Published: March 22, 2007 11:45 pm            

Masons host Conclave in Meridian

The 146th annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Mississippi will meet this weekend at the Best Western in Meridian.

James M. Ward of Water Valley, past most eminent grand master of the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the USA. will serve as the official representative of Grand Master Richard Baldwin of Bellaire, Texas.

Grand Commander Robert L. Earnest of Tupelo will preside over the session.

The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the USA, a sovereign national body with jurisdiction over all Grand Constituent and Subordinate Commanderies in the U.S. Templary, is a branch of Masonry with its foundations in the New Testament. There are approximately 200,000 members in 50 Grand Commanderies.

The state organizations have two major philanthropies. The Knights Templar Eye Foundation provides surgical treatment and hospitalization for people who are blind or whose sight is impaired and who cannot afford to pay. The foundation is supported by a yearly assessment of each Knight Templar, plus special contributions, life sponsorships and other forms of income.

The Knights Templar Education Foundation was established in 1922. Its purpose is to make deferred payment, low-interest loans available to deserving students for their final two years of college.



— special to The Star

        

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