Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-06-29
For The Independent Democrat.
ST. JOHNS DAY.

NOt Uciug OIle vi inc iuItlatcu, Mr. &c.
itor, was but locker on, on this occa
sion. All however we're gratifed and
| amused with the order, display, and res.
portability, exhibited in the procession
After various wheelings and narchings
towards the cardinal point, the brother.
hood, and the sight-seers found themselves
at the Methodist Church, where the crowd
were delighted with an eloquent, learned,
and powerful address from the Rev. Edgar
A. M Gray, whose particular dignity in
the mystic order, can'tprecisely syllable,
but understand it is pretty high in the
pictures. Here, in other circumstances,
my remarks might appropriately end; but
some things struck me in the course of this
address, which thought not improper for
criticism. have characterised the ad.
dress as eloquent, learned and powerful.
Of course mean this with some qualif-
cation. 1t was only so marked in places.
1t was rather the disiecta membra of a
giant speech. 1t was something like the
shop of lapidary, whose shelves and
tables are strewed with indiscriminate
jewelry, and precious stones. | however
purpose not 10 speak of this, nor of those
tender, inefably tender, illusions 10 the
ladies'; wished only to say few words
in defence of those who stood ertra the
Lodge. An undistinguished onslaught
was made upon all those who possessed
not the Shibbole.h of the Temple, and
could not say brother! or compagnon! to
Hiram Abiff. On their unsheltered heads
fell mingled storm of irony, sarcasm, RI
dicule, and wit. The orator disdained to
confine himself to defence of the ma
sonic institution, but valiantly carried the
war into Africa in general, and Numidia
in particular. This is sometimes the wis
est course. When we cannot repel an
assault on the fortress, il is better to sally
forth at once, and assail the advancing
fore, before his entertainments have risen
round him. The address was perhaps as
good defence Of the society as could
have been made. All attempts must fail
to explain the necessity Of that, which
must not be explained. II is the s'strong
man struggling in the morass. Each effort
only serves to sink him deeper in the Ser
bonian bog Of absurdity.
| have heard it said, this institution
might be converted into an engine, and a
hot-bed for the creation of "treasons, stra.
tagems," and conspiracies This argumen,
grown grey with time, has entered the
lodge of the King of shadows 1t might
have. been the case in a barbarous age, but |
the day for the exercise OF its mysterious
power has passed away. 1t is like giant
Pope in the Pilgrims Progress, who stood
grinning at the passing pilgrims he could
no longer cruelty, or frighten. Once
stealing into the cabinets of Kings, and
pervading the councils of the Legislature,
it was able to give law to the powerful, and
control the destinies of the ambltious.--
Now it can only afford an opportunity to
those who arc fond of trappings of sky
blue and crimson, to bedeck and bedisen
their person with few yards of satin (not
Satan) and gold lace.
"Great Julius Caesar, dead & turn'd to clay,
May stop crack to keep the wind away
A gaudy congregation of ceremonies, the
offspring Of a dark age, engendered by
superstition upon vanity, is destined by
higher civilization to a speedy and unre-
GREETED forgetfulness.
An interesting anecdote was told of
Numidian King and the daughter of a
Roman Senator. The absurd and sillyl
proceeding. technically called 'popping {
the question:" and the madenish reply {
were graphically given. But the audience I
were not informed whether the parties
were actually married, nor what was the
name of their son Billy. The origin of :
he society Of signs, was fixed in such re- a
note antiquity, that ! can scarcely carry t
ny imagination back so far; / think how. o
ever, it was some where about twelve cen !,
uries previous TO the time of the Pre-Ad. =
mite sultans | was somewhat surprised c
o hear the mysteries of Eleusis pronounce tt
ID masonry. Ifmy classic lore fails me not, n