The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-06-27
SEosHo RAPIDS
Masonic celebration of st. .-ohn's Day
Addresses, Singing. Fine Dinner.

Addresses, Singing. Fine Dinner.
Tuesday was St Johns Day, and in ae-
eOrdance with previous announcement a
goodly number of Mssons and others met
in the beautiful grove near the residence
OF MIR. Maurice Muleonery, at Seosho
Rapids, to celebrate the day
With the exception OF the heat of The
weather, everything was favorable to an
out door meeting. The country about the
Rapids is not surpassed in loneliness In
Kansas. The green prairies, the fields OF
golden colOred wheat, the beautifui trees
and flowers, the feeding fiocks and herds,
the singing birds. all conspired TO make
the inhabitant OF this fair section feel
good with himself and all his neighbors.
At noon, when we arrived upon the
| ground, there was large number ef PEG
| pie present. and Two long tables were be-
| ing prepared by the ladies and gentle
men, for an interesting feature Of the
| ceremonies which would soon take place.
The Masons had formed at their hall in
| the town and marched to the grove in
procession headed by the martial band of
the town.
| |. &. Price, ESD. Master OF tn, lodge,
presided 1T the stand, and Capt. Taylor
was the Grand Marshal. Thomas Cru
well, Esq, had charge Of the grounds,
| and all these gentlemen performed their
duties well.
The exercises were opened by singing
by l.. r. Wright's Hartford Glec Club.
And right here let Us remark that this
singing, which was one of the important
features of the exercises, was a. good AS
we have ever heard i'll grove. There
was none OF that heightened highfalutin,
operate nonsense about it, but good soul
stirring heart music, which carried the
audience along With it. The ''Leyel and
Square," a quartette, was most excellent
ly sung by Mrs. Ed. Smith, sOpranno;
Mrs. Tinkham, alto: l.. Il. Wright, tenor,
and Ed. Smith, b-se. This club sung Il
large number Of pieces during the day.
with all of which the audience was per.
fectly delighted. MIR. Wright is certain
ly good teacher, and competent leader
Mrs. Emma Holt presided ut the organ.
Elder Z. T. Rhodes read AN appropriate
chapter Of the sacred Scriptures, and Rev.
r.. a. Patterson prayed
Paul +. Jones, of this city, made the
prin eipal Grafton. He is possessed of Il
tine voice, pleasing address, and is well
posted In Masonry and its history. We
cannot attempt on outline of his Oration.
1t Was replete with interest, and was at
tentiVely listened to by all.
Then came the dinner, which was most
in 4
was heartily enjoyed by all.
After dinner the audience was again
drawn about the stand by the music of
the glee club, and short speeches were
made by Col. T.. b. Plumb and Elder
Rhodes of this citJ.
The exercises closed about 3 O'clock p.
IN, ond the audience began to scatter to
their houses.
In the evening dance took place,
which we presume was very happy al
fair. The music was furnished by the
Emporia orchestra. 1t was Independent
of the exercise OF the day.
The Masonic lodge at the Rapids was
organized about two years ago, and now
has some twenty-five members composed
of the best citizens Of that locality. The
ledge has erected large and eommOdiOus
building. and one object of this celebra-
ton was to raise funds to assist in paying
for it. We hope they met with good sue
cess.
We Were glad to note many improve
ments at the Rapids, and in the surround
ing country, since our former visit there,
New houses had been put up on several
OF the farms, and large area of prairie
had been fenced and broken. So i'll the
town we noticed several valuable i'm
proven ents. There, one of these days
will be fiourisning town, and one of the
most prosperous communities of farmers
to be found in the NeoshO valley. They
have the natural advantages and facili-
ties to make them such, and time, and a
steady pull together is all that is wanted
to make them what they are bound to be-
come. For the kind treatment received
from several of our old friends and ac-
quaintances there we return thanks, and
shall avail ourself of the first opportunity
to visit them again.