Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-10-24
Interesting Masonic Ceremony.
OF SIX CHILDREN, By ALBERT
E PIKE, OF ARKANSAS.

1 4 y. II
One of the most interesting, and,
at the same time, novel ceremonies,
| connected with Free Masonry, was
performed in Masonic Hall, Thir-
teenth street, near Fourth avenue, on
| Saturday evening. The celebrant
| was General Albert Pike, of Arkan-
sas, Grand Master of the Scottish
rite. General J. EEL. Hobart Ward
acted as Senior Warden. It con-
sisted Of the baptism Of six children,
ranging from six months to eight
years of age, according to the Ma
sonic ritual. This being the first
time the ceremony was performed at
the North, a large numberof Masons,
with their wives, daughters, sons,
etc, were present, SO that the lodge
room was crowded. The ceremony
took place in a Lodge of Perfection,
which was opened publicly. In the
east, on platform, were placed a
font filed with oil, vessel Of conse-
Grated oil, and plate Of salt. All
being ready, two lines were formed,
consisting of guard with drawn
swords, facing inward, and the off
GERS and members of the Grand
Lodge of Perfection entered in pro-
cession to the music of grand
march by the organ. Fey
After several alarms the parents
and children entered with the god
fathers and godmothers, the latter
dressed in white; the children who
were unable to walk were carried on
cushion covered with blue silk, by
the master of ceremonies; after him
came a brother carrying the lighted
candles, black, white and rose color
in the form Of a triangle, while the
choir sang the chant, "Out of the
mouths of babes and Stockings, Thou
hast perfected praise" Then came
the other children, two by two, then
the fathers and mothers. The pro-
cession went three times round the
lodge room, the organ playing and
the chant still proceeding, while the
Master and Wardens repeated certain
sentences, the mystic sentence COM
mencing "Suffer little children to
come unto me" etc. After questions
asked of the fathers and answered
by them, the children were brought
to the front and an impressive prayer
offered up by Bro Wilson Small, as
Grand Chaplain. This was followed
by hymn, and the Master informed
the godfathers and godmothers of
their duty, while the Orator in the
| North, the Senior and Junior War
| dens, admonished them and their
parents to be true to themselves, to
others, to their country and to God.
Another prayer was then offered, and
the children were brought to the
altar. Their names were:
Harrison Small McClenachan,
Harry Sheridan Lee, George Small
Anderson, Zoe Virginia Gibson,
Anna Theresa Gibson and Charlotte
May. The baptism was performed
as follows . placing the hand Of the
child in the font filled with perfumed
water, the Master said, Harrison
Small McClenachan manning each) /
wash thee with the pure water. May
God give thee and maintain thee in
that innocence and purity Of heart Of
which this cleansing is symbol"
He next marked the Delta with the
consecrated oil on the forehead Of
each child, being the symbol of the
wisdom, might and love of God, and
blessed them according to the ritual
After hymn was sung, all the
brethren knelt and made solemn
VOW, which they confirmed by eat
ing salt, to protect the children
through life.
A locket was then given to each
girl and ring to each boy, with the
assurance that if they were in dis
tress Or danger they had only to
send the locket or ring, and they
would be assisted. A jewel was also
given (the delta), with Masonic EN-
blems, to each child, who was alsc
invested with an apron, and the
Senior and Junior Wardens pro
claimed the baptism along their col
umns, after which all clapped three
times, and striking the palm of thu
hand against the left shoulder, crieo
huzza three times. The Orator mex
delivered a discourse, and Wilson
Small delivered an address on behal
of the godfathers. Two young ladies
were then selected to make collec
ton. It was announced that thu
money so obtained would be givel
to some needy brother, whose nam,