Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-24

Grand Procession or Masonic
Bodies and Invited SOcie-
ties this Morning.
One Thousand Persons In Line OF
March, and Thousands
OF Spectators.
Imposing Display will, Music,
liBanners, Rsgalihs andSyhia
bOlic Paraphsrnalia.


sky upon St. Johns Day, and the gilded
beams shot down like lavas Of gold
upon all who ventured forth upon any
mission Of pleasure, duty or business.
The intense heat Of the day, however,
was unheeded by the devoted members
Of the ancient and honorable Masonic
fraternity and their most courteous and
invited guesls, representing other honor
able societies Of Memphis. Oh \
As early as eight o'clock this morning
the dash OF mounted officers in glitter
ing uniform, and the autter of bright
sashes in the light breeze that family re-
sisted the rise Of tropical heat, gave evil
dence of something. unusual about to
transpire, nor we're such Agns long to
remain uniulflled. Before nine O'clock
the Grand Marshal of the Day Colonel
r. c. Williamson, and his assistant,
Colonel R. p. Duncan, had formed the
FIRST division on the east side Of Court
Square. This consisted of q mounted
poliee.foree.the SodalitAi Junior, Brass
Band, William Warrington leader; the
Knights OF Pythias, a splendid body of
well drilled, fine looking men, led by
Chancellor Commander Diver, of Ten.
nessee Lodge No. 8. The elegant uni
forms and perfect drill of this body ex-
cited univsrsal sadmirahon. Next the
Odd Fellows in body, making as usual
a fine appearance; next the U. A. o. DIS
and members of the B'nai Birth, fol-
lowed by about forty members of the
Typographical Union.
The second division, headed by the
old Memphis brass, band, with B. f.
Haller, Assistant Marshal, consisted of
Kilwinning Lodge 81, DeSoto Lodge
299, Leila Scott Lodge 289, Angerora
Lodge l6S, and South Memphis Lodge
ll8. Each Lodge was well represented
and the turnout was as large as we have
ever seen upon, any occasion. q q.
The third and last division, with AS
sistant Marshal B. f. White, was COM
posed of Memphis Chapter No. 95, Cy.
rene Commandery of Knights Templars
No. 4, and the line was brought up by
visiting grand and past officers, Masonic
Temple officers and members of the
Grand Lodge of Tennessee and other
distinguished visitors and members of
the order, all in carriages. 1t was nearly
ten clock when the order was given to
march, and the splendid procession
moved off up Second street to the music
of the two full bands, who lent such
charm and inspiration to the eventful
occasion. The line of march extended
to Poplar, thence to and down Main to
Union, thence to Second and back to
the corner of Madison and Second,
where the foundations of the mag.
nifceRt temple were laid some
months ago, and upon which
will be erected a monument of enter
prise and architectural beauty to which
other generations will point with pride
and satisfaction long after the workmen
have been called from labor to refresh
ment in the great lodge above. 1t was
remarked that no demonstration FOR
many months, even under the most IA
vorable auspices, has attracted more at
tention and universal interest. Every
door and window on the route was filed
with .people,Ta thousands gof ,specta-
tors lined the sidewalks. The display
was well worthy of the anceint and hon.
orable order as well as the numerous
highly respected societies present by
special invitation to add eclat and dig |
nifty to the imposing ceremonies. In
saying that one thousand persons were
in the line of marcA we are speaking |
from actual count and not from fancy,
and it is safe to estimate that from
Twelve to fifteen thousand persons wit
messed the superb display.
In the short time. and space allotted US
i is impossible to describe the appear
ance and movements of each particular
body as we would like to do. The drill
IF the Knights of Pythias, their neat
,ut costly uniform, and fine military
bearing in this their first public appear
lnce in Memphis, was highly COM
nended. The Knights Templar
Usual marched with the precision and
iase of old veterans. Many other Or
,anizatiohs might be mentioned, but
ONE space must be given the ceremonies
t the laying of the cornerstone.
After the procession had arrived at the
Cornerstone. whiehsia on the northeast
iorner of the lot upon which the temple
5 to he erected, the ranks. were broken
md the crowd gathered about the stone
md the stand which had been erected. ,
Here, after a few appropriate and we'll
lined remarks from NJ. w. G. NJ. of the
'tate, A. J. Wheeler, the Masonic choir
ang a piece composed for the occasion,
.fter which the cornerstone was lowered,
nd the eopperlbox, into which were to
'e deposited the various articles, was
laced upon its top. First in order was
from II,
SOUTH MEMPHIS LODGE, No. lis.
A tin case containing the Lodge b..
AVIS, list Of its officers and memb ers
pom parchment paper. and variouy an.