The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-05
The gutland daily GIube
SATURDAY, JUNE s, 1875.
THE MASONIC DEDICATION.
An Immense rocession---Nearly 10000
Masons in Line.

The dedication of the new masonic
temple to-day, has proved one of the
most important as well as brilliant, DISPLAYS
which has yet been made in this country.
All nature smiled propitiously as the long
procession wound its way through the
streets, with the nodding plumes of the
Knight Templars, the flying banners-the
spectacle was one long to be remembered.
1t was evident to every beholder that il
was made up of a superior class of
men, 1t is rare if ever that procession
OF nearly 10000 men has passed through
the streets of any great city either of the
old or new world, of so fine and inteli-
gent looking men, and the effect produced
upon the public mind was simply aston
ishlng Masonry has passed through
vicissitudes in this country but the de-
monstration and ceremonies of Wednes-
day, are convincing proof of how it has
overcome all these tricks and the powerful
opposition that has from time 20 time been
brought to bear against it, Its growing
power and importance are also being duly
shown both in this country and Europe.
In England recently, royalty has been
called to assume the Grand Mastership and
the late installation of the Prince of Wales
was only second in importance to the
dedication of the Masonic Temple in the
American metropolis.
Our space forbids minute description
of the building which stands at the corner
of Sixth avenue and West 23d street. Its
proportions are imposing and although its
interior decorations may not be so vast
and elaborate as those of the Masonic
Temple at Philadelphia, yet the building
is credit to the fraternity of the great
jurisdiction ofthe Empire state, the metro
politan city of New York and craft at
large. What have been sought in the
architecture are solidity and massiveuess,
and all masons who passed in aud out be-
tween the bronze pillars of light and
strength, have been enthusiastic in the
admiration of the design and execution of |
the temple. The occasion has proved a
memorable one in the annals of masonry
and an suspicious demonstration of the |
prosperity of the. craft, and the good it is
doing to the word at large and to it's in |
dividual members.
The associated press has undoubtedly |
laid before your readers, the general fea-
lures of the procession and exercises of the |
ion. No like similar celebration, so
vast in the number of its votaries and the
popularity of its observance has ever been |
held in this or any other country. AS the
broad columns] of men of various ran ks |
marched from street u street, avenune to
avenue, amid the earnest and admir- !
ing gaze of hundreds of thousands of
people to whom the spectacle was wonder
fully strange, it seemed as il the full power
of this great mystic brotherhood had
assembled. Any description we can give
would fail to convey an adequate concep- |
ton of the pageant, its extent or beauty. |
In its marching it was military, but the
plain black dress of the men gave it a
civil appearance. Among the most notice
able thing of the procession was its repre-
sentative charactes. Judges, bankers, ar
fists, mechanics, men of every craft and
occupation-marched side by side, which
showed the power of the masonic institu-
ton to perform the act of ''uniting all
sorts and conitions of men.
The Knight Templars were the most
imposing body and were as pre-eminent IN
their peculiar drill as they were in uniform
The cross seemed to be visible every
where-it rested upon their banners and
found place among all their decorations
as was were described by another. They
went through strange evolutions, making
formations representing every symbol of
their order. At one time the ranks ap-
peared in the shape of moving cross, at
another square, at another star then
circle, and then the ordinary formation in
columns was resumed. The "dress" was
not only admirable, but so far as humanity
could render it perfect. In fact, the
Knights moved in the symbolic evolutions
as if they were almost tutomaton, pro-
PEELED by machinery.
The Detroit Commandery next elicltec
special admiration. They too were per-
feet in drill. Tall and stately looking,
they seemed to be almost giants compared
with some of the fraternity in their wake.
Among the noticeable of the other COM
manderies who received especial atten-
ton and elected applause were Wash
ington Commandery of Saratoga Springs
and Appolo Commandery of Troy.
THE START AND THE REVIEW.
From 7 o'clock till in the morning
masons of every grade, wearing the lodges
of the craft were in the streets and congre-
eating towards the central point whence the
procession was TO be marshalled into or.
der.
The roll of drums was incessant and the
strains of military bands could be heard
from every point of the compass at once.
Thousands of citizens were to be seen early
vending their way to points on Fifth aven-
| ue and Broadway, whence a good view of
the approaching procession could be had.
As the hour of approached-the time an
nounced for the procession to start-Fifth
avenue from 23d street to Washington
square was thronged with well-dressed cit-
liens, who watched with the utmost inter
est the marshaling Of the peaceful hosts,
who. In all the varieties of the regala OF
the masonic brotherhood, were to form the
splendid pageant of the day.
The windows and doorsteps we're crowd
| m. a...a..i., oix dix.iainna