The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-22
MEETING OF THE @. g. cHAPrRR
OF THE UNITED STATES, AT 1T.
LOUIs.
eisl Correspondence of the N. o. Crsscsnt.l

the chspter.room Of the new Masonic hall. In
the absence of his superior officers, Comp. Jno.
Y. A. Fellows, OF Louisiana, most excellent
general grand scribe, presided, and Immediately
called on the labors until O'Clock In the evening
| on account Of the Templar celebration and pro-
cession then IN progress. After the adjournment
OF the Grand Encampment, the labors Of the Gen.
ersl Grand Chapter were resumed q report
from the committee on credentials was re-
| eeived and adopted, and M. E. General
/ Grand High Priest, John L. Lewis, CT
New fork, proceeded to deliver an address,
an account Of his dongs for the past three years,
touching ably upon the various questions which
have arisen among the Companions, and which
are now to be finally decided. He dwelt with much
pathos upon the unexsmpled good fortune of the
order, ind OF its rapid and vigorous growth, com.
pairing the incidents Of its foundation In this coun-
| Try. but seventy years ago. under the lustrous
Dewitt Clinton. on the banks Of the Hudson, 10 its
the banks OF the Mississippi, at place then hardly
| known IS even military post. Upon his con-
| clnsioD, his address was appropriately referred
and the General Grand Chapter was called of
! until ii O'Clock this morning.
Upon reaching our quarters after our first arri-
val here, we found awaiting us beautiful speci
men OF the art preservative,n requesting our
presence at banquet given by the Grand Chap
Ter OF Missouri to her visiting Companions, to take
place on the evening of the opening Of the Gene.
raj Grand Chapter. Hence, after the closing Of
the latter body, we proceeded back TO the grand
concert room of the hall where as Templars we
first assembled yesterday morning. But great was
the metamorphosis: the vast floor had been cleared
of its many seats, and was now occupied by three
parallel tables running its entire length, covered
with every imaginable luxury, from the luscious
oyster brought from the far Northeast to the JUICY
orange and banana of the South. Il was also most
plentifully adorned with beautiful efforts OF the
confechoner's art At the head Of the center
table stood large cake, with three figures of
about eighteen by twenty inches in height, repre-.
senting the high priest, king and scribe; beyond
this, beautiful representation of the tabernacle
about four feet high, further down represents
ton OF the ark of the covenant and its attendant
cherubim, and these cakes formed into mitres,
turbsns. etc., etc. On the right hand table sp-
pesred wonderfully executed representation Of
the three "great lights in cake and sugar and
on the left hand table an illuminated model of
King Solomon's temple; both tables being plenti
fully sprinkled with other tasteful designs of q
Masonic character.
Grace was said by the Rev. Mr.. Evans, Of Penn.
sylvenia and the Companions, to the number Of at
least 200, proceeded to discuss one of the most
bouLtiful bills Of fare have ever seen, prepared
BY Mr.. Il. Pezolt; whilst fine string band led by
Waldauer Of ancient New Orleans fame, dis
cursed some Of the choicest operate morceaux.
When the chatter Of knife and fork had somewhat
subsided, Companion Martin Collins, grand high
priest Of Missouri, (who was presiding,) arose,
and IN few eloquent and most appropriate
words extended the most cordial welcome TO his
guests, particularly to the representatives of the
two General Grand Bodies. Comp. John L. Lewis,
Of New York, general grand high priest sitting on
the right Of Comp. Collins, responded for the Gen.
eral Grand Chapter, but l was unable to catch his
remarks on account of the noise !; and in the
absence Of his two superior officers, Sir Jno. Q. A.
