The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-07-02
The Late Masonic Festival.

The fiftieth' anniversary Of the celebra-
ton. on the oath inst, by the brethren of
Humble Cottage Lodge, No. 1e, ofthe FEES
tival of St. John the Baptist, will always be
remembered as a gala day in si4e history of
the Lodge and of Opelousas. The most ex-
%tensive and liberal preparations had been
made by the able Committee Of Arrange
ments; invitations had been sent to the off
GERS of the Grand Lodge of the State; of
the Grand Royal Arch Chapter; and to
some ten country lodges; and long before
noon the town was thronged with the
brethren Of the mystic tie, and with a large
number of visitors from the country.
AT liz A. M. the Masonic procession
formed in front of the lodge hall, on Main
street, and, preceded by the Opelousas brass
band, marched through the principal streets
to the Court House, which: was speedily
filed to its utmost capacity by the brethren,
and by a large and intelligent audience Of
ladies and gentlemen. Here the public ex-
ercises consisted of music by thc band,
prayer by Rev. Bro. A. f. Goodwin, of
New iberia, and a masonic Grafton by our
legal friend and masonic brother, Geo. Fl.
Wells, Esq, of Lake Charles, Calcasieu
Parish.
We make no establishments because
the grafton is published in this ISSUE Of our
journal. Suffice tito say that the large and
intelligent audience of the p~rofane assem-
bled on tie occasion heard Mr.. Wells with
profound interest and attention, and among
the large body of the masonic fraternity
present, the. opinion was Unanimously ex-
pressed that the address was, throughout,
q mastery and we'll sustained piece of ma
sonic oratory.
The exercises at the Court House termin-
ated with some excellent music by the band,
after which the brethren marched in pro,
cession to Johnston's hotel, where they par
took of a sumptuous dinner, which was en-
livened by several masonic toasts; and i'm
promptu speeches.
At night a grand masonic ball was given
by the brethren of Humble Cottage Lodge,
in the spacious room adjourning their lodge
hall. 4 more brilliant assembfageof beauty
and of manhood was probably never wit
messed in Opelousas, while the perfect order
and unalloyed happiness which pervaded
the baii-room seemed to indicate that the
gay jewellers, had caught the inspiration of
that spirit of peace and harmony which so
abundantly prevails in Humble Cottage
Lodge.
The following lodges were represented in
the procession many of them by all their
officers. and all by a large number of their
members, to wit:
Humble Cottage Lodge, No. 10. Of Opel
ousas, St, Landry Parish ;
Magnolia Lodge, No. 1877, of Washington,
st. Landry Parish;
Orphans Friend Lodge, No. 1876, of Big
Cane, st. Landry Parish;
Mallet Woods Lodge, No. 1919, of Mallet
Woods, st. Landry Parish
Hope Lodge, No. l45, of VernillionviHe,
Lafayette Parish;
AbbeyiIle Lodge, No. 1872, Of Abbeville,
Vermillion Parish;
Aurora Lodge, No. 1913, of New Iberia,
iberia Parish.
Besides the above, there were several Ma,
sons present from other States, andthe fol-
lowing ..aguished brethren from New
Orleans, to wit:
Samuel NJ. Todd, NJ. W. Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge Of Louisiana;
J. G. Bachelor, N. D., r.. W. Grand
Secretary of the Grand Lodge of La;
N. g. Girard, W.. Grand Junior Deacon
Of the Grand Lodge of La.
w. Carson, w.. Grand Steward of the
Grand Lodge of La.
H.. Breen, Grand High Priest Of the
Grand (Roya1 Archo Chapter of La.
r. Lambert, W. NJ. of Louisiana Re-
lief Lodge, No. /;
Joseph Ell. DeGrange, W. NJ. Of Dudley
No. 6s.
The arrangement and details Of Che fes
ceremonies reflect great credit on the
Of Arrangements and Invitation,
and we congratulate our brethren Of Hum
bic Cottage Lodge on the perfect success
Of their celebration.