Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-30
y. a. A.. NJ.
The Mystic Tie.
Banquet Last Evening.
Lafayette Chapter and her Guests
rnnsss ana S.~oeenos
The Mystic Tie.
Toasts and Speeches.


Last evening, the TIN I'd annual banquet of La
fayette Chapter Royal Arch MaSoas, was ceie-
brated at the St. James Hotel, corner Of 9th
street and Pennsylvania avenue. The occasion
was q happy one. and win long be remembered
by all who were fortunate enough TO participate
tine Resa Crs. prssent the me@bers OF Lag
fayette Chapter and invited guests from other
Chapters altogether numbering about one hun
dred and fifty. Among them were many OF the
Oldest and most prominent members OF the order
here, and some visitors from the States. The
Washington Brass Band was employed, and en-
hvened the occasion with good music between
session of the parlors and adjacent rooms of the
hotel, where they met early in the evening, and
enjoyed friendly greetings and social converse
repaired to the large dining hall, where a most
pleasing sight met the eye.
THE BANQUET.
The supper room was handsomely draped with
American fags around the walls, and festooned
up the center and over the tables with the Army
Corps badges, and the tables heavily loaded with
all that the inner man could desire; the brilliant
light from the chandeliers and the decorations
making the scene a very CAV and pleasing one.
Mr.. ID. =. Jones, the new High Priest of Latav-
cite Chapter, took the head OF the table, On his
right NJ: +. Companion b. b. French, and on
his left Noble ID. Larner, ESD, Past High Priest
OF the Chapter. Next were ranged on each side
of the table the prominent Masons of the city
who were to take part in the exercises of tn
evening.
| LAFAYETTE CHAPTER, NO. s.
Before going further it would be well perhaps
| briefly to state that this Chapter is one OF the
| youngest in this Masonic jurisdiction, it being
instituted on the LIST day of june, 1851 with sew
| enteen charter members. Itnow numbers on its
| roll one hundred and four members. y. ID. Lar
ner was chosen Its first High Priest, and has
| been successfully reelected until the present
| year, when Mr.. ID. s. Jones was elected i'm his
| place tbs one Of the most furnishing Chap
tiers here, and its whole course thus far has been
harmonious.
THE WELCOME.
After all had been seated and grace said, the
| good things Of Bunker's Hotel were most thor
Oughly tested and discussed No strong liquors
were used on the occasion, but substitute was
provided in champagne and coffee for those
who desired. Mr.. ID. s. Jones led off in an adj
dress of welcome which was listened to through
| out with marked attention, as it was in all re-
spects worthy of him.
PRESENTATION OF A JEWEL.
t NeHt in order was the Of beau
| up by his friends OF the Chapter. This jewel is
OF twice the usual size, OF pure gold with min
iature High Priest breast-plate on one side, and
sented to Noble ID. Larner, P. H. p, by Lafay-
cite X. A. e., No. 5, Nov. d, 1862" On the
other side are the usual Hebrew characters and
beautiful chalcedoni set. This jewel was made
by Mr.. Israel p. Libby, jeweler, No. AS 9Th
street, and is valued at about one hundred dol
lars.
The presentation was made by DIR. j. Edwin
Mason, Secretary to the Chapter, vino said
Comp. Larner; On bright May morning in
1867 had the honor Of drawing up petition for
new Chapter of the District of Columbia; after
repeated solicitations you were induced to place
your signature to that petition, and when the
charter had been procured you were elected its
nIst High Priest, and in the subsequent election
OF 1s6S you were reelected to the same high
position. During that time you have merited
and received the confidence of all its members,
No lNaar nrah 0rafi
presence at our cOnyocatiOns like the rising sun
comes smiling over us, cheering us onward In
our noble work. For over two years you have
| presided over our infant Chapter until il now
numbers 10i members. We owe to you debt OF
gratitude we can never repay. As chairman OF
the committee to prepare slight testimonial on
| the part OF your friends L beg leave to present
to you on this occasion the most appropriate
| gift We could devise. We beg of you to receive
| this as slight token of the estimation the COM
panOns of Lafayette Chapter hold of your worth
| In the name of the Chapter wear it until your
| children shall rise up and call you blessed, and
| when the sands OF lifeeflall have run out, may
the recording angels stand ready to welcome
you, for We know that your future will be a
| synonym of the past
| RESPONSE OF MR.. LARNER.
After receiving the jewel, Companion Larnei
| responded in most feeling terms, as follows
'In accepting this beautiful jewel, permit me to
return you my most heartfelt thanks for thi.
High Priest OF our Chapter from its Org anizatiol
| to the present time. In 1866 was exalted IL
| Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 20, under the juris
dictiOn Of Maryland and the District OF COlum
| bia.' He then went on to give an account OF
| the part he took in the struggle for the fOrna-
ton of a Grand Chapter i'm this District and
subsequently in forming the new subordinate
Chapters in this city, the history Of which il SC
| familiar to every Mason in the city. He tool
occasion to congratulate j. f F. Holmead, , r
q. II. p, for the satisfactory termination of ths
| difficulties which have existed with Maryland
In referring to the uneNampled success OF
this Lodge, he asked, Who among US doe,
not feel proud in being enrolled a,
He congratulated the officers in their zeal in rhe
| work, and gave them credit for the success OF
the Chapter, and asked what was better to pro-
which they had 50 happily inaugurated i'm thi.
| Chapter, where they could turn aside, for a
short time, from the busy world and assemble
as peaceful and social gathering. But in all
through the Kindness of their Supreme Grand
High Priest they are again permitted to NEE,
around the festive board. Let them always
keep in view the motto Of the craft, "Holiness
| to the Lord, and preserve unsullied the title of
aworkman that needeth not to be ashamed The
l speaker alluded to the uniform courtesy always
| or adversely this precious gift should always be
4 With him az q reminder of the pleasant hours he
| had spent with the companions of LAFAYETTE
| Chapter, and when he Is summoned to that
bourne from whence no traveller returns, 1t
| should be handed down to his children as a
precious legacy, and an incentive for them to
l Walk ana act, while they remain on earth, in All
upright and straightforward manner.
THE TOAsrs.
After the presentatio ceremonies, Jno. Edwin
| Mason, Esq, was appointed toast master.
| The first was 1.-The Grand Chapter of the
| District OF Columbia received and acknow-
edged as the head Of X. A. Masonry in this
District, by all authorities, American, English,
and French. Responded to by N. Z. Comp. B.
| b. French, in short and appropriate speech.
TOast:-"The Grand Lodge Of the District of
Columbia" Here letter was read from Most
| Worshipful Grand Master Donaldson, who was
i to respond to this toast, from Baltimore stating
| that it would not be possible for him to be
| present; whereupOn Past Deputy Grand Master
John Locke responded in q handsome i'm
promptu speech. Next was q song by General
| BallOch.
TOast:-".Capitular Masonry in the District OF
| Columbia" =
"Thoush round its base, the rolling clouds are
| Eternal sunshine settles on its head, ...
Responded to by nj. T.. Comp. j. 4. Holmead,
/ Past Grand High Priest Of the Grand Chapter
Of the District OF Columbia, In one of his
happiest veins Of delivery SO characteristic OF
| the speaker. Song by VIM. NJ. Tileston.
/ Toast" Columbia Chapter No. 1. That
i ancient and honorable Chapter in which no
Irregularities ever occur" "Hail Columbia. =
Response BY High Priest Joseph T. Brown.
Ballad by John Parsons. To-. -.
| largest and most powerful, Chapter not given to
flesh, but e Fish" Response by Roswell A.
Toast:-Mount Vernon Chapter Nos.
Welcome tonight around the festive board
L Where strife and SOrrOW lwa io,,os>i