Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-03-02
The Masonic Baptism.


Masonic Baptism, performed last night upon .
number Of chlIdern at Odd Fellows Hail. by
LIE Fever Maconnique No. Al, +. and a. NJ.
on the occasion Of the twentieth anniversary o
that Lodge, was witnessed by one OF the mos
dense assembages Of people that ever crowded
into that hall. The Masonic fraternity were
present n full force, clad in full regalin, nccor
ding to their different divisions the ladies
were presen. in overwhelming numbers; and
with the invited citizens who were not Masons
densly packed every available part OF the hall
and the gallery.
The hall was arranged after the fashion OF a
lodge.room there being large canopy at the
head of the hall, for the Worshpful Master ;
canopies at the SIDES, for the other officers; a
band of music and chorus Of singers on stage
at the foot Of the hall tables with candeabras,
and the emblems of the order, disposed as in
lodgc.rooms and in front of the stage, at the
head large bap;ismul altar, with steps as
cending on all sides, and enclosed by railing.
On the altar was a stand bearing an open BIZ
bic, and at its sides large urn and large
censer, with which TO administer babtism by
water nud fire. The effect Of the whole was
verv imposing.
The seating of the multitude and general
management of the occasion was done by n
number Of Masons, under the dresction of the
Grand Marshal, Alexander Boulet. The diff
ferent lodges entered one at time, music be-
ing given in the intervals, and ranged them
selves around the altar and on the stage to the
right and left of the Worshipful Masters
throne. When all was arranged preparatory
TO the remony the aspect of the hall was
perfectly gorgeous.
The Worshipfu Master OF Foyer Macon
nique, Joseph San,ini, addressed the assembly
O begin with, in French and English, explain
ing the nature of objects of Masonry, and the
nature of the ceremony about to be performed.
After that, some sixteen boys, the eldest
about twelve years old, and the youngest an
infant, all clad in white and wearing red scaris,
were escorted upon the altar, attended by their
parents and godfathers and godmothers, who
took seats around, Inside the railing. An in.
vocation chorus, from Mozars "Mysteries OF
isis" was sung by the choir. The Rev. G. 5.
Hedges. Grand Chap plain of the M. w. Grand
Lodge, offered up prayer, the multitude stand.
ing. A prayer was next sung by the choir
the poetry composed for the occasion by Luton
p. Canonge, and set to an air of Rossini.-
luton is title given to child or proteee oi
the Masonic Orderl After that came the bap.
tism.
The ceremony was performed by the Wor.
shlptul Master. The boys were led up, and
their left hands dipped in the water OF the urn
feeling explanatory address being made to
them at the time. The censer of fame was
then swung over them, and having received
purilica ton by water and by fire, the soemn
part of the ceremony was ended. The W. M
next hung on the neck of each child blue
ribbon and medal, kissing them, and making
remarks adapted, to their comprehension. We
regret the a,eness of the hour should forbid
our giving more particular report of thus i'm
pressive spectacle, which was witnessed with
so much interest and manifest feeling by the
thousands Of people present.
The remainder Of the ceremony consisted OF
presentation of rings to the mothers OF the
children, and white gloves to their godmoIhers;
a recitation of poetry in French and English,
by Luton Ed. Fehrenbach; an address BY the
w. M. tosihr godfaihers; onirmatlon OF the
Lntons; and music by the orchestra and choir.
After that, the godmothers>of the children and
the masters of the ceremony raised collection
for the benefit of the Masonic widows and or
phans; and the last thing in the programme
was the ora,ion of the day, delivered by Mr..
J. NJ. Hernandez.
1t was late when all was finished : but the
crowds remained to the end interested and
pleased with every part of the imposing and
unusual ceremony-N, o. Crescent.