Fellows, OF Louisiana, grand generalissimo of the
the Or. Encampment Of the United States (sitting
on the left Of Comp. Collins,) responded for that
body in one Of the hsppiest and briefest speeches
Of his life. and which, feel, ought to give you
in full. He said:
Mos; Excellent Companions Of Missouri ST. Louis:
lyon can undoubtedly recall to your minds many
occasions when the superior officers commanding
an army in the field have fallen or have run
away, and simple lieutenant has been placed
seeidently in command In that position / stand
before you TO represent the Grand Encampment
Of the United States, and as q true knight must
say this on behalf of the Grand Encampmeut that
its members know how to surrender to q superior
force, and we surrender 70 the Knights and Coz
quered US, but We claim all the honors OF war yet
(Chsers.) We bumby acknowledge your
superiority In anything and everything that can
captivate and control your fellow-men. We are
lieutenant, accidently in command, claim of
you, in surrenderiDg, the honors of war, and will
pledge the Grand Chapter Of Missouri"
The speech was received with three times three
sHs to the Chief and New York shook su hands
across the table with Louisiana, to the great
amusement Of all present Comp. Albert Pike,
past grand high priest Of Arkansas, followed in a
word Companion" and on the Masonic good
feeling exhibited during our late difficulties which
was well received. Comp. Worrell. grand high
priest Of Kentucky, said much more in the same
strain very eloquently, and was frequently ap-
plauded. BE related several incidents of Masonic
charity which had come under his observation
and concluded by stating that companion of his
jurisdiction, residing in Louisville, had purchased
from returned federal soldiers, in whose posses
sion he bad found them, most beautiful set of
Masonic lodge jewels, of pure silver, which be re-
quested Comp. Worrell to hand to Bro. Albert q.
Mackey, OF South Carolina, with q request that be
would ascertain to what lodge they belonged aud
make restitution Of them, which he, Comp. Wor. |
rel, accordingly now did. Such an incident was |
veil calculated to draw forth the plaudits of such
an audience, and 1t was some moments before |
Bro. Mackey could be heard In reply. He did full
justice, however, both to his subject and his own
Masonic reputation. Comp. Geo. Frank Gowley,
OF Missouri, then gave toast, THE unsulIied |
purity Of Free Masonry" and called upon Comp. |
to respond, and which that companion did in q |
most able manner. Then in rapid succession |
some Of the most brilliant members of the order |
arose and gave expression TO their feelings of de-
John W. Simons, of New York; BUST, of South |
Carolina; by. Or. High Priest Anderson, of Mis-. |
souri,; Ira W. Buck, of Illinois, deputy grand high |
priest Of the General Grand Chepter; and, To- |
recorder Of both the General Grand Bodies pro- |
posed the memory Of the late Anthony O'SuIlivan,
long grand secretary of Missouri, who had been |
so instrumental in assembling US in this city |
which was received with appropriate observance.
Your correspondent wearied with pleasure, |
then retired, leaving the remaining companions at |
the height Of their enjoyment. During the evening
was seated at the side of Comp. E. A. Gubert, |
past grand master Of Iowa, who has some reputa- |
ton at New Orleans at least among the fraternity
and whose acquaintance / was most happy to /
make. He comes here to receive the SD degree
Of the Scotch Rite from the Southern Supreme |
Council of Albert Pike. Comp. Guilbert is the
editor of the Evergreen, Masonic monthly pub
shed at Dubuque, and he and his paper, j under.
stand, were duly honored before a final adjourn
nent took place.
Among the ligh dignitariss Of the order here
assembled, are representatives from almost every |
state, of what has been facetoEsy termed the
reportorisl corps" Of Masonry, that il chair
men of committees on foreign correspondence,
hose subtle critics, who occupying very hum
Die position, often WELD influence behind
be throne, greater than the throne itselfn
proposition has been made by Sir Thomas j. Cor
ION, past grand commander of New Jersey that
J convention Of reporters " be held Immediately
fter the close Of the General Grand Bodies. to
consider such topics Of interest as may be sub
ntted to them; or, In the event of their being
zone. TO AZ least reeolva into q p,nt,ai |