Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-22
v,.,, a. the Grand LodgeEOf thekUnited
STATES i. o. o. T. 10 the EAern.htage-
s,-a-.,,,.,t,u Of a hickory Arm Chair.

rne,ohs,s NJ the Grand Lodge of the United States
,sseDoblea ar & A. NJ Thursday morning at Odd Eel
lows, Hail for the purpose of accompanying their
Rrethren Of the Order of this city upon an excur-
s;o, N the Hermitage. The scene at the Hall was
an interesting one, between two and three hundred
Of the Order being assembled, with the necessary
vehicles TO convey them TO their destination. Under
the efseen. management of Grand Marshall E. R.
Glsscock, and Messrs. G. W. Cunningham, H. C.
Hensley and w. W. Thurmond, of the Committee of
Arrangements, the company was soon comfortably
bestowed IN the carriages, and precededby Fentons
Band, in open carriage, on the way out. The
trip was pleasant and without accident and before
midday the whole party the grounds. The
premises were examined by the guests with great
interest Most of the interesting relics and memen
tos paintings, &c, which belonged to Gen. Jackson
have been removed, and the house is vacant The
old Office chair Of Geo. Washington, however, was
stil there, and examined with interest as well
as the celebrated carriage made of live oak fl ON
the old ship "Constitution" and the family car
rage Of the General in which be Travelled to and
from Washington during his term of Office Presi-
dent The tomb was also examined with the deep
est interest," and of the most interesting features
was the assemblage around that spot, and the per-
Torrance, of dIrge the guests standing with heads
uncovered.
After full examination of the house and grounds,
dinner was announced This feature of the enter
tanmeut was gotten up under the jurisdiction of TIE
proprietor of the Barnes House. The tables were
beautifully spread and the wines excellent
After DINNER the attention of the members of the
Grand Lodge was called by Chief Marshal Glascock
to the balcony of the house, upon which appeared
the Chief Marshal of the Day. the r. W. Grand
Sire FItzhugh, of Virginia, DR.. John NJ. Lawrence,
present custodian of the Hermitage property, and
G. R. H. K. Walker of Tennessee. The Chief Mar
shall announced that DR.. Lawrence desired to pre-
sent the Grand Lodge of the United States hickO-
~ Arm Chair made of wythes grown upon the Her
mitage Estate, and Grand Representative Walker OF
Tennessee. proceeded formally to make the present
alton in the following remarks:
Most Worthy Grand Sire, and Brethren Of the Grand
Lodge of the United States:
have the pleasure to announce to you, sir that |
deputed by my friend DIR. Lawrence, the present
custodian OF these grounds, to present through you
10 the Grand Lodge of the United States this hand
some specimen Of his mechanical genius, which for |
a Doctor, whose practice is generally supposed to
be rather in the way OF patching up than constructing
consider highly creditable Regarded strictly with
practical eye, simply an Arm Chair, though its
rustic beauty viii be freely acknowledged its ap-
prOpriRteness gift to the distinguished body 1
d
moments reflection will impress you with the fact,
sir that the idea of the donor in offering it for your
acceptance is by no means devoid OF significance.
When you recouect sir. that these hickory wythes,
of which it is ingenously constructed, were gath
cred amid the groves of the Hermitage in his &C
tive lifetime the coveted spot where the Hero, Sol
der and Statesman sought Tepose, alike from the
fatigues and dangers OF the tented held-frOm "the
havoc of war and the battles confusion and from
the no less trying ordeal of civic duty to which the
voice of his grateful countrymen summoned him.
when you remember that they were gathered from
this spot Aalowed by his presence during the clos
ing years of his eventful life, when hls beloved
country ''bIessed with victory and peace no long
er needed his gallant in its defense, and when
his great heart subdued and soOthed by the gentle
influences of beloved family circle, and the conso-
latons of religion, calmly awaited the summons
hence:-when you remember. too. that they come
from the halowed retreat where his ashes repose
beside those of his beloved Rachel-when all these
thoughts are associated with this humble memento,
l am sure you will highly appreciate and warmly
cherish it a souvenir Of your visit TO the honored
grave of Andrew Jackson.
