New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-11
MASONIC ANNIVERSARY.

Neptune Lodge. No. 81. f. & A. NJ, celebrated
their anniversary last Monday evening, at Botanic
Han, East Broadway. Although the night was stormy
the lecture.room was filed with fine audience, the
larger proportion Of whom were ladies. =
After an appropriate Introductory ode which was
sung in fine ttyle by choir of some twenty voices.
the W. n. made few remarks, which were followed
Lv addresses by w. Brother GURSEY, Master Of Com
tiu,ital ICdge md X. ". Brother ROBERT Ma
COY. Deputy Grand Master Of the State of New
York. Mr.. GURYLYs remarks related chiefly to the
symbolic teachings of Masonry, urging upon the craft
To- enbody its noble theories i'll the practice oi daliy
life. Mr.. MACOY paid high compliment 10 the Oiicers
and II embers Of Neptune Lodge for the energy by
which they had brought their Lodge to lis n0urohng
condition, and spoke at some length OF the various
reasons that had always caused Masonry 10 i0uIlSh
concluding his remarks by all eloquent tribute to
woman as the Masou's mother, sister and wife. Alter
further singing, STEWART L. WoopYoRD, esq, de-
lVeTed the concluding address. Ills remarks were
finely conceived and iOrclbly delivered. AneT re-
f,lIiig 10 the noble theologc teaching Of Masonry
the unity and fGtherhood Of God he spoke OF itS
Ilelal and catholic spirit uniting in common bond
men of all seCts and ereedS. lie then proceeded to
speak Of Masonry as always teaching the grand idea
Of our human brotherhood and as thus having been
the guardian of civil liberty aid ever dnfusng
s9iIit Of liberation and true charity lie claimed tor
Free Masonry that thus il had tostered ana PTo,ec'ea
freedom; that in part from the teacnng- snd prac
tice of Masonry men have come TO recognize the rights
If our humanity; that in part FROM the lodge-IOom
have come those mighty impulses that have quick
ened The age to life, and burst into so rich frui-
ton of justice to the downtiOdden and freedom to
man; that the roots Of liberty tree not only
round the village church, the Bible and the school
house, hut also deep down and close clinging round
the mystic altar Of Masonry.
In speaking Of the charity that Masonry had taught,
he spoke somewhat az follows:
"ALd thus Masonry has led in this great work OF
charity and reform comforting the race its richest
blessings and achieving for il it, nobest honors.
Glorious indeed the tiiumPhs of our modern
thought and energy and skill that have tanned the
lightning and brGgcd the food and girdled the earth
all round with civilization Of iron and steam; but
oh the Growing glory of age is its active, earn
est chanty-a charity which when the battle thunders
brooded DER the far Criean land went forth in the
person of d Florence Nightingale, walked the red
feds of Inkermaun and stood by the warehouses Of
Scutari which, when the bold-hearted mariner Of
England was lost in the Arctic Seas, sent forth the
Advance and the Rescue, which walked into the sol
enn -tluess of that Northern night and hung the gar
land Of its triumph on the iceberg's diamond brow
Elisha Kane thy memory aud noble charity shall bind
the land Of Sir Johx Franklin in closer peace 20 thine
more firmly than hundred parchment treaties or 4
thousand leagues of Geographic wire.
Mr.. WoodfOrds remarks were delivered with q fsre
eaInestness and cloquence and AZ their close were
loudly applauded. The audience then adjourned 70
another room where bountiiui collation. spread,
and pleasant hour passed Altogether !: was q
cheerful reunion and which those present - not
forget.