Yankton daily press and Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1875, 1875-06-03
MASONIC.
Dedication of Masonic Temple in New

Uealcatlono OF Masonic Temple In New
New YonN, June 2.-Thc Masonic
demonstration to-day is u most i'm
posing affair. Tie weatheris delight.
fll Elags, banners and bunting arc
everywhere displayed, and the streets
through which the procession moves
are crowded. The ceremonies Of the
dedication Of the new Masonic temple
at Twcnty-third street and Sixth ave.
nue., may be said to have begun yes.
terday, when the annual session Of the
Grand Lodge Of the state was open.
ed.
Very much to the satisfaction Of
the thousands who took part-to.d day
in the Masonic procession and to their
sympathizing friends. who numbered
many more thousands, the sun rose
upon an entirely cloudlcss sky. The
second Of June was ushcrcd in by the
most favorable Of natures auspices.
At an early hour the city was astir
with Masonic bodies moving from
headquarters to the point designated
for them by the marshal Of the day.
An unusual promptncss having been
observed by most Of them, and the
result was that at the hour named for
all to be in line, very few command
aries or lodges were out Of place. The
sides of the strcetsland avenues lead.
ing to the head Of the line were gay
with music and the floating banners
Of the knights Templar. Everywhere
the red cross shone in the sun, and
the familiar hoe signo
cnsces-mct the eyc-at-eDcry turn.
Soon after 8 O'Clock three guns were
fired in quick succession from WASH
ington Square, and Immediately the
4 signal to move was communicated to
the head Of the line at Nineteenth
street, by the waving Of guidons.
a Marshal Preston and aids then took
their positions at the head of the line
and the procession, marshaled in &c
! divisions, took up the march. Pre-.
! ceding the marshals were "a mounted
police, and two platoons of officers on
foot. The marshal's staff and mount.
ed aids were all designated by con.
spiclous badges, and wore their hand.
some jewels upon the left breast. The
commentaries looked well, and the
beauty Of their appointments, togeth-
er with excellence Of discipline, OBJ
taired for them many favorable com.
ments along the line Of march. Ban.
ners were occasionally supported by
for1s of knights arranged in the
shape Of cross. The Evening Post
says the principal feature was Detroit
4 Commandary No. l. This command.
fary is said Ito be the most profioien,
in the peculiar drill Of Knights TEN.
plar Of any, organization in the coun.
] try. They were not long in demon.
strating their claims to a great deal
of credit for cclerity and soldicrly
precision, for soon after the line
moved they began their cvolutions
. and continued them at short intervals
all along the line Of march without il,
the least rctarding the general move
ment Of the procession. Their move
mcnts included the formation of line
with a front Of fifty men, and these
J were formed with such dcxteritv anc
in such general order as to provoke
), constant applause, and they were o,
their way rewarded with hearty clap.
ping Of hands and tile hutter Of hand
{ kerchiefs from ladies who occupied
j every window on Broadway where
the procession could be seen to adj
/ vantage. As the Sth 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
Z been broken to permit as many Of the
order as possible to witness the at
} tractive part of the parade. The re.
J naming divisions, up to the goth,
were each provided with bands oi
music and consisted Of from 10 to Il
lodges. Each lodge was represented
. by from one to two hundred members
J. although their divisions were very
unequal in strength Of members. Ii
!: the 25th division, st. Johns Lodg.
'fNo. l, was the bible on which Wash
ington took his first oath Of Office ad
ministcrcd as president Of the u. S
: In this division were also borne The
!. vessels containing corn, wine and oil
and golden symbolic. lodge carried
by four worshipful masters.
The Grand Lodge finally arrived a
J the temple. At least two.thirds o
the body Of participants were admit
ted and seated. The hall was it'll.
J, decorated, excep. about the stag,
where flowers, flags and drapery were
lavishly displayed. Invocation ant
other opening exercises were engaged
in, after which the grand master
grand chaplain and others made ad