Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-03
The Demonstration.

The Masonic demonstration to-day is
q most imposing affair. The weather Is
delightful, flags, banners and bunting
are everywhere displayed, and the
streets through which the procession
moves are crowded. Their movements
included the formation Of line with
front of fifty men, and this was formed
with such dexterity and in such good
order as to provoke constant applause,
and they went on their way rewarded
by hearty clappiBg of hands and flutter
Of handkerchief from the ladies, who Oc-
cupied every available window where
the procession could be seen to advan-
tage. AS the eighth division passed
Fifteenth street, the Blue lodges filed
into their places from the streets on
either side OF Fifth avenue. Previous to
this their lines had been broken to per-
NIT az many Of the order as possible to
witness the attractive p8rt OF the pa
rade. The remaining divisions, up TO
the twenty-siXth, were each provided
with bands Of music, and consisted OF
from ten to fifteen lodges each. Each
lodge was represented by from
one to two hundred members, although
the divisions were very unequal in point
of numbers. In the twenty-fifth divis-
Ion st. John lodge No. l bore the bible
on which Washington took his first oath
of office as President Of the United
States. In this division were also borne
a vessel containing corn, wine and oil,
golden symbolic lodge, carried by four
Worshipful masters, and the holy
writings, square and compass, resting
upon a cushion Ct purple velvet. The
orator of the day, Judge J. II. Lewis,
vse,sE r~.fff
other Jurisdictions, occupied carriages,
and in the rear of the line came the
commissioners of appeal, the grand sec
ratary and grand treasurer, preceding
the grand master, who rode between four
grand stewards bearing their robes Of
Office. The decorations were numerous,
and, in the main, tasteful, but along
Madison and Fifth avenues there was
an absence of display, with the excep-
ton Of flags, which were displayed from
the Union League club building,
q few private residences and poles.
The decorations at the temple were
not protlse, but they were arranged
with good taste and to the best advan-
tage. 1t is estimated that there were
not less than four thousand Knights
Templar in line, representing about
forty lodges Of MasOns. There we're
nearly two hundred lodges represented
by an average Of one hundred men. The
bands of music were thirty. nine in num-
Der, and the parade was fully twenty
four thousand strong. The regulations
as to dress were almost without eXCep-
ton complied with, and the few in
stances in which they were disregarded
made the individual who Wore a low
hat or figured pantalOons 8 conspicuous
object in the procession. With the eX.
ceptIon OF short halts, which are un-
avold8ble in moving so large body,
the line moved along the prescribed
route with but trifiiug interruption,
passing through SOuth-Fifth avenue,
Canal street, Broadway, Fourteenth
street, Fifth avenue, TWenty-second
street, Twenty-third street, Madison aV-
enue and Thirty-thiId street 10 the tenn
pie. As the line advanced it met with
great clapping and huzzaing on every
side; mum berless women at the windows
freely waved their handkerchiefs. The
entire procession occupied two hours and
a half in passing a given point. Broad
way presented an extraordinary appear
ance. Immediately below Canal street
the roadway was blocked by carriages
and wagons filled with spectators, IS in
deed were all the side streets along the
line. The houses were, many Of them,
decorated with flags and streamers, and
some were decorated with various sym
bOls; and the windows and roofs Of all
the buildings were crowded with specta-
| tors. Groups Of ladies occupied all the
/ show-windOws and sidewalks, and the
curhstOnes were jammed with specta-
| tors, all Of whom seemingly entered
fully into the spirit OF the affair. Dur
| ing the occasional breaks in the line,
/ policemen assisted car-drivers and cart
/ men to cross the street with their ve-
/ hicles, but for the most part tra!
fic was suspended entirely along the
line Of march.