Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-25
ST. JOHNS DAY.
The Great Picnic at James
Park.

Z
Considering the part borne by st. John
the Baptist in the mysterious drama
played eighteen hundred years ago; on
which the Christian religion is founded,
It is not wonderful that the day set apart
for the observance Of his nativity should
be, in eli ages and in all parts OF the
/ Christian world, one of the most popular
Of religious festivals. II enjoys the
greater distinction, that it Is considered
/ ~ midsummer day, and therefore has
inherited many Observances from hea-
| then tines-indeed, like many Others
Of highest holidays, its origin is
clearly Pagan-or, to use the quaint
phrase Of an old translator Of
| ScaIiger, they form the footsteps Of
sunciente genulitie," THAT is Of gentil-
! ism or heaihenism.)
To make e bull, however, the obser-
vsnces of st. Johns Day 10 England and
! Scotland, where it is an universal GUS
| tom, is confined mainly to the previous
evening, which is called midsummer
Eve, or the Vigil of st. john" and We
would Ike, did not time and space, or
rather the lack Of both, forbid US, to give
s sketch of the curious and interesting
ceremonies attendant upon its ceIebra-
ton.
Among FreemssOns, all over the
world, st. Johns Day is the greatest OF
the year, and is always celebrated with
great pomp and ceremony. III Scotland
| especially, it is kept with peculiar rever-
enee. What happens on this day at Mel
rose, may be considered as a fair example
Of the whole. Immediately after the
election of officers for the year." says
WaGe, in his history OF Melrose, the
brethren walk in procession three times
round the Cross, aud afterWard dine to-
gether under the presidency OF the newly
elected Grand Master. About six in the
evening the members again turn out,
and form two abreast, each bearing a.
lighted fambeau and decorated with
their peculiar emblems and insignia.
Headed by the heraldic banners of the
lodge, the procession follows the same
route, three times round the Cross, anu
then proceed toward the Abbey. On
these occasions the crowded streets pre-
sent a scene Of the most animated de-
scription. The joyous strains Of well
conducted band, the waving torches
and incessant showers OF fireworks make
the scene 3 carnival. But at this time
the venerable Abbey is the chief point 0,
attraction aud resort, and as the mystic
torch-bearers thread their way through
It's Wondering eisles and round its mas
sive pillars, the outlines of its gorgeous
ruins become singularly Illuminated and
brought into bold and striking relief.
The whole extent of the Alb
bey is with measured tread and slow
gone three times round. When near
the finale the whole Masonic body gather
TO the chaucel, and forming one grsnu
stmicircle around il, where the heart OF
King Robert Bruce lies deposited near
me nign altar, and the band strikes up
tie patriotic sir, Scots VIVA haze
WI Wallace bled," the effect pro
duced is oyerpOweriDg. Mid show
ers OF rockets aid the glare OF
blue lights, tbs scene closes, re-
mindiDg one OF some saturnalIa held
in a Monkish town during the middle
ages"
But TeUe11O1ls a nos RIOlstOns-the pic
Dic yesterday. The weather was mag
nificent, and could we have had con
sultAtion with the clerk of the weather,
We could not have had it more to our
wishes, TIE several Lodges assembled
20 nine O'clock am, st Court Square,
aud were formed IN procession in the or
der indicated in the programme pub
.ished il the papers yesterday and day
before. The procession was msgnif-
osnt and gorgeous pageant. The long
line OF blue Lodge" MasOnP, on foot,
clothed in their "Iambskins,n insignia
and jewels, were followed by carriages
bearing the orator Of the day, A. J.
Wheeler, Esq, Sovereign Grand Com
msnder Albert Pike, Sovereign Grand
Inspector General ]. J. Worsham, ami
Most Eminent Pcelate DR.. George
White. La each Of the carriages there
were, besides, lovely young ladies, that of
the Sovereign Grand Commander, being |
fairly dszzling with its display OF baauty. |
Cyreue COmmandery and the Knights
Templar, mounted on splendid horses
and clothed in the uniform of their or
der, acted as an escort to the whole. |
and brought up the rear. Headed by
Arnold's cornet band, breathing martial
strains, the column moved through |
Main street, attracting vast eoncourse |
of lOokers-On, to Vance street, and
thence to the grounds-James' Park
On the grounds, the procession marched
up to the staud, where they were halted |
and formed in two ranks, were disbanded |
and mingled with the concourse of Wis |
itors.
The Grand Marshal, Capt. George
Mellersh, mounted the stand and an
nounced the order of the day, and on
descending, the band played beautiful |
sir, and the orator of the day mounted
the stand and delivered his GRAFTON,
at the close Of which the manuscript was,
by some means, which none of the COM
mittee were s0ie to explain, given to the
reporter of the Bulletin.
THE APPEAL is a recognized Masonic
journal it devOtes large amount Of its
space and time to the interests of the fra
ternity. It had its representative on tho
ground, to whom the manuscript was
promised, and, in fact, in whose hands
il already was, when it was recalled and
given to the party of whom we spoke.
Why this was done, unless it was that
they wished to get it printed along with
the reports of the negro Masonic bodies,
which also celebrated the day, we are at
a loss to imagine, and IS it Is q matter
that we care very little about, we have
not put ourselves to the slightest incon-
venience to obtain the document, or even
make 8 resume Of the slips" which
were sent to US last night
After the Grafton, which by the way,
was a very good one, prayer was offered
by the chaplain, and the assembled null
titude betOOk themselves to enjoyment.
the dancing arena being soon filled with
couples moving in time to the snimatlng
strains OF the band, which unwearyingly |
discoursed sweet music almost the entire |
day. About one O'Clock baskets were
unpscked and the tables were spread
with most bounteous and elegant lunches. |