Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-25

OF. JOHN DAf-MASONlC OELEbhA-
TON. Yesterday being St Johns day,
was duly celebrated by the Masons of
Memphis by services at the Court street
Tabernacle. The anniversary falling on
Sunday interfered with the festivities in
cident to the occasion, which were post
poned until to-day, and as we write,
many of the brethren and their friends
are enjoying themselves amid the shady
forest trees OF Arkansas, in pleasures in
cidental to grand picnic; while many
others can be seen passing along our
streets with the determination to go and
do likewise Yesterday the various
lodges assembled in regalia at their
lodge-rooms, and proceeded quietly to
the Tabernacle to take part in honoring
the day of their patron saint-as St John
is generally called There was not
large attendance outside of the. Masons
the insufferable heat of the day deter
ring many who lived at distance from
being present = but many ladies en-
livened the scene by their presence. On
the platform were the chief officers of
the Lodges, Chapters and Communicates
of our city, among whom we noticed;
III. Lemon, Eminent Commander of Cy-
rene Commandery of Knights Templars;
j J. Worsham, Past Grand King of the
State; A. J. Wheeler, Grand High Priest
of Penn Chapter; John Gent, t. l. M
of Eureka Council; Charles j. Phillips,
W. M. South Memphis Lodge; FL. j.
Lynn, W, M Hamilton Lodge; R. W.
Mitchell, w. NJ. Leila Scott Lodge, and
d. C. Trader, W. M. Angerona Lodge,
The exercises were opened by Bro H. ].
Lynn, W. NJ, reading selections from the
Scriptures, after which Masonic ode
was sung by several Of the members of
the Philharmonic Society. Bro. J. j.
Worsham P. G. K, then read the RES
direction prayer" from the ritual, after
which the Philharmonics sung another
ode, when Bro, A. J. Wheeler, G. H. p,
arose and introduced to the audience the
Rev. S. H. Ford, LII. d., member of
the ancient order of Knights Templars,
who had been elected to deliver an ad-
dress appropriate to the day. The ora
tor spoke Of the early days Of Masonry,
and how we could trace it from genera
ton to generation back to the time of
Solomon, and beyond that as far as
history was recorded He spoke in glow
ing terms of the beauties Of Masonry
the benefits derived fromit; the bless
ings conferred upon civilization through
its members, who were to be found in
every land and every cline, among the
great and good men of the earth. In
speaking of the strong ties which bound
members of the craft to each other, he
illustrated his remarks by giving several
instances where lives of Federal soldiers
had been saved by Southern Masons
during the late war, and closed by giving
some good advice to Masons in symbol
etc language-the beauties of which, we
were told, could only be appreciated by
members of the mystic tie. The address
occupied fifty-fve minutes in delivery
and the earnest enunciation, choice Ian
guage, clear voice and appropriate ges
lures of the orator were well appreciated
by the audience, as eyinced by their
marked attention to his remarks. After
the singing of another ode in charming |
style, by the Philharmonic, the outsiders
left for no me, and the Masons to attend
the funeral of deceased BROTHER
stranger. ifi 20