Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-01
MASONIC RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT
OF GENERALS QUITmAN AND SHIELDS.

Early IN January u was determined " many
of the Masonic body in Richmond 10 invite &C.
neras Quilman and Shields, who had passed
through our city, and were then in Washington,
to participate of dinner 10 be given al such
time as they might determine, in testimony OF The
high respect in which these gentlemen were he'll
by the Masonic fraternity, as men and masons.
Accordingly on the 18th Of that month"; one Of
The Past Grand Masters OF the Stale repaired 10
Washington city, as The bearer OF the letter OF
invitation, which va, accepted by Generals Qnil.
man and Shields bu! al that lime The day Tor the
dinner could not be determined on. On the 10 n
insl., Information was received that The disn.
suished guests would be in Richmond on the 2lsi,
and meet the MasOns on that evening".
On the morning OF the Dist The Masonic Com.
miltee of Invitation and Reception, accompanied
by The Committee Of the Senate and the House OF
Delegates OF the State, with Lieut., Selden, 0: The
9Th Regiment, guest OF the Masons, repaired III
the cars 10 the Junction, about % miles from The
city, where they awaited the coming OF the North
ern train, in which came Generals Qui'man and
Shields accompa MED by Capt John b. Hlaeru-
der Capt Blanding, Of the Palmetto Regiment,
Peer 6. Washington, Esq. the Auditor oil the
Post Office Department, and H. &. Williams,
ESQ, Past Grand Secretary OF the G.aa1 Lodge
of The Dis,ric, OF Columbia.
The Committees were severally introduced by
the Chairman of the Masonic Committee 10 these
Distinguished gentlemen, and accompanied them
10 the city, where at about - o'clock, they ami.
we'd. The Guests were taken Ihen by the differ
ent Committees in carriages 10 the City Hotel
where quarters had been provided Tor ali OF them
including Inc ladies who came with hem.
At2 o'clock the committee VI Invitation and
Reception escorted Generals Quiiman and Shields
Lieutenant Selien, Messrs. Washington and
Williams, aud The Hon. John Minor Bots, all
of whom are members OF the fraternity, from the
CITY Hotel 10 the Masonic Hall, which had been
taslefully and beautifully decorated BY The ladies
for the occasion, when The Two Generals were in
,roduced BY the Most WoEshiplul Robert G.
Scott, pas! Grand Master TO the Most Worshipiu
Sidney S. Baxter, present Grand Master, then
presiding, and 10 the brethren then present, mum.
boring about Two hundred. The Grand Masel
delivered an address to these distinguished and
eminent Masons, which was marked for its appro
priateness and eoGuence and in The Warmesl and
most cordial manner welcomed them 10 Virginia
General Quitman replied in happy and able
manner, with evidently strong feeling excited by
the hearty and sincere welcome he had received
here.
General Shields followed in ieryid and elo-
quent reply for the references made TO him in The
address; passed some high compliments on Yir.
ginia for what she was in former days, and for
what she is row; gave rapid sketch OF the grea
and noble purposes for the attainment Of which
Masonry was instituted, and referred 10 its known
and ackno Nledged influences IN soltening the
feelings Of men ard improving their moral tacu!
lies, and closed with beautiful alusion to il:
practical effect in mitigating The horrors Of war
and making good men of all who adhere 10 it,
lenes. II is regretted that neither the address no
replies can be here given, although it is hoped
hat copies may be hereafter obtained Tor publ.
cation.
Lieut. Selden was then also introduced, anC
The Grand Master addressed him in a strong ant
feeling manner, and cordially welcomed hin
back 10 the place Of his nativity and the numer
Gus friends Of his youth who then surrounded
him. To this Lieut.. Selden briefly and will
strong emotion replied, returning his sincer
thanks for the kind and afeclionale manner il
which be had been received on visiting his bftl
place.
The Lodge rooms were then thrown open an
the guests taken 10 The lower room, where from
until o'clock Generals Quilman and Shield
received The visits OF great concourse OF laoie
and gentlemen, during which time many tune
were played by fne band under Sisnor George
At quarter pasta o'clock the procession wa
formed, and marched from the Hall to Main 81.
uN VihIn street, 10 W - 49,
thence 10 the Exchange Hotel, where a sumptu
OTIS dinner had been prepared for the occasion
by Frederick Boyden, Esq, the liberal and spirit
cd proprietor OF that Hotel.
A, quarter past 6 o'clock, dinner was an
nounced, and The fraternity, accompanied by ma
jor General J. A. Qui;man, Bisadier Genera
JAIME. Shields, Cap! John B. Magruder. Cap
Blanding, Lieut.. Joseph Selden, Lieut.. E. John
son, Peter G. Washington, Esq, H. G. vii
liams. ESQ., and The Hon. John Minor Bots, re
paired to the bauqueing room, which vas ori!
ian,!y Lighted, and had been adorned in The mos
tasteful manner, by many beautiful transporter
cies. executed BY our talented and ingeniou
brother Samuel c. Snyder, and designed by GU
esteemed brother VIM. R. Blake.
THE DINNER.
At the dinner, the Most Worshipful Robert G
Scott, Past Grand Master, presided, assisted b
the Most Worship.ul S. S. Baxter presen, Gran
Master, Worshipiul John DoTe, Grand seeIeta
ry of The State, the Mos, Worshiplul Wiilar
T.. ". Grand Mas,aY fha Most W6y