The New York herald., 1868-06-25
MASONIC CELEBRATIONS.

SPRINGFIELD, June "a, 1858.
Thas provincial city Of Springheld-one Of the mos
charming In the valley OF the Connecticut, well a
one OF the most enterprising in the countryhas to
Gay been scene of rare splend0r and interest Tit
occasion has been the celebration on magnifcen
scale OF the anniversary OF st. Johns Day-a daJ
ever memorable In the history Of Masonry and one
honored by the order throughout the world. or ise
the day is inspiring for il is the type and symbol ant
spirit OF principles which time only strengthens
and beauties, and the soul and temple OF an insttu
t0n which has spread the utmost limits OF civ
ilizatiOn gathering within its ample and friendly
folds thousands and thousands of every chime and
ministerng by its sublime spirit to all nations and
tongues. A year ago to-day, 1t will be remembered
the fraternity OF Boston furnished for the members Of
the order one of the most gay and festive demonstra
tions which it ever the privilege Of the Masons
Of the United States to participate in, and among
those who shared in the enjoyments OF the occasion
were the President Of the United States and various
other personages high in civil and SOCIAL
standing. 1t was probably the eminent and
satisfactory success OF the efforts Of the Boston
Masons to make the day memorable that stimulated
their brethren to arrange generously for the OBJ
seryance Of the day in Springfield. To say that the
brilliant anticipations INDUCED in have been fully
idea OF the pomp, splendOr and pleasure OF the
occasion.
The day, meteorologically considered, was one Of
the most lovely OF the summer seaSOncear, cOOi ana
balmy-and every element OF nature seemed 10
smile appr0vingly upon the grand spectacle; "a
pageant which, for splend0r and beauty, may be
safely written as unrvaled. The OCCASION as may be
expected, brought together vast cOncOurse OF peo-
pie, multitude at least doubling those vast gather
ings which accustomed to drift into this metro
polls OF the Connecticut valley the occurrence OF
the national and other holidays The trains from
the North. from the South, from the East and rom
the West all came In heavily loaded with humans
with and without Masonic proclivties ana Dy nigh
noon the ordinary population Of the city was more
than quadrupled. Main street. broad and lengthy
humanity and femininity, and all the streets
and avenues approaching 1t were Were all % the gay gay
come to witness the novel and imposing
spectacle. LocomOtion was effected with a
difficulty which it would be alike as impossible and
narrowing to describe was unpleasant to endure.
The town, Of course, presented the appearance OF
more than ordinary holiday. Besides the beauties
which nature afforded, the hand of art had every
where left evidence of rare taste and skill There
were flags, bunting, streamers, notices and designs
OF ubilant character to be seen everywhere, and
the air was all the day vocal with the strains of
some OF the best bands in the country.
The regular features of the celebration were a
grand procession, an grafton, review, banquet,
and promenade concert and ball in the
evening. The President Of the day was Mr..
William 5. shurtled, Of this city, and among
names in the list OF live presidents Ex-Governor
Seymour, Of Connecticut; b. b. French, of wash
ington; James 7. Brady, of New York. and General
rection Of Chief Marshal Samuel b. SpOoner, was
formed promptly at ten O'Clock, the lodges being
nrsa IN order the ne Chapters % second the Encamp;
pageant was led Off by DOdwOrth's band, Of New
York, and behind them at intervals in the line were
GimOre's Of Boston, and some thirty-fve other
bands. The general escort consisted of the Spring
field Encampment OF Knights Templars and the
washington Commandery OF Knights Templars
lodges the first being under the marshalshp of
General Horace 2: Lee, OF Springfield, and consist.
ing Sf the Republican Of Greenfield Jerusalem Of
OF ChicOpee, and the Mount Tom, OF Holyoke. The
Second division, under escort Of the Worcester
Lodge, Of Palmer; the Mount Zion, OF Barre; the
Pacific, Of Amherst; the Inaboag, OF Warren; the
Daysprng. Of Monsoon; the Eden, OF Ware, and the
of the De Molay Encampment Of Boston. consisted
OF the Mystic Lodge, OF Pittsfeld; Mount Moriah
Lodge, Of Westfield and the Huntington Lodge, Of
Huntington. The Fourth division, under escort Of
the Hampden and Roswell Lee Lodges consisted OF
the Hiram Lodge, of New Haven; st. Johns, of Hart
ter Of New Haven The nth division, under escort Of
che Holy Sepuchre Encampment OF Pawtucket, r.
1, comprised the Morning Star Chapter, OF Spring
was composed of encampments exclusively, COM
Drsing the ST. Johns, OF Providence; the Jerusalem,
ey Of or te a
Y. Y; the New Haven, Of New Haven; the Hamilton,
n Bridgeport, and the Palestine, OF New London,
JOnn. The seventh and last division was made up
II carriages containing various prominent and aged
das0ns, after which followed In the order named the
srand COmmandery OF Knights Templars, Of Con-
ars OF Massachusetts and Rhode island; the Grand
'hapter OF Royal Arch Mas0ns, OF Connecticut; the
rand Lodge OF Connecticut, and. the Grand Lodge
4 Massachusetts. ... =
The procession thus made up comprised not less
han four thousand Of the Masonic brethren and was
upwards Of mile In length. They paraded some OF
n q nj no
presented was universally admired and praised.
having gone over the route laid out the monster
pageant proceeded to Hampden Park where, In the
presence OF thousands and thousands of visitors the
,hief exercises OF the day took place. After the
Usual devotional preiminaries, conducted by Chap
ain Rev. George II. Mcknight OF Springfield, there
was an original choral hymn, written by b. p. Shilla
Der Mrs Partington) OF Boston.
- The next exercise In turn was an Grafton by Rev.
William X Alger OF Boston, upon the Character
stics OF FreemasOnry," Opening with a grateful
congratulation on the auspcious circumstances
under which they had gathered, the speaker
passed to a brief euoey on the life and Character
Of John the Baptist, the patron saint whose
natal day they were celebrating. He then defined
Masonry In the double aspect OF series of oral ira.
dtions and system Of embematic morality. Four
qualifications were declared to be Indispensable for
a good Mason. First he must be no scorer but a
man OF a reverential spirit; second, he must be no
dry proser, but man OF living imagination; third
he must be no bigot, but man OF q liberal mind;
fourth, he must be no selfish worldling, but a man
Of generous heart. The orator then explained one
Of the chief benefits conferred by the Masonic Order
70 De IN tlS reSpect at Dy tne great ATTRACTION and
extent OF its interests each member Is lifted out
his personality into high thoughts and sym
pathles. He is concerned In whatever concerns this
ancient, extensive and enduring community. An
effective blow Is thus struck at that egotistica in
which Is SO fatal feature In these head
ong times. This was illustrated by an unveiling
)f the vast domain which Masonry opens to
Is members In past, present and future But
Masonry not only lifts o man out OF himself into
wider and nobler interests II also helps him TO he in
himself what he ought to be. II constantly admon-
shes HIM OF his varied duties In the different rela
ions Of life. This point was strikingly enforced by
IN explanation Of some Of the chief Masonic SYM
Dols. with the solemn lessons which they teach The
)rator after alluding TO the remarkable prevalence
Df Masonry, said that while he sympathized In gen.
eral with the objections to secret societies In free
country, these objections could scarcely apply to
Masonry, because this society for the cutivn-
lion OF friendship and morality with the careful ex-
cluson OF sectsrianism and politics. The moment
or politics Is admitted into Masonry
the institution Will explode; and so long
a. these are strictly excluded there is
little room for evil, but great room for good.
whether genuine Christian men. consistent American
citizens, have TO fear and oppose Masonry or
TO trust and befrend IT, the speaker thought would
appear clearly enough from glimpse at the chief
inn pd disctulcs