The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-11
THE MASONIC TEMPLE.
DEDICATION OF TIE RD1F1oE By TIE
GRAND LODGE.

Yesterday was a great day for the Masons
of South Carolina. The completion of their
new, massive and elegant temple was to be
signalled by Its formal dedication to the cause
of Masonry, and large numbers of the Graft
from all parts of the State had come together
to join with their city brethren in doing honor
to the occasion.
About one O'Clock, P. H., while the Grand
Lodge was In session at Odd Fellows Hall,
the city lodges assembled, In regalia, and
were formed into line on King street, In the
following order First, the band; second, the
master Masons. headed by. q tiler, with q
drawn sword; third, the stewards of the
lodges; fourth, the senior and junior deacons;
fifth, the secretaries; sixth, the treasurers;
seventh, the senior and junior wardens;
eighth, the masters; ninth, the past masters.
At regular Intervals thegine was lnterspersed
With tilersbearlug drawnswords, and with dea-
cons bearing rods. In this order they marched
In double file down King to Wentworth, nnd
through Wentworth to the entrance of The
Temple. Here the head ofLhe column halted,
while the foot of 1t. stood at the entrance to
the Odd Fellows Hall. The ranks we're then
opened and the band marched between them
back to the hall for the purpose of escortlng
the officers Of the Grand Lodge, who ap-
preached the Temple in the following order;
First, the grand liler, with a drawn sword,
followed by the grand stewards bearing white
slaves. Next, the band. In the rear of the
band was a brother bearing the horn of plenty,
wrealhed with white flowers. Behind the
horn.bearer we're two brethren bearing large
silver pitchers, containing the sacred vine
and oil. Next was q brother carrying one of
the ordera. Then came four brethren bearing
the lodge covered with white elk, and behind
these, four other brethren, two abreast.
bearing the other four orders. The
grand marshal came next, followed
by the architect, ]. H. Devereux,
Esq, who, not being q Mason, wore no regaliia.
but carried In his hand thsimplements of con-
structlon-lhs square, the level, and The
plumb. The remainder OF the line was as fol.
lows: Grand pursuivant with sword Of State;
grand secretary with a green blg; grand treas
urer with his staff; Bible, square and compass,
on q crimson velvet cushion, carried by an
aged Mason supported by two deacons with
their rods; grand chaplain and orator; past
grand wardens; past deputy grand masters;
past grand masters; Junior grand deacons with
rods; grand w~ardens; deputy grand master;
the constitutions carried on q crimson velvet
cushion by the maoter Of the Oldest lodge;
grand master with a senior grand deacon on
either side, each of the deacons bearing a rod
and crossing them above the grand masters
head.
AS the rest Of the procession passed from
the hall Into the street, the Masons who stood
in line nearest the hall entrance filed in two
abreast and followed the grand officers. The
order In which the line WAS formed In the
street was, therefore, reversed In entering the
temple.
The Grand Lodge room Of the temple was
densely crowded with ladies and gentlemen.
most of whom we're seated in chairs provided
for the occasion. Against the west wall, In
the centre of the room, was q platform about
fifty feet long, ten feet deep and three feet
high. The platform was In the form of q half
oval, and was reached by a row Of steps ex-
tending around the entire front. In the CEN
ire of this platform was q white pedestal
bearing Masonic inscriptions, and directly
behind it the grand masters chair.
At either end of the platform was q
similar pedestal and chair for the two grand
wardens. The platform was also provided
with chairs for the members of the Grand
Lodge. Upon the floor of the room, directly
In front OF the grand masters pedestal, was
the ark of the covenant. It was made Of
black walnut, and bore the usual amount of
mysterious Inscriptions. Before 1t, on the
side next to the audience, was a woollen mat
of bright and varied colors, and a symbolic
"Cn worked In the centre. In front OF the
platform at it's south end was a white marble
altar, aud ranged around the altar, resting
upon the floor, were three gigantic brazen
candlestlcks, which bore lighted candles.
These candlesticks, about Ave feet In height,
were presented to Union K%ilwlnnlDg, Lodge,
No. 4, Of this city, by the Grand Lodge Of
Scotland, in the year 1853.
When the head OF the procession had pass
ed down the aisle In the centre of the room
and reached the platform, the grand mar
shall separately proclaimed the grand officers,
who assembled the steps to their seats as their
names were CALLED. AS soon as the officers
were seated, the remaining members of the
Grand Lodge assembled the platform ind oc-
cupied the empty chairs. The other members
of the Graft then marched down the aisle, and
filing of to the right and left, took positions
on either eide Of the platform.
When all had taken their positions, the
choir, which occupied the balcony on the east
side of the ROOM, chanted the anthem, "Bow
down thine ear" The choir, under the leader
ship of Professor T. P. O'Neale, was composed
OF about twenty of the best male and female
singers In Charleston. The different parts of
the anthem were executed In q highly credIta-
BILE Manner, and when the whole choir united
In the chorus the effect was grand. At the
conclusion of the anthem the grand master
rose and delivered the following address OF
welcome
Grand Masters Address of Welcome.
HuoaD.C Citizens and Brethren-I congratulate
YOU on yeur presence here to-day. This swelling
multi,ude-lhls tide Of up:urned, eager faces-l
accept as an earnest Of the abiding interest which
our order still inspires through the benefcent
principles OF its foundation, and the liberal char
for nf fro nf1rao- -