, Arkansas. 
 It is with much pleasure that I learn of your election as Poet 
 Laureate of Freemasonry, and I beg you to accept my heartfelt 
 congratulations. It is a high honor, and one bestowed upon the 
 right person. May God spare you to the Fraternity for many 
 years to come. 
 
 A. F. B. Oden, 
 Past Grand Master Grand Council of Arkansas. 
 
 Hazen, Arkansas. 
 Accept my sincere congratulations upon the well deserved 
 honor. 
 
 T. M. HORSEALL, 
 
 Past Grand Master Grand Council of Arkansas. 
 
 Little Rock, Arkansas. 
 I congratulate you on the honor conferred on you by Masonry 
 of the United States. It is well deserved and reflects honor upon 
 Masonry in Arkansas. 
 
 ■ Jacob Teieber, 
 Past Grand Master Grand Lodge of Arkansas. 
 
 Marianna, Arkansas. 
 I beg to present my hearty congratulations upon your being 
 made Poet Laureate of Freemasonry. I know of no one who is 
 more fit to receive so great a distinction and am doubly proud 
 that the honor is to be conferred upon one of our Fraters of 
 Arkansas. 
 
 Peter Brickey, 
 Past Grand Master Grand Council of Arkansas. 
 
R.'. W.' . Bro. Fay Hempstead 37 
 
 There were also a number of personal and individual let- 
 ters received from Brethren in various parts of the United 
 States. 
 
 TELEGRAMS. 
 
 PrEscott, Arkansas. 
 R.'.W.'.Bro. Rosweli, T. Spencer, Chairman: 
 
 Arkansas Masons send fraternal greetings and beg to express 
 their gratitude for your initiative in recognizing the zeal and talent 
 of our beloved Bro. Hempstead. Bear to him our congratulations, 
 and may to-day be classed as the brightest and happiest in your 
 Masonic retrospect. 
 
 M. W. Greeson, 
 Grand Master of Arkansas. 
 
 Little Rock, Arkansas. 
 Most cordial greetings to Ravenswood Lodge No. 777 and to 
 Right Worshipful Fay Hempstead, Poet Laureate of Freemasonry. 
 
 John T. Hicks, 
 Past Grand Master and Past Grand High Priest. 
 
 Little Rock, Arkansas. 
 For myself and for the members of the Scottish Rite Bodies of 
 the Valley of Little Rock sincere and affectionate congratulations, 
 and a deep sense of appreciation for the distinguished honor so 
 well deserved. 
 
 Charles E. Rosenbaum, 
 Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Arkansas. 
 
 El Dorado, Arkansas. 
 El Dorado Chapter No. 114, Royal Arch Masons, extends con- 
 gratulations for the honor conferred upon you. 
 
 J. T. McKenzie, H. p. 
 Albert Rowell, Secretary. 
 
 Mena, Arkansas. 
 Arkansas appreciates the honors you receive and reflect on her. 
 
 Mark P. Olney, 
 Grand Generalissimo K. T. of Arkansas. 
 
 Lonoke, Arkansas. 
 To Brother Fay Hempstead, Chicago: 
 
 Those who know you best love you most; and rejoice with 
 you. The Brethren of Lonoke Lodge No. 51, P. & A. M., send 
 greetings and feel deeply grateful to our Brethren who have 
 honored one so eminently worthy. May Heaven's richest blessing 
 eyer attend you. 
 
 Pat H. Wheat, Jr., W. M. 
 
38 History of the Laureation of 
 
 Benton, Arkansas. 
 Benton Lodge No. 34 tenders congratulations for the distin- 
 guished honor conferred upon Arkansas' worthy son. 
 
 Joe B. Hughes, W. M. 
 
 Little Rock, Arkansas. 
 The Board of Trade of Little Rock sends congratulations upon 
 the well-deserved honor. We feel proud of you as one of our 
 citizens. 
 
 LITTLE ROCK BOARD OP TRADE, 
 
 George Russ Brown, Secretary. 
 
 Individual telegrams of . congratulations were received 
 from the following Brethren of Little Rock to-wit : Brothers 
 William I. Whitwell, R. H. Kaufman, Arthur C. Jones, E. C. 
 Himstedt, John S. Odom, E. C. Taylor, John W. Rose, Ad 
 Hamburg, M. E. Akin, L. P. Dreyfus, F. B. T. Hollenberg, 
 William Thompson ; from ElDorado, Arkansas, a joint tele- 
 grans from Brothers George McKee, J. J. Johnson, W. J. Pin- 
 son and twenty other Brethren of El Dorado Lodge No. 13. 
 
 From Mrs. M. A. P. McCrary of the Order of the East- 
 ern Star of Hot Springs and from Mr. Horace Mitchell, Little 
 Rock. 
 
 The Press, both Masonic and general gave extended ac- 
 counts of the occasion, from which the larger portion of the 
 foregoing account has been gathered, and all united in pro- 
 nouncing it to have been eminently successful and well carried 
 out. 
 
Cornell University Library 
 HS 537.A83F85 
 
 History of the laureatlon of R. W. Bro. 
 
 3 1924 015 812 096 
 
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