The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-21
The Masonic Reunion.

| on thursday evening. An audience OF
some two hundred assembled at Masonic
hall to listen TO the lecture, and participate
In the festivities of the occasion. AT eight
o'clock the assembly was called 10 order
by Hiram A. Smith, worshipful master of
Center lodge, who stated that the object of
the gathering was of a literary and social
character. to bring the members of the
craft nearer to each other, and thus by the
development of the social element exem-
pllfy the true spirit and intent of the in
stitution, concluding with an announce
ment of the programme of the occasion.
Mr.. Smith then introduced l.. William
Redington, esq, as the orator of the even
ing, who proceeded to the delivery of a
finely conceived, well arranged lecture,
clothed in chaste and eloquent diction.
Mr.. Redington IN opening made an
apology for the partia, lack of preparation
because of absence from town for the past
few days, which was unnecessary as his
address was of character pleasing to his
auditors, and more studied effort could
certainly have given no greater satisfaction
TO those who listened to his eloquent utter
ances.
The speaker proceeded to a cursory re-
view of the history of the institution of
masonry, giving the legends of its early
origin. He welcomed the attendance of
the ladies who were of course not curious
as to the particular ceremonies of the
lodge. While he could not enlighten this
portion of his audience upon the peculiar
characteristics of the far famed goat, he
could assure them it was a most creditable
institution, one worthy of their approval.
While he was fully aware of the opposition
| it had to encounter in the criticisms of wo-
men, yet it had ameliorated their condition
in various ways and spoke of the con-
fdencc Milwaukee woman had who re-
ceived telegram of the illness of her hus-
band, summoning her immediate attend
ance, she replied, "Hand him over to the
masons, he is one of Them.
The traditions of the origin were then
enumerated, fixing his own estimate of the
real date, which he fixed during the reign
of Numa Pompilius, when operative
masonry sprung into existence, through
the colleges of construction, established at
that time, wherein the arts and sciences
were taught. The ruins in the East give
evidences even now of the existence of the
institution. These colleges were the
schools wherein the craftsman learned the
arts of operative masonry. The institu-
ton in a public character assumed i'm
pOrtance under. the patronage of
Julius Caesar, IS years before Christ
when it was divided into masonic corpora
tons, which became, in measure, the re-
pository of the christian religion. 1t then
became free, and its members were an
nounced as free and accepted masons, and
assumed speculative, rather than oper-
alive form. Masonry had its period of per-
secution in England when St. Pauls lodge
made the announcement of its speculative
character, and its operative methods fell in
to dsuse. This lodge adopted resolu-
ton which was the basis of the change of
its operative feature in 1715 The basis of
all genuine masonry was then confined to
its three degrees, and formed the basis
upon which the superstructure had been
raised to its present proportions. The
higher degrees had their origin in France,
but had no true relation to the original
lodge. The first Modern lodge was grant
ed by English masons now known as the
York Rite at Dunkirk, in Scotland, in the
year 1921, and from thence it had extended
throughout all the modern nations of the
globe. The first lodge IN America was es-
tablished in Boston, in 1873. The first
lodge in Vermont was established Nov. II,
1881.
The institution had its days of depres-
sion and darkness during the anti-masonic
excitement, commencing in 1926, which re-
solved itself into political warfare. But
its days of trial had passed, its foundations
laid deep in the principles of eternal truth
had not been disturbed and it sprung into
life with renewed vigor, until ten thousand
others had been erected in this, our own
land, and its fires burned as brightly as
before the furious storm of political perse-
cution beat around about the temple. The
highest orders had been engrafted with sue
cess and the order of Knights Templar had
become christian attachment of no mean
proportions.
The speaker then presented in lucid
and succint manner the objects and pur-
poses Of speculative masonry, reading ex-
tracts from the ancient charges enunciated
during the reign of Henry the W. review
ing its moral, social and peaceful character.
One of its essential qualities was that 81,
minded its own business which was one
of the principal causes of its endurance
Another feature of its stability was Its
charitable operations The members Of
the craft were plainly and eloquently ex
horted to the performance of the duties o.
the lodge and OF masonry in general.
y Masonry, born in the night of time, haC
! remained true to its original and essentia
. organism, and its principles were the same
, and as long as it kept to lis own regula
tons, and stood by the corner stone upol
{ which it rested, no human power coul'
8 cause its overthrow. Ages have come ant
J, gone institutions have arisen and fallel
!, into decay, and the winds are signing
:. requieum over their graves still masonr.
+ stands firm upon its original foundations
u Advancement and progress has been it
law as it is of the centuries, and masonr
> had kept pace with them and still its prir
y ciples remained unalterably the same. i
this busy and materalistic age, it st
y stands as firm as ever. In the chronicle
! Of future AGES the great deeds of men sha