New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-16


Supported by Grand Deacons with rods.
Grand Sword Bearer.
The procession marched down St. Charles
street to Canal, thence to Camp, thence to
Julia, then into St. Charles again, when
they reached the site of the new Temple.
Order of Procee hinss.
The long hne, as they filed into their
seats, headed by the Grand Lodge, pre-
sented that imposing appearance whichpar-
ticularly belongs to the order whenever a
ceremony OF this kind is to be performed.
The insignia and jewels, on which the sun
light flashed, the waving banners, whose
silken folds bore resplendent devices, the
uniforms of the Templars, the golden
chains with golden symbols of the Grand
Lodge, and the discipline and gentlemanly
carriage Of the individual members, all
united in making a deep impression on every
beholder The Grand Lodge having ascend
ed the stand and accommodated themselves
into their various positions, Mr.. Samuel
Manning Todd announced the object of the
day, and the choir sang the opening ode,
the concluding verse of which is as follows
0 Thou at Whose great name we bend,
To Whom our warmest VOWS We pay,
God over all in love descend,
And bless the labors of tAis day.
When the last notes of the song had died
away, Mr.. Todd made the introduction of
the Rev. Brother w. V. Tudor, who made
the days Grafton 10 a style at once impress
sive and clear in delivery, original in body,
and common sensible in its application.
Mr.. Tudor alluded to the age of Masonry,
intimating that the labor required to find
out its exact antiquity would be insurmount-
able; that it ante-dated the building OF
Solomon's temple, as, according TO the re-
searches of Sir William Jones, tie antigua
rian records showed its existence four thou
sand years back: and these researches es-
tablish its remote origin to be even as far as
Adam himself. Its history in England was
found in records of the time of the Saxon
Heptarchy, located at York and London,
and on its rolls are included the names OF
historic bishops. dukes, earls and, lords.
The proud temple of Freemasonry
was built upon the foundation of great
and good men. and truth was its corner
stone: the order at the present day contain
ing five hundred thousand on its rolls OF
membership, and consisting of a thousand
lodges. of which there were in tLis city
thirty-two lodges and three thousand mem.
bers. The orator paid handsome and de-
served tribute to the ladies, a large num-
Der OF whomSraced the assemblage. Pro
ceeding to explain the chief characteristics OF
the Order the orator, in his sledge hammer
and put himself in communication as well
with the lowest as the highest order of in
telligence within hearing.
In the course of his oratiOn Mr.. Tudor
alluded to the characteristics of Masonry.
in never soliciting any one to become a
member: that it stands upon its dignity
that its scope contemplates the whole world
of mankind that it does aims in secret
and carries its charitable ministra tions
everywhere. The illusions to the famous
inquiry OF Henry VI, care Masons gooder
than other men p closed in the answer as
found in one of the Bodlean manuscripts
to the advantage of Masonic train
ing. His explanation Of the secret
signs, the inquiries prompted as they
had been by the fair ladies, whose
curiosity was only as large as their love for
the members of the Order, was happy-the
secret included every signal of distress
from the appeal made by an infant in its
cradle to the union down of a sinking ship.
The silence OF Masonary, he went on to
say, had been copied from the God of
Nature, all Of whose greatest works were
consummated in stiffness. A boys rocket
shot into the air made more noise than the
formation Of all the consultations in the
heavens. The great principle underlying
all the operations of Missionary was not to
let the right hand know what the left hand
doeth
The close of the Grafton, where the
speaker said, Let the temple rise was
certainly one Of the most finished works.
from literary point of view, We
have ever heard. The truths and demon
strations OF recent Astronomical researches
were wheeled into the line and made to
spell out the attributes of Masonry as well
as its basis and its works. AS material
called ether, imponderable and immeasur-
able, pervades all space in the midst Of
which the two thousand million of stars
exist, SO the numerous branches of Masonry
exist in the ETHEREAL truth. He concluded
by hoping that the future work should be
of Cod if not, let the confusion Of Babel
be upon it. Mr.. Tudor was frequently com
plimented by rounds of applause, which
were an involuntary tribute to the weight
of the impressions rendered in the address.
the following ode to the air of " God Save
the Queen"
Let notes of gadness tell
Thoughts that each bosom swell,
The work begun!
Hopes joyous thoughts we bring,
While to our Heavenly King
Friends united sing,
y $. Hearts joined as one.
Where laid the cornerstone
Ever in kindness known
Be mans best good
Though Years shall pass away,
Though human works decay,
Ever by Heavens ray
Be truth renewed!
May, in proportions true,
Rising to grateful view,
The work ascend!
Long may it safely stand,
Untouched by ruthless hand,
gill, at Heavens last command
All time shall end.
When this ode had been sung, the Grand
read a prayer to invoke bless
ing. Whereupon the Grand Treasurer,
taking his stand near the stone, proceeded
To nlaca In the cnnnar hnx intanded to he