Another idea may be understood as symbolzed
by this gift of our friend As body, sill, the organ
iZation which YOU represent is one of the few that
amid the fierce sectional contests which have so I'M
fortunately distracted our beloved country has pre-
served perfect unity Snd regardless OF the war oil
factions without, pursued the PLAIN pain OF uuty,
dispensug its blessings and its charities alike upon
q united brotherhood-in the fullest sense OF the
idea, knowing no North, no South no East, no west
generation and continue C afford IN the future, as
they have in the past an asylum for the oppressed
OF all nations and the only hope Of the friends OF
civil and religious liberty throughout the world the
lessons of our patriot fathers learned remembered
and practiced in the spirit which actuates your or
ganiZaton must preserve them. The man IN whose
honor of whose memory you are to-day assembled
was representative of that spirit In that immortal
seutiment-'The Federal Union-lt must be pre-
served'-was concentrated and epitomzed that
deep seated devotion to his whole country which so
distinguished his long public career, whetfere ngag
ed in subdung the wilderness and defending ITS Dor
ders from savage iucursions-in pursuing the hos
tile red-skin to a capitulston, IN arranging with
them treaties of peace and amity-whether IN the
Halls of Congress or in the Executive Chair-and
which was finally so elOquenty elaborated IN that
immortal paper, his farewell address
This chair, then, sir, while 1t VIII serve 70 remind
you of your vsitto this hallowed spot will also, by
refreshing your recoleetions OF the services CT
the iustrious dead who sleeps here, OF his
devotion 70 has country, and his tacrlhces IN Its
behalf revive your own patriotism. and stimulate
YOU 20 press in your great and noble work OF
iraternizing the world.
Allow me, then, TO express the hope that You will
accept the gift that 1t be adopted as the ofhclal
chair of yourself and your successors forever and
that in all future time, as now Its occupant shall be
recognized as the head of a Brotherhood knowing
no sectional divisions and recognizing no geographi-
cal lines but continuing to show the world an eX-
ample of the incalculable good which may be &C
complshed by army of Odd Fellows, warning
upon vice in all its forms, and marching on, con
ouering and to conquer under the glorious banner Of
FRIENDsHIP IOVE AM IRuTH,
go which the Most Worthy Grand Sire, E. II. Fitz
hugh, responded as follows;
Cram REF. WALKER: When under the escort of
our brethren from Nashville, Wa had the privilege
of visiting the tomb of the hero Of the Hermit
tsge. we felt that we all were highly honored but
his pleasing incident OF the day-wholly unexpect
ed and unlocked forhas greatly added TO the graft
hcation which the visit mas afforded.
On behalf of the G. l.. u. S. behalf of repre-
sontatives from every section OF that Union which |
the great man whose memory we have met to honor |
TODAY loved so well and served so faithfully, &C
cept the beautiful mementO which has been 20 Kind
" rendered 10 US.
We shall ever retain It IS one of the most cherish
ed poesessiuns of our order-as the honored memo |
Sal of great and good man. who by conduct IN the
field and wisdom in the Cabinet, has contributed so
much TO the substantial glory OF our country
man who was so great and so h9horeu, NM w neJDs
no monument to perpetrate his memory one VINO
lives enshrned in the hearts OF his couhuymeh'
We feel proud that this opportunity has oeeh gwen
visit the tomb of the Hero tie Fatrlot anu se
Statesman, and gratefully accept this beautiful me
Loud calls were then made for DIR. Lawrence, who
responded as follows;
Gentlemen-You have called upon me for a sent-
ment / am no speaker, but highly appreciate the
honor. l am informed that there are representa-
tves Of your Order here from every State and Ter
10 the home and sepulchre of the illustriOus hero
Think the motto of Old Hickory the most appro-
nriate sentiment that can offer. l therefore give
you.
The ISderal Unoa--lt must be preserved"
The sentiment warmly received, and Chief
Marshal Glascock proposed three cheers for Che
Trniou. which was responded to with great Esarti-
SNA'''' = "a .. "'''' =
ness
Rep John W. DwineIie Of Northern New York,
vras then called upon and he responded as follows;
Rr,lkrea This day and its incidents viii always
no remembered and noted as constituting one of the
49, Ieasant events of my life to be marked
,lfb white stone in its calendar. We have visited
he dwelling and surrounded the tomb OF one OF the
80 men of our common country; one whom even
-; enemies praised. in saying, that by the mere
Erce of his will he impressed his opinions upon the
mind Of n whole nation. Here he lived; he reposed
:. these shades and traversed these fields; here he
ieens in death confess that in walking an his gOf
stems and breathing tie al he treat4et n ms &C
-,'atoraed scenes i have received hew impressions
! IL, Of rs etc