The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-01-01

ton, by entering Che zodiacaf signs. Cancer
and Capricorn n, marked, as it would be-, oy
the most evident effects ON the seasons, and
on the length Of the days and nights, could
not have passed unobserved; but on Inc
contrary, must have occupied a distinguish
ed place in their ritual. Now these lmpor-.
tant DAYS fall respectively on the 2lst OF
June and the 22d Of December.
In the spurious masonry Of the anclents
these DAYS were. doubtless, celebrated as
returning eras in the existence of The great
source Of light, and object of their worship.
Our ancient brethren adopted the custom,
abandoning, however, in Difference to their
own purer doctrines, the idolatrous pIlncip-
les which were connected with these dates,
and combining their celebration exclusively
10 their astronomical Importance But
time passed on. Christianity came to
mingle it's rays with the light of masonry
andfour Christian ancestors, finding that
the church had appropriated two days
near these solstitials periods to the memory
of two eminent saints, it was easy to incor-
porate these festivals, by the lapse of a few
days, into the masonic calendar, and to
adopt these worthless as patrons of our or
der. To this change, the earlier Christian
Masons were doubtless the more persuaded
by the peculiar character of these saints.
St John the Baptist, by announcing the
approach Of Christ, and by the mystic
ablution to which he subjected his prose
lytes. and which was afterward adopted in
the ceremony of initiation into Christianity,
might well be considered as the Grand
Yy....Irxf ~ Al, A,h,,rcf, u,hifa tho IN nc
terious and emblelnatie nature Of the Apo
calypso assimilated the mode of teaching
adopted by St. John the Evangelist to that
practised by the fraternity. IT,.
St. Johns Day was celebrated on the 9th
ultimo, as is their custom, by the Fraterri
ty of Humble Cottage Lodge No. 10, at
opelousas. The Lodge was opened in the
morning, and the officers, elected at the
last regular meeting, were installed for the
ensuing year, to-wit: c. Mayo, by his prox.
VI. j. Beauchamp, Worshipful Master
George Pulford, Senior Warden /; G. A. Fra
zee, Junior Warden II. l. Garland, aby his
proxy j. j. Morgan. Treasurer; H. K,
Bodemuller, Secretary Louis L~ejeune, III
Ter ; Joseph Bloch and julius Meyers, Stew
ards and, Rev. B. F. White, Chaplain
The Worshipful Master elect, being absent
without having made an appointment, nj
| Senior Deacon was installed. After the
ceremony Of installation, the Lodge wa:
called off until 2. P. NJ, whom it was closed
The brethren then repaired to al
adjoining Hall, where a sumptuous repas
awaited them. Harmony and brotherly
love prevailed. The loquacious and witty
had an ample field to display their talent.
while the t~aciturn had The dolble enjoy
ment of eating and listening at the sam'
time. Several toasts were drank, ant
much wit and rcpartee enlivened the feast
A gentle mirth pervaded tho assembly
without any boislerous occurrence to dis
tarb ii. fy# 9 5a@si "tE l7@f'
After the regular feast was over, certain
boys who know only'St. Johns Day in TIL
Masonic calendar, prolonged the festivities
BY a general onslaught among the goot
things that still loaded the table.
The recurrence Of ST. Johns Day is
pleasant event with the Fraternity, bein,
emblematic, we may believe, Of that happy
reunion of all go cd Masons in the Gran'
Il odva ohova SEa&8 Gt#s 4a3&