Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-01-03

The new and elegant hall just completed
at Essex Centre for the accommodation of
McDonough Lodge No. 70 F. d \. NJ. was
dedicated according to ancient masonic GUS
tom and usage on Friday last. 9th the
anniversary of 81. John the Evangelist The
dedicatory services We're conducted by VI
W Grand Master Park Davis of>t Adams
assisted by r. W Grand Secretary Henry
Clark r. W Grand Chaplain Edwin Whec-
lock and Others in the presence of large
number Of MaSon- from the Lodges in this
vicinity, their ladies and Others who We're
not members of the order The hall was
presented for dedication By Bro L. G. But
Ter, W. VI of AlcDonOugh Lodge, and the
tools Of architecture by Bro b. \ Stevens.
p. NJ of the same Lodge The emblematic
corn was presented by Bro. II NJ Phelps of
Washington Lodge As Grand Junior War
den, the wine by Bro. u. a. Marrey of
North Star Lodge as Grand Senior Nv arder.
and the oil by Bro James Holloway of
Englesby Lodge a. Deputy Grand Master
The Grand Lodge was under the direction
of Bro. T. ;. Peck of Washington Lodge a.
Grand Marshal, and Bro F. ) Mcfarland
of Franklin As Grand rler. The cere-
monies were interspersed with music from
tho Jericho Orchestral Band and by some ap-
propriate odes. with an organ accompania-
ment. The ceremonies of dedication being
complicated an appropriate address was de-
liyered by Grand Master Davis, in which he
traced the origin of the Masonic institution
from the building of King Solomon : Temple
and showed how its pathway had been
marked by the evident tokens of the
Divine blessing. He gave a beautiful
exemplihcation of the great moral priuci-
pies and teachings which form the iounda-
ton of Masonry, the lessons of belief in the
| one Supreme Being, of humility. of charity
and of the immortality of the soul which it
taught. and Of the distinction always to be
kept in view between masonry and religion.
it having no saving power for the soul and
forming no substitute for a belief in the
Saviour. He spoke also of its benefits to the
| individual and to the world, teaching the
dsty of stern fidelity to ones country but
smoothing the aspcrities of the battle field
with the kind hand of brotherly love, when
the conflict of arms is past lie alluded to
the common objections to the institution
! its secrecy-and suggested that its
secrets consisted in ceremonies, not in
principles and that its principles and its
| objects and its tenets We're open to the in
| speetion of the world; to the allegation that
Masons are bound to protect and defend
each other under all circumstances, and ex-
planned the nature of themasonic obligation.
the extent of its application; and challenged
the instance where the ends ofjustice had been
defeated by masonry, and give an unquali-
fed denial to the assertion, as unjust and
untrue. The speakers commentator of
masonry was tempered with discretion. for
while displaying its excellencies as model
the incubation of sound moral principles,
he admitted the imperfection of many Of its
members, but traced it to their indifference,
and failure to appreciate and assimilate the
principles they were taught in its symbols
and ceremonies, rather than to any defect in
the institution In fine the address was
excellent in all its parts and as 4 whole, and
was well received by all who heard it. es-
pecially by those who were not members of
the order.
Closing this feast Of reason, solid and en-
tertaining, with the benedIction by the r.
W. Grand Chaplain, the brethren with their
ladies and friends repaired to the Town
| Hall below, where sumptuous refreshments
for the physical man had been provided by
the masonic ladies Of Jericho. Essex and
| Westiord. An hour was spent very profit
ably in doing ample justice to the rich dis
| play OF eatables with which the tables were
| loaded, and words of praise and congratu-
lation were upon every lip, for the neat and
tasty manner in which the elegant enter
tainment was arranged, and for the quiet
ease and dignity with which the whole at
fair was conducted. For this important
part of the exercises, the credit is due to
| the ladies and their masonic associates. As
whole the ceremonies We're conducted
with great proprlety and fitness, each com
ing in in its exact time and place, and Civ
ing evidence OF careful preparation, which
was done under the direction of the W. NJ.
Of the Lodge. Ii is an interesting fact to
notice that the present McDonough Lodge
has five members over seventy years of age,
who were members of the original Me
Donough Lodge located at this place. and
which holds its communications in the hotel
now occupied by l.. 5. Mead Three of
these brethren were present at the dedica-
ton of this second temple, and entered into
the ceremonies with all the spirit of
younger days. During all the anti-masonic
war McDonough Lodge did not surrender
its charter, though its meetings were sus-
ended l.. c.B.
Thare IL az mutch difference between wit
and hnnor a . tbara 10 hafwaar, tho liz on1