Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-08

medium of action, and cannot be eyaded. There
must he Southern party in self-defence, simply
because we arc fighting for our homes. II must
he Il resistance party, because we are openly at
tackled. C.sG. b.
TIE MASONIC cELEBRATION.
We regret that both the editors were prevented
from attending the Masonic Festival, in ourtoxn,
on the 9th ult. The subjoined account of the
ceremonies, with the admirabledddress BY DR..
Bratton, is taken from the .ckronieie:-
Saturday Inst being the Anniversary sof St.
John the Evangelist, it was celebrated In. this
place by the Ancient Fraternity, pndcr the aaspi-
ces of the Royal Arch Chapter, Chapter, and ceun-
Gil. In the morning, ut 10 o'clock, q procession
was formed, and marched to the Episcopal Church,
preceded by the Black Band. After the seryiccs
of the day according to the usage.of that Church,
most eloquent and interesting Discourse Was
delivered by the Roy. ]. D. Gibson, Past and
Present High Priest. His concluding address to
the Order, was really sublime. AS it is to bepub-
lished in our paper next week, wewil not review
it here. 80 50 : -Zgg !. -;
In the evening. the Installation Of the officers
Of Phiianthropic Lodge, No. 78, took place at the
Methodist Church, before very large audience.
mittec appointed foT that purpose, in most grace
full AMI feeling manner presented to the Rev. Mr..
Gibson, q beautiful Silver Goblet, with suitable
Inscriptions and devices. The matter lost no in
tcrest from the manner nf IT'S deiiysry-and the
many friends OF the Doctor who doubted his for
ensc ability, gave ample evidences of theif salts
faction. and his success. eek
DR.. Bratton, being calle'l up by Mr. 81 Kuy-
kendall, rose and said -. ~ a
THR. ILL., Companion Gibson: - !, I. 80 - "a
Being one of committee appointed, at q pri-
vatc meeting of tho members of the Chapter and
Council, to select, prepare and present to you
some testimonial az a token Of their appreciation
Of yonr services for the past, year, aud Of their
regard and esteem for you as a man, a mason,
and minister of the Gospel and being honorcd
by that committee with. the special duty Of max
ing that presentation, I confess approach the
discharge ofthatduty with some misgiSings. which
do not arise from desire onymy part Withhold
from you your just need Of praise, nor from any
want Of sincere motives, pnrc feelings or broiher-
ly love,-but from want of Llngunge, ard my
own incapacity to express those rnotyes and feel
ngs in pure and proper spiriE Before, how
ever, proceeding to that part Of my duty, allow
me, briefly, to refer to the history Of the circum
stances which gave rise to this demonstration on
the part of the companions nf the Chapter and
Council. "In ammo invrntions' 1886, when; this
Chapter and Council were first organized, il was
well known to the companions Of the Chapter and
Council, that no one of them was fully prepared
and qualified to undertake the discharge of the
duties Of the first Office in these twp orders-no
one was willing to assume the position, to take
upon himself the care and responsibility incntn
bent upon the Office of most exalted High Priest
and Thrice Iustrious,
Thenit was, that YOU came among usan entire
stranger, unrecommended save by your qualities
Of head and heart, your love for, and devotion to
the principles Of the Masonic Order, and your pro-
fesson as a Christian man, clothed with authori-
ty tn 60 into all the world, to preach peace on
earth, and good will toall mankind. Then twas,
that actuatcd by the purest motives, stimulated
by an ardent desire to dsvelop-to teach and to
promugate the great truths embraced in the.prin-
ciples of the Masonic 0rder, you nobly, nanfully,
generously yielded to the urgent requestof the
companions Of the Chapter aurl Council to serve
them for one year as theirprine officer.
That year has come,--has gone, Is shut ont by
the veil of time aud numbered among the things
that were. Aud how have your services been rem
rendered? Have they been characterized by an
empty ostentation; by selfish pride or ambition,
or by al iron unyelding tyranny during ourScon-
vocations, deliberations and masonic labors Have
they been characterised byn disposition on your
part to subserv- the interest of some of thec COM
panions, and to contrive the injury of others p
No! your administration throughout its whole
term has been marked by an easy dignity, with
out pomp or display; by mildness tempered with
frnness to approve the right and condemn the
wrong, and by OH impartiality in justly awarding
to each member according to his dues.
AS the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons labor
ed to erect material edifce, so have you as 8
Speculative Mason labored among US to erect su-
perstructure of virtue and morality, upon the
and solid foundation of Masonic principles. Asa
Mason imbued with sense of the three great car
dinal virtues, symbolically represented by the
with view to find access to Him who is the object
of Faith and Hope and the fountain of all Charity,
you have presented to the companions an example
worthy Of their closest imitation.
Cultivating among the companions both by pre-
perance fortitude, prudence aud justice, you have
made impressions upon their minds, which, like
good seed sown upon good soil, will in sitter time
bring forth full harvest of good fruit, and will
rebound not only to the honor of the instructor,
but to the best interests of the masonic order and
to the good Of mankind.
and universal beneroence, e,-exhorting
them to a unity Of purpose and feeling in accom-
piishing the great objects of Masony-manifest-
ing much fervency zeal and candor in your instruc-
ton and Improvement of the companions, impress
sing their minds with the Importance OF pure
and uudeiled conscience and OF the light Of truth
and knowledge to guide and conduct them in their
thoughts and actions, conducting them as it were
step by step through the different wells of life,
syrnbolicaliy represented in the Lodge, you have
at last brought them 10 the foot Of the Throne and
directed their unceasing attention to the Supreme
Architect of the universe, who is the Priest of
Priests, King of Kings and Scribe of Scribes.
You have labored to correct their vices,-to puri-
fly their morals. and to promote their spiritual Ss
wei! rs temporal welfare, you have exhorted them
to tit and prepare themselves for initiation into
that Grand Lodge on High, whose Grand High
Priest is the Lord, AMI whose officers are the an
gels who sit around his Throne, to minister to his
will Such then is the evidence, is the his
tory of your invaluable services, and your mason
c labors among us during the past year, and it is
in consideration Of these services, that now ap-
pear before you as the organ of the Chapter and
Council to present to you this Cup as an humble
though sincere token of their warmest gratitude,
and their highest appreciation Of your services
aud your real merit.
The words '.Ish Sodi' engraved upon its sur
face so we'll known to all the companions of the
Chapter and Council, are fully expressive Of that
high degree Of security and confidence which they
have so willingly reposed in you, feeling assured
exercised solely for the wholesome and profitable
Of the companions, and will reflect tho