The Acacia Spirit JANUARY, 1918
Vol. Xlll
No.3
PRESIDENT BROWN CALLED TO
A STATEI\IENT BY THE AariNG GRAND
WASHINGTON
PRESIDENT
Grand President Harry L. Brown has been called to Washington, D. C., to serve with the Radio. Divisi·on of the Signal Corps In a highly specialized capacity. He left his bride of six months in Chicago, turned over his office as Acacia leader to ex-Grand President George Frazer, resigned his place as editor on the McGraw-Hill publications, and went to the capital immediately after his call. In his letter to the G-r and Council, Brother Br<>wn said: "It, therefore, seems adv isable that I immediately turn over the al'fair.s of my office t<> fol'mer Grand President George E. Frazer, 208 South La Salle Street, Chicago, in acc<>rd with a plan adopted by the majority of the members of the Grand Council in May, to provide automatically for the continuation of the fraternity directi<>n whenever ll.nY o·f the members of the Grand Council were called Into the Service. Brother Frazer has very generously consented to resume direction of the fraternity. Under his very capable judgment, we may all be .assured that the al'fairs of the fraternity in these very tryIng times will be conducted in the most comprehensive manner. "If it later develops that I will have time ·in connection with my army work, should this keep me in Washington, to again take over the duties of the Grand President, I shall feel it my duty to do so In justice to Brother Frazer, who is already very heavily loaded in directing the business of his accounting organization and in properly maintaining his prominent positions in ·a number of organizations. "Sincerely and fratern·a lly yours, "HARRY L. BROWN, "Grand President." December 28, 1917.
This is a war for the ideals of democracy. As such this war enlists the most complete co-operation of every American Mason. Acacia is sending her best men into this w·a r. Day by day the. number of these men grows. Those of us who stay behind ~u s t carry on their work while they fight for us. In bounden duty we must maintain Acacia. First of all we must keep these brothers in arms in c1ose touch with the fraternity. We are to write to them, each man, at least weekly. We are to send them comforts. We are to tell them in deeds as well ·as in words how proud we are of them. This is our first and greatest duty. I charge this duty to each chapter. In the second place we must maintain the standards of the a.c tive chapters. New members must be selected with care,here the local alumni have an important place. The reports to the Grand Secre- · tary should be full and complete. The chapter records should be faithfully kept. After the war we shall need these records quite as much as now. · The Chapter Secretary is the strong link that is to connect us with the greater Acacia of tomorrow. The chapter finances must be reported faithfully and regularly to the Grand Officers. With so many men away it is inevitable that many of our chapters should have serious financial pr<>blems. We must face these problems squarely. When the men of Acacia come back they must find that thei.r chapters have carried on. Our hearts are with the boys out there. We know that they want us to keep the fires of Acacia burning. Let it be done together, brethren. GEORGE E. FRAZER, Acting for the Grand President. January 4, 1918.