The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-11

pirate for professionsi men. Mr.. wm. Thiel hs
the credit OF being architect OF the building
Messrs. Pile & Murray builders, and Messrs
Breen Carroll painters.
| The Dedication Cerenoaies.
In the spacious ballroom had been erected q
one end q platform on which were placed seats
the Grand Masters table, the altar. etc. The
members of the ORDER In the order that has beer
described, marched 10 and took their seats, tb.
members Of the Grand Lodge and of the Grand
Encanpment being upon The platform, and the
rest seated to the right Of the middle aisle. The
ladies' had been crowding in ever since ii o'clock
at which hour the doors were open to them. and By
the time the ceremonies were begun, the hall wal
filed TO OVERLOOKING with an audience comprising
the wealth. respectability and worth Of our city.
Mr.. Rusha, Grand Master, inaugurated the cere
monies by giving three taps of his gavel on the
table before him, when the brothers rose, and the
l22d psalm was then read alternately by the Crane
| Chaplain, Mr.. w. G. Dunlap and the other mem
bers of the order. -F
Then came the following beautiful and imposing
| ritual: M ..--.,f- ~ : :. :
Grand Marshal j. B. Heno-It is the viii and
pleasure of the Grand Lodge of the /. o. o. r. OF
the State of Louisiana, that the ceremony OF
defeating this edifce to the business and pur.
| poses Of Odd Fellowship do now proceed. i.
| Grand Master Rusha-such is my will and
piiss'f The burdiDe committee. to whom had been
| Of the hall, then, through their chairman, Mr..
| Luther Homes. thus addressed the Grand Master
| Most Worthy Grand Master-Having been in
| trusted with the superintendent and management
OF the affairs connected with the erection Of this
edifce and having 10 the best of ability dis
charged the duty ntrusted to u.s. we now report our
| work accomplished and surrender up to yen, for
| the dedication thereof to the business and pur-
| poses Of Odd Fellowship, this building.
The Grand Master then received the building,
| and addressing Mr.. Homes thus spoke:
Brother-ln the name OF l. o. o. F. of the
State Of Louisiana, accept for dedication to the
business and purposes OF id Fellowship this hall
| which has been constructed under your super.
vision. In surrendering for dedication the result
OF your labors you this day add another landmark
\ of charity 10 those which now cover the land
watch towers whence you and your brethren may
discover whittier to speed In your errands of love,
| visit the sick, relieve the distressed. bury the
| dead hearthstones around whose sacred fires you
and your brethren may cultivate that fraternsl
feeling whose end is friendship. love and truth !;
temples within whose venerated walls you will
learn the duties Of peace and good will towards
man, yet which will neither interfere with nor
supersede the discharge of any others, social,
moral or religious.
The band then played q fine piece, when the
Grand Mester again spoke, as follows:
Worthy Grand Marsbal-Has our R. W. Deputy
Grand Master examined this hall and Its appur-
tenaDces and ascertained whether they are sofi-
eiently secure from the eye Of pryug curiosity.
TO which they are TO be dedicated?
Grand Mdrshdl--He has Mos. Worshipful
Grand Master, and bis report thereon Is in readi.
ness to be delivered.
Grand Mdster--Right worshipful Deputy
Grand Master, you will please make known to the
brothers here present the result of your inquiries.
Deputy Grand Master Fdirctad Most
Worthy Grand Master, have faithfully and care
fully examined this hall and its ante. rooms. aud
find them secure against curiosity and intrusion;
therefore pronounce them in all respects fit for
the meetings, rites, ceremonies and mysteries of
our noble order and in accordance with its usages.
Grand Maser-.Rght worshipful Deputy
Grand Master. under this assurance, you win
please proceed to the performance of your duties.
Worthy Grand Marshal. you will present the bro.
thers present, representatives of the various
lodges Of this city and state TO our Right Wor-
shipful Deputy Grand Master. Ia
The Grand Marshal here presented to the Dep
uty Grand Master tie representatives. Of the
lodges, who- we're seated In q semcirele. i'm.
mediatslZ in front Of the alter, ana sad -
sent TO you our brothers, who will respond to
such interrogstories as you may PROFOUND them.
Deputy Grand Master-Brothers, do you prom
Use to promote no object in this hall foreign to
the laws and purposes of this order.
Anslcer We do. ea sr
ID. G.. M-Do you promise here and at all
times TO guard against strife and discord and to
meet here only as brothers, for the cultivation of
good will and frsternsl regard?
Ansac5'-We do.
ID. g. M-Do you promise that from this place
ready hand shall be stretched forth to relieve
the distressed and to assist the widow and orphan!
ARsacer-We do.
the home of the Odd Fellow, and the abiding place
of Friendship, Love and Truth,
Arls,cer-We do.
d. q. M-Brethren, your answers have been
given in the hearing of the brothers and good
people here present. and am satisfied that what
ever you have promised you will perform. You
will row attend to the Most Worthy Grand Master.
Grand Master-Brethren, representing the
lodges of the l. o. o. F., congratulate you upon
the completion of this hall which we are about to
dedicate to those cardinal virtues which should
adorn and grace humanity. Beneath this roof,
adorned by your labors, you are to encourage
each other in the duties of benevoence and
charity.
Upon this altar, Truth is ever to be presented as
the one and only sacrifice. Il is not, therefore,
this temple, made with human hands, so much as
the great principles which are here to be dissemi-
mated; and with you, hope that our united efforts
may eventuate in the construction and beaunfying
of q noble temple which shall ultimately be con-
secrsted by the appreciation Of the Supreme
Grand Master of the universe. asb
After some more music. the Grand Master thus
spoke
"The brethren will be attentive while the Her
aids dedicate this hall with solemn ceremonies to
the principles and uses of our honorable order.
Herslds, you will proceed to the performance of
your Quues."
The three Heralds, Messrs. Tower. Wilson aud
Graham, then stepped forward and took their sta
tions around the altar one holding vase of water,
the second bunch of flowers, and the third q
basket Of wheat.
First Herdld-( (Sprinkling water)-In the name
of Friendship. as pure refreshing and life-giving
as this water, dedicate this hall 10 the practice
Of that ennobline virtue, which, uniting men as
brothers, teaches them to sustain that relation at
all times, each in his turn helping and helped,
blessing and blessed.
Second Herdld-Sweet as the gushing fountain
TO the weary pilgrim, on the parsbed and sandy
desert, is the smile Of friend 10 the wanderer in
life's tborDy wilderness.
Ilird Her0ld-Msy We each so live that the
spiritual temple in our hearts shall also be spriD
kled with the pure water of LIE, the stream
whereof msketh glad the city of our God.
Second Herald (Strewing fowers)-In the
name Of Love. which, like these fsweIs. fills the
common air WIN frsgrsnce and beauties al on
which II falls, dedicate this hall to the practice
Of that highest virtue, which is in itself the fol-
filing of the law teaching us TO visit the widow
and the fatherless in their Affections, and bind up
the broken hearts, and let the oppressed 60 free.
Third Herdld-As the fragrance of the opening
blossoms restore the vigor Of the exhausted body.
20 do the gentle bresthings of Love recall life
and strer 9Th 10 the fsinting spirit.
FIRST Hef-0ld-May we all so direct Our walk