Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-10-15
Dedication Of Bridgeport Lodge,
Eo.ISF. 4. T.. IL 4. ".

sonic fraternity of Bridgeport set apart
with appropriate ceremonies, then
New Hall in C0Ol; : new building. The
room is really very neat aud coy
one, exhibiting much good taste IN III
construction and reflects great credit on
the architect and the Order. The hall
proper is 2ix46 and is covered with
beautiful Brussels. The walls are dec
eprated with photographs OF the frater-
fifty, and three elegant chandeliers
throw -dowp. u brilliant Light on the
furniture and trappings of the neat ana
weIl-arranged room. The TyIer's, pre-
peration. Kitchen and banquetine
rooms are neat and commodious affairs.
We would like to tell about the cur
tains and other fixings in the room.
but not having the pleasure OF ride
upon the goat, we must fOrbear. Still
we see an appropriateness in keeping
old-fashioned talIow candles burning.
A little melted tallow is good in cas-
the cuticle is knocked off in the eques-
trianexercises. While the curtains are
drawn, while it is applied, the ropes
indicate the general twist given things
Masonic.
Respectable delegations were present
from Martins Ferry, Wheeling, Bel
laire, st. Clairsr vile and Wellsville.
Grand Worshipful Battiu, of Wells
Vile, was Master of Ceremonies. The
first item in the programme was the
grand entire in two rows-some of the
brethren sporting queer looking walk
grims. Next came another couple of
rows headed by man with a terrible
sword. We looked for poor Morgan's
blood on the sword, and thought we
saw it, but it proved to be rust. After
marching around stand on which was
an open Bible, we thought once some
of them had designs of reading it but
they didn't.
Andrew j. Baggs, as Architect, made
the following speech:
Most Horshipfm:-The Brethren of
Bridgeport Lodge being animated with
desire TO promote the honor and in
terest of the craft, have erected Ma
sonic Hall for their convenience and
accommodation. They are desirOus that
! the same should be examined by the
No Worshipful Grand Lodge, and, il
! it should meet their appreciation, that
| il be solenlny dedicated to Masonic
purposes, agreeabiy to ancient form and
usuage. - .aar III
1t was responded to by Grand Wor-
shipful, Master Battin. Then the
Chaplain, DR.. Sedgwick, led in prayer.
The war-like procession again marched
around the table, when DIR. Juukins
presented the Grand Master with corn,
Others with oil aud wine, which he
threw upon the floor, all of which in
ldicated-corn, to nourish; oil, to glad,
den, and wine, to refresh.
Ross. ]. Alexander, the orator of the
occasion, was then introduced and de-
| livered the following beautiful
/
s-. Address:
We. have assembled here to dedicate
this Hall to Masonry, Virtue and Uni
veisal Bene violence. This custom is
Isncient, and time-honored. Affection
reared splendid sepulchres and inauso-
ileums for the dead, from which the
building of teslples originated, and
which W hen completed were consecra-
ted with i'm posing ceremonialS.
Fifteen hundred years before Christ,
the. Jewish Tabernacle was dedicated
by Moses; and five hundred years after,
kiDg Solomon assembled the Elders
and all the heads of the tribes, and all
The men of Israel, at one of the most
solemn religious meetings ever held, to
dedicate the first temple of the Most
High God. 1t was erected on Mount
MOriah on the spot hallowed by the
offerings of Abraham and David, and
where too, according to cur traditions,
perished the widows son. rather than
sacrifice his integrity. In beauty, in
.costliness, i'm richness of decoration, no
building in the world, to the end Of
time, can compare with it. The wall
of China, the colonades of Palmyra, the
pyramids, the Roman aqueducts, Min
evah with her nightly walls, and the
marble glories of Greece
-"whose beauties bright shadow cast,
And shed halo round the mighty past,
were all works of great labor and ex-
pense, of spiendor and wonderful mag
nificence, but not comparable to the
Temple of Solomon, with its holy YES
sells and sacred treasures, and the She
kinah manifesting in the Holy of HO-
lies the visible glory of the Divine
Presence.
What grand pageant must have
been this dedication of the Temple!
See the young king acting as priest at
the altar, surrounded with all the
pomp of royalty, and four thousand at
tendant LeVites with their inStrum ents
of music, and all clothed in. their rich
vestments; the immense congregation;
the gorgeous surroundings; the floors,
walls, and ceilings, covered with gold,
and enriched with precious gems; the
dazzling splendor of all the embellish-
ments, the richly embroidered wells;
with the awful glories of the Most Ho-
ly Place, that 'the priests could not en-
ter into the house of the Lord, because
the glory of the Lord had filled the
Lords house, the utterances of Solo
mon, the Lord hath said he could
dwell in the thick Darkness and the
fire coming down from heaven and
consuming the burnt offering and the
sacrifices; all creating scene of inde-
scribable grandeur and awfulness.
In Kings and 2 Chronicles we have
a glowing account of the sublime cere-
monies of this dedication, continuing
for seven days, containing the beauti-
ful pray er and invocation of King Sol
omon; an inimitable specimen of pi-
ETY. and eloqLence. He blesses the
whole congregation of Israel, telling of
the goodness of God; of His promises
and thefr ,fulfilment; and kneeling
down upon the brazen scaffold, with
hands stretched forth toward heaven.