Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-23
ST. JOHNS A
Why all Coed FreemasORs Should CeIe-
brate Il.
Great Picnic and Barbecue at James Park
Tomorrow.

Considering the life and character of st.
John the Baptist, and the part borne by
him in the great scheme OF redemption
upon which is founded the theory OF the
| Christian ~reliRion it is not at all TO be
at that the day set apart as the
| anniversary Of his nativity should be one
/ Of the most popular festivals OF the
I church-cathoiic and universal.
To him is accorded by the Roman
church the high distinction of having Two
separate ~feasts, i e., nativity June
pa, and the Festum DeeolIatlonls
=. Johan. Baptistse august 29), IN
commemoration of his decapitation, oy
order of HerOd Antepas. The Protestant
church now celebrates the nativity only,
having discontinued the feast of the 18TH
of August on the ground that 1t was not
the date of the decollation, but OF the
gathering up of certain relics SAID 20 nave
been his in the fourth century, Du-
randus maintaining that the title "EeSttm
deoOUati0niS, etc." is a corruption of
''Fesatn coUGtiORiS johann BdptiStR."
OF him as a Christian, however, it is
now our object to write,
but of his relationship to Masonry,
and of the obligations every Ma
son is under to observe his feast.
There was in existence at the advent of
the Christian era a certain sect Of learned
and good men, who lived in the form Of a
society similar TO the Pythagoreans.
These men called themselves EssENEs,
and their doctrines, according to Jesephus,
were "a love of labor, sobriety, love OF
truth, fidelity. love of peace, complete
equality in social relations, property in
common hort, love to God and man,
made mamaGst by intense honesty. They
had an esOteric system of mysteries,
through which candidates for admission
were compelled TO pass, and had various
signs and symbols by which the members
made themselves known. OF this society,
two air John (the Baptist and
the EYangelist) were members, and
Christ, himself, is said to have been in
itiated." The origin of this Society has
been a subject of much dispute and spec
ulation among profane writers, but the
remarkable condolences of their doc
trines and ceremonies with those of Free
masonry leave on the mind of the educa-
ted Freemsson, little room for doubt but
that they were the defendants of the
Freemasons of the Temple. The evidence
that we have that the SITS. John were Es-
senes is traditional, bUtithe traditions, of
which there are a number, can be traced
a to remote antiquity. For this rea-
son all Masonic Lodges are now dedica-
ted to the Holy Saints John. The follow
ing tradition explains the original cause
of this dedication:
From the building of the first temple
at Jerusalem to the BabylOnish Captivity
Freemason's lodges were dedicated to
King Solomon; from thence to the date
of the Christian Era they were dedicated
to Z~erubbabel, the builder of the second
temple, and from that time to the final
destruction of the temple by Titus in the
reign of Vespesian they were dedicated to
st. John the Baptist. Owing to the many
massacres and disorders which attended
4 haN rnnnnnnwahNa awnnM Ernamnagnn-u gnpI
very much into decay. Many lodges
were entirely broken up, and but few
could meet in sufficient numbers to con-
stitute their legality. Under these cir
cumStances it was determined TO call a
general meeting of the craft, which was
held in the city of Benjamin. Here it was
found that the reason for the decline
of Masonry wss the want of q Grand
Master to direct and govern the affairs of
the craft. After casting about for some
time Tor a suitable man, they determined
on St. John, b Evangelist, and a COM
of seven of the wisest and best
MasOns, was appointed to wait on him
and tender him the Grand Mastership.
The Evangelist was, at that time, Bishop
Of Ephesus, ninety years of age, and
very inirm; Notwithstanding which he
replied that, having been Initiated in
early life into the mysteries of Masonry
lEsseniane he still retained his affection
for the order, and would take on himself
the office. He did so, thereby completing
by his learning what the Baptist had be-
gun by his zeal, and thus drew what
the old Freemasons term the line par
dUeL. He died at the advanced
age Of one hundred and two years; and
since his death Masonic lodges
rave been dedicated to both Saints, the
Baptist and the Evangelist.
CELEBRATION OF THE DAY.
Throughout the world, wherever a reg
ulsr constituted body of Freemasons
the oath of June and the 9th of
are observed by them as high
holidays, st. John the Baptist's day being
especially celebrated. As has already been
announced, the Masons of Memphis. in
pursuance of the custom, have adopted
the following programme for its Observ-
ancs, tomorrow, at James Park:
The different Lodges will assemble at Court
at 9 am. The Grand Marshal will
.Orm the procession in the following order:
Music.
Grand Marshal and Assistants.
Masonic Lodges.
EsrOrt-knight Templars.
Grand Officers ana Past Grand Officers.
The procession viii move up Second TO Mar
iown Beale TO fernando, where the cars will
g in waiting TO convey the brethren TO the
ARK.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Installation of Ohcers of Angerona Lodge,
for the ensuing year.
Dancing, Dinner, etc.
At pm. a beautiful bouquet will be voted
o the sweetest young lady on the ground.
handsome cake TO the most pleasant mar
led lady present.
A silver ounted Gayel to the most popu-
ar Master OF a Lodge.
To close the voting, a pair of Immense brass
20 the LATEST Mason known 10 the craft.
After which dancing will be resumed and
lept up Till II O'Clock p N.
Observation-Disclosures of the different
NnV, militia IN Naalnsa vs..s. -usn III j