Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-09
The Masonic Celebration at Bry-
ants Pond, July 5fh.

ants Pond, Juty ON.
The day was in strong contrast to the
Sd, cool wind prevailing, with the
atmosphere SO low as to make oyercoats
comfortable in the morning. IL was \
much better day for professions and out
of door exercise, than Saturday, and we
supposed the Masons were favored with
very suspicious day, but as ii turned out
too much wind proved aboutas disastrous
as too much water might have done.
Arrangements had been made for the
dinner to be served in n picturesque place
on an island about half mile from the
shore, and neat little steamer, built to
accommodate pleasure parties on the
Pond, was to carry the company. Trial
trips on Saturday had proved that the
passage could be made in seven minutes,
and that two hundred could be safely
taken Mt once. This was deemed amply
sufficient but .'thc best laid schemes o
mice and men, & ang aft a'glee." and the
high wind, so uncommon on the pond,
made it difficult feat for the boat to
make n passage at all. Having no keel
and being flat bottomed to facilitate land
ing at any point, she was blown of andthc
force of the Engine, equal to seven horse
power. was found insufficient to make
Roadway against the strong wind. Oars
were improvised, by which the Storage
was somewhat improved. The boat sue
ceeded in landing two parties on the
island at rather late hour for dinner,
after o'clock, but in returning for n
third. she was blown 50 far down the
pond. as to render it impraciicable 10 make
a further attempt while the wind con-
tinued so high. At later hour. after the
wind had aba,ed, she resumed her pas
sages, and took off the islanders.
The occasion was replctc with incident,
full of merrimcnt, and sharp appetiIes
were satiated by joke and rcpartec sug-
gestcd by disappointment, and the ming
ling of the sublime and the ridiculous
One reverend gentleman, nearly found
his coffin, in his eagerness to secure n
bite, as in making the landing, he made
an unlucky step and slipped into The plac'
ID waters. and while enjoying the laugh
at his mishap, huge cake of ice was
tumbled overheard from the Steamer. TO
be hoated ashore, which made such n
splashing rs to give US and several others
n ducking which we deserved for our dis
courtesy. The high wind not only came
near depriviug us of our dinner, but 1t
nearly destroyed it, covering the eatab!es
with a sub-soil OF island deposit of sutti-
Glen, ground work for one OF PcucngiiIs
Horse Hoe CultivatorS 10 make a trial eX-
hibitiou, The pies were changed to turn
orerS, describing the tPPsrcriHF, which
the fair makers thereof would hardly rec
oguize, being pepPercd instead OF sugar
Cd. Mr.. Crockett Of the Bryant's Pond
house, who provided the dinner, had
made arrangements to accommodate
twenty-five hundred, and he cheerfully
served dinner at his hotel to these who
failed to reach the island.
But tu the celebration. The town was
early filed with people. Masonic bodies
were represented As follows: Bethel
Chapter of ROYAL Arch Masons; Bethel
Lodge. No. o.; Blazing Star Lodge. No.
80, Mexico Oriental Star Lodge, No. 81,
Livermore jefferson Lodge, No. leo,
Bryant's Pond Lodge at Gorham, y. H.,
Paris Lodge, South Paris, with rePresen-
tations from other lodges.
y. L. Marshall, OF West Paris, mount
ed on handsome black charger, was
Chief Marshall, assisted by Enoch Foster
Jr.. and +. c. Harlow, Assistants.
The Masous, fine locking body OF
men. with their regalia, and the ladies,
made an imposing procession, headed by
the Yarmouth Brass Band, which diScours-
ed fine music The procession proceeded
10 the lot on which Jefferson Lodge is to
build hall, where The corner stone was
laid with impressive ceremonies, by I.
G.. NJ. Josiah II. Drummond, assisted by
members of Bethel Chapter. Then pro-
ceeded to the landing to embark for din
ncr-the particulars Of which we have re-
fcrred TO aoove.
The Journals local correspondent says
At about five p. NJ, the crowd waiting
at the wharf formed in line and marched
to Amphithcater Grove where stand
was hastily built and an address deliver
ed by Hon. Josiah III. Drummond effort
land. So the crowd was divided; part
upon the island and part upon the shore.
Parties, and in some eases families were
broken up. We upon the Island had the
dinner. they upon the shore had the speak
ing.
The address, by those who had the
pleasure of listening to it, was said to be
very fine and appropriate to the occasion.
About four o'clock the boat cleared her.
self from the snags, and partly by steam
and partly by muscular power, was
brought up to the island and made trips
to the shore until all were taken off, the
violence of the Wind having somewhat
subsidized. The whole thing was too ludi-
crous to seriously affect any one, and was