The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-30
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MASONIC CELEBRATION.
Hospitality of the Cokesbury Brethren

Masonic brethren Of this place, Nine
ty Six, Laurcns, Greenwood, Anderson;
Due West, Smiths Cross Roads and
other places, on Thursday last accepted
the invitation Of Basconb Lodge Mt
Colkcshury to participate in the cclebra-
tion' of st. Johns Day. There were
e,,out one hundred and twenty-five visi-
ting brethren present and all were COM
fortably provided for in every respect
during their stay.
The brethren from Abbevillc met in
the Lodge Room and arrayed in sashes,
aprons, uniforme,. &C., indicating the
various degrees that each member had
received, formed a procession and
marched TO tie Depot and left by the
eirht o'clock train. Arriving at Hodges
Depot an ample number of vehicles
were waiting to convey them to Cokcs-
bury. They were halted in the grove in
front of the Female College and at once
proceeded to the Lodge Room where q
T,odre Of Master Masons was opened,
and procession formed, which march
ed@toG the Methodist church,. After
some excellent music by the choir, the
7 large assembled audience were delight
ed with an address by the most Excel
lent Grand High Priest, A. r.. Smythe,
of charleston, At the conclusion OF
the speech the procession' again formed
and returned TO the Lodge