New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-12
MASONIC FACer1R.

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sste99 MASONIC FACeTIR. =
The following 10 taken from the CORES
pondence report Of Thomas J. Corson, o
New Jersey, very eminent Mason, an,
well versed particularly in all matters rela
tive to the Knights Templar and Roya
Arch branches. It is descriptive Of tn
banquet or supper given by the
Mary Commander1 of Philadelphia t.
the Grand Encampment of the Unitsi
StAtes, shortly after the recen
triennial convocation. at Baltimore, ant
and viii show that the severe restraint O
the Lodge may be thrown off on such occa
sions.- Asit has already appeared in some O
the leading Masonic journals, and there il
none In this city especially devoted to thu
royal art, We think it will crafty the nu
merous Masonic readers Of our paper:
The assemblage was large and was graced
by the presence of ladies, a. all Masonic
banquets should be. The ladies were there
as guests, not rs spectators, and sat down
with us, right BY our side-and he's q
mighty poor Templar who cannot get q lady
to cit by his side.
The toast to "wOman" was responded ia
by Sir James H. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania
and We regret to say that the newspapers
report dOes great injustice to his beautiful
speech. We sat next to this ELOQUENT ora
give some of the gems which fell from his
inspired lips. With quaking knees and
tremul0us voice he thus spoke:1
"Mr. Most Eminent President, dear ais.
tiers, beloved brethren, and you other fel.
lows: Woman is an institntion-she is a
great institution. Without her, where
would you be, sir Where would be I
Where would any other man be From
early infancy to decrepid age, woman is our
guardian angel-oqr protector-our joy
yourself The learned Blackstone, whose
humble disciple am, saith Of her
Pee simple and simple fee.
With all the fees entail,
Are nothing when compared to thee, .
go, Thou best Of fees, female
[Applause.l She is the source of all the
wit, wisdom, eloquence and virtue which
the world possesses. With her, man can
accomplish mirscles-with0ut her.. he 10
pOwerless. She originates ideas. we exc
cute them. Who first started salt minel
Why, Lots wife, and wasn't she womanl
Wasn't JAel . good carpenter when she
nailed Siseral Who can estimate her
power-that mighty power to which we all
30 willingly yield obedience! Wasn't Eve
q v0mani And didn't she engage in the
fruit business, even before she wore panta-
lettes! And hasn't DR.. Creigh proved, by
struck OIL in the great State of Pennsyl-
vania were the FIVE wise virgins who
filed their lamps before they started to
attend the marriage feast! And dare We
doubt that they were women! Amt Susan
B. Anthonv. and Victoria Woodruff, aud
Theodore Tilton, women! And amt thew
the great reformers OF the age! What man
in the annals Of fame has ever achieved
greatness unless he had woman for a wife
or mother! Sine femina nulla fana, saith
the classic poet.
IF it wasn't for woman, who would take
care of our babies! Who would starch our
collars or darn our stockingsl Who would
tie our cravats or part our back hair! In
fact, I don't believe we could get along
without her, at all, at aldo you! She ls
. queen whose power is absolute. We are
bound in captivity to her, and our slavery
is 60 complete that we love to hug the chains
that bind us. When she Furnishes us. don't
we like to kiss the hand that smires us j!
How beautifully does the poet thus describe
the influence which she exerts over the rug
ged nature of man:
q woman in our hours of ease,
Uncertain. coy. and hard to please
But seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
Applause, cheers, waving of handker-
chiefs-hi! hi. hi! and several .'tigers.")
Here the orator sank exhausted to the
fiOOr. HOrror-stricken. we rushed to him:
We shouldered his limp form and bore him
10 his hotel, where restOratives were an
)lied. After consciousness had partly re-
turned, We
PUT him in his little bed,
And smOOthed the pillow for his head
After having disposed of Sir James, we
'etnrned to the banquet.
We tack our seat eadly and sorrowfully
vhen sound struck our ear which seemed
Omewhat familiar to US. Could it be 7 Yes,
was even so. Sir Joseph P. Horror. of |
louisiana, was speaking again. With |
renzied eye and frantic gesture. he was
pOuting away like a fright whale" We |
ave often pitied poor Robinson Crusoe."
ecause he could not shear the sweet music
f speech but no one can complain of that |
fhictiOn when HOrn0r is in the neighbOr-
God. On the slightest prOvOcation Joseph
, ever ready to rise to explain Be it fu-
eral or wedding, installation or institution,
anquet or reception. the sweet tones of his
ersuasive tongue can be heard. His sup
lv OF wind is SO inexhaustible that when
t last
Silence. like poultice comes
To heal the blows Of sound"
e devoutly return thanks that all is over.
fortunately, the guests began to depart.
ne lights were turned down, and thus ended
ir Joseph's harangue.