The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-07-02
Masonic Celebration.

celebration of our brethren on the oath
at Newport. but we were disappointed.
A friend, however, furnishes US the fol-
lowing interesting sketch Of the pro-
ceedings had on that occasion, for which
we thank him, and our readers will fee
/ gratified with his effort:
THE ss24th,, AT NEWPORT.
In the summer Of go, the Brethren
Of New Garden township, Members Of
the Mystic Tie, being DESTROYS of dissem
mating the nobls principles of Bro therly
Love, Relief and Truth, in the manner
peculiar to their Order, sought and OBJ
tanned Dispensation empowering them
so to work, and were duly organized at
Newport, in this county. The 1. o O. F.
having previously established Lodge in
the same village, class OF persons in
| that town possessing the unfortunate
talent of knowing too much for one man
and not enough for two, became alarmed
| at this increase of Secret Societies in
] moned togetherat the village church this
spring and warned, by resolutions passed
unanimously, their flock that Secret So
cieties were in league with his Satanic
Majesty to overthrow all civil govern
ments, uproot the good order of Society,
and carry the members of all such or
carnations, Free Masons in particular,
to the abodes of eternal perdition-that
it was the bounden duty of all..true low.
ers of their country and the church to
have no dealings socially, civilly, rehg-
iously. nor pecuniarily with any of the
accursed imps of Inferno. Having thus
lit their dip candle and placed it on a
bushel that it's refulgent rays might con-
found and dismay their enemies, each
wise man went into his hole, pulling it
in after him, self satisfied that they had
displayed to an admiring world their
skill in boosting the great American
Eagle from perch of danger. to nest
of safety. The members of Whitewater
Lodge, F. A. NJ at Whitewater, seek
| ing to spread Light and knowledge
among the uninfor ned whatsoever scat.
tered, and believing the Township of
New Garden, to be muchly in need of
the said article, they determined in SOL
emn cenclave that they would celebrate
the anniversary of their patron Saint
St John the Baptist, in that part Of the
moral vineyard, and accordingly invited
the neighboring Lodges to participate
with tn, m that day (June 24th,) in
Basket Pic Mic; the spot chosen to be
the grove west of Newport.
The day was as beautiful as could be
desired: by o'clock of that morning,
vehicles of every description, from the
staid rattle bang Of antiquity, to the fan.
cy buggy of 10, came rolling into New
port, on every county road, vending
their way to the cool and shady grove Sc
ected for the occasion. About 10
o'clock, a railroad whistle was heard in
the south, and then through the woods
came ncleBilly's' train the locomotive
decked gaily with flags, and following it
were four passenger coaches filled with
Masons, their wives, children and friends.
Such a sight Newport never beheld be-
fore, and those of her citizens, alarmed at
Masonry, was terrified as they saw the
wearers of lambskin aprons, emerge from
the heavily laden cars, armed with bas-
kets of provisions ard baby wagons
surrounded by happy wives. daughters,
widows and orphans. The crowd grad>
ually took their way to the grove, and
when the Masons saw their friends safely
seated in the cool shades, they repaired
to the town. and soon long procession,
headed by Morningstars unrivalled
Band, and marshalled By Bro. w Chan.
Jeiferis was seen making it's way to
the place appointed. The line was more
than halfa mile in length, Master Ma
sons in front, and knight TemplaIs, in
their rich regalia, bringing up the rear
The committee Of preparation had wisely
chosen a spot for the stand, far from the
dusty road, and in deep cool shade.
After order had been restored, the
Throne of Grace was addressed by Rev
Bro. A. Jackson of Whitewater Lodge.
The orator of the day, Sir Knight
Thos. Bennett, of Richmond Command
cry No. 8, was then introduced, and
held his audience of three thousand per-
sons, spell bound for three quarters of an
hour. with an address replete with Ma
sonic history, its aims and its politics.
Nothing but the address given in full
would enable US to make our rea iers
appreciate the beauty Of this Grafton,
rich in prose and verse. We have had
the pleasure oflistening to many Ma.
sonic address, but none gave us the sat-
isSaction this did. 1t showed that the
speaker had carefully studied his sub
ject, and was thoroughly informed upon
all the parts h e took up to illustrate.
The brethren of Whit ewater Lodge,
were fortunate in their choice of An ora
tor, and have laid themselves under
obligations to him, for the interest he
create in their favorite order, and the
valuable thoughts he gave out for study
hos hor tnfo ~ IA.