The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-06-24
Celebration Of ~. Johns Day.

.. Yesterday our city was thronged with
.. people, having come to witness the impos
ing scene Of a Masonic celebration and 9th
ers to take a part in the exercises. 1t was
VIVA. We expected the men of Ottawa could
!. get up. Magnificent is its true name. We
/: egpect our citizens to do the same. The
'y masons have st tie example, and We be.
= love the people generally in their efforts
=, ,commemorate in becoming and suitable
6 manner, the approaching anniversary of our
= national independence will not fail to equal
what we yesterday saw.
81. The procession was formed in from, of Red
dicks block and members in full and splcn-
did regaia, and accompanied by the Chica-
: so Brass Band, giving most beautiful music,
proceeded through Main to Columbus, thro
Columbus TO Lafayette sts.,. thence to La
Sale, down La Sale to AiIin. and thence to
, a, the South Side Of the Court House Square,
=. thence TO the Court Room, where Hon b.
= G. Cook delivered feeling, eloquent, and
=. able GRAFTON. At the conclusion Of which
:, tie procession reformed, admitting such
RI Ladies as are masonica.ly connected, and
other guestr, and proceed, under the droc.
81 ton Of the Marshals, to the Dinner Table, in
the following order:
l. Entered Apprentices,
''''2, Fellow Crafts
3. Master Masons,
e.. 4. ROYAL Arch Masong
= 8. Knights Tcmplar,
80 @. Clergy,
~ T. Justices, (of Supreme Court)
-. g.. Judges, (of Circuit and County COURT
80 0. Mayor and Common Council.
- To- Music.
20 ND The whole ceremony was grand and irpo
sing, well calculated to siren then the fra.
t.rnal feeling among the "brethren Of the
mystic tie, and to impress the bcholder with
feelings of respect for that ancient and hon
orable institution. The day was favorable,
ind the gay procession, dccked with the
mystic emboms of the craft and preceded
Ivy fine brass band, was sight not soon to
DC forgotten. But the trne charm lies still
deeper than this. The fact that there exists
among us an order Of men, who have bound
themselves to works of charity and bcneyo
lencs; who stand upon the grand principle
of human equality; who recognize the tie of
uairersai brotherhood, is quite enough to
t add a double interest to the scene.
= But few remarks are due the distinguish.
cd orator Tie Grafton was admirably cal.
cuatrd to a!ay all feelings Of luminosity and
to strengthen those ties Of friendship and
brotherhood which, as was beautifully said,
are the cement Of the order, The cardinal
principles Of purity of life, charity towards
=. all mankind and especially the duty
OF warning in all kindness an errng brother,
were strongly urged. The private duties of
the members were beautifully illustrated by
reference to the insignia of the order though
Of coutse tbs pant was rather unintcgabc
t,.tic Annitiatet still the grand idea Of
incalculating simple lessons of sublime NOR.
81 truth after the manner the hyr, glyh.
zeal representations was sufficiently appa.
rent. To the members of the order ii must
have been impressive, hut TO us with all its
fine poetic imagary, there seemed 10 be an
,uulehnable something beneath the surface,
OF substance, Of which the part we heard was
but a shadow and we can truly say of it as
was said of Iuuius' letters, stat aominis
IN un,JD.'
The dinner was in full keeping with the
rest OF the entertainment, and nothing more
need bc said Of it than was remarked by "a
member OF the fraternity from abroad, that
he would praise il more but found himself
too full for uttganCc. He expressed our
mind cxac,lyi