The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-02
MASONIC CELEBRATION.

MASONIC CELEBRATION.
AS stated by us last week, st. Johns day
was duly celebrated by the Masonic Fraterni-
ty of Jackson Lodge,nnd rs we we're favored
with an Invitation 10 participate in The fes-
tivties of the occasion, We hope that the
"brethren' will not take it amiss if we speak
of the events of the day as they occurred to
us. The number of persons both male and
female in attendance, evinccd the great in.
terest that was felt by the surrounding COM
mu.ity, in the various items that constitu-
ted tile programme Of The 'ptotecdihgs:-as-; -; ~ !
Mnny ny'wete doubtless anxious to hear the
speaker Of the day, our fellow townsman,
JOHN ID. WYLIE, whose oratorica reputation
was far above ordinary. 1t was certainly
high mark of esteem bestowed upon him by
the fraternity, many of whose heads arc
scared with gray, in assigning to Jim, appa-
ren,ly the youngest Mason, the tass; Of ex-
pounding and defending the tencts Of their
ancient order. We, in common we presume
with Il great portiph'o of the audience, had
never heard him, and hteW of the reputa
tion just alluded to, it IS but natural to sup
pose that expectation and Curiosity was rails
cd to Il considerable height -
We would not establish for our journal
the character Of iauding every public effort
that comes Under oir notice, tnlcss the same
should bc worthy or COMMUNICATION, and in
all cases where we cannot conscientidisH
praise, we viii either speak Of the subject
as we r6ncGite Its merits deserve or pass il
by in silence. In this instance, if We are to
Judge from the profound attention that was
paid by tile audience for about one hour and
a half, in the midst Of an excessively warm
and densely crowded room, %c viii perhaps
| speak the sentiments Of the whole mass
When We say that on expectations sere more
than realized. The manner of the speaker
wa" unassuming, and at the same time suf-
tciently selfposscsstd; the effort was en-
tirely free from that atfcctaiTon of voice aid
gesture, and that ostcntat;ous display OF
supcrauous' "bombast, 'petarIarly charac- :
teristic OF many young orators. His Ian
guagc was plain and impressive, his voice
clear and distinct, and his points and en-
phases wcll-timed and appropriate. We
have never heard n more eloquent appeal in
behalf, or in defence of any cause; il was
made with great feeling and earncstncss and
more than once, the inward emotions OF
speaker were plainly shown in tlie failing
voice and the moistcned eye. This we
know many would affect to despise-thosc
who pretend TO admire linty stoicism that
no appeal can reach. We are not of that
class, and the instance cited, eflGrds us the
gratifying proof, that the speaker has n
heart that can feel, rs well as tongue that
portrays. We regret that our space will
not permit us to notice any points of the
discourse. After the Grafton was ended, all
were invited to partake of Il very sumptuous
Pic Me, TO which we'apptehehd the numcr-
Gus guests did full justice. "'
Jackson Lodge we believe has been es-
tablished for eight or ten years-pcrhaps
longer. Other societies have sprung up in
Lancaster, and passed away Since then but
still The namtsake of AOFd Hickory" IS left,
and appears to be in n fourishng condition
1t is hard for the "unin,iated" to say whcth-
er it is good or bad society, whether they
deal in pleasant mysteries or rcvel in the in
voea'ions of horriging hob-goblins; but
one thing we do Know, and that is, that
members Of the order will ride from ten to
fifteen miles, rather than miss one Of their
ordinary meetings, and the presumption is,
either there must be something pleasant
connected Herewith, or that men who are
otherwise good and respectable abiding
citizens, e'ince very strange perversity
and infatnation, in 50 zcalously supporting
an institution established for any other than
u good purpose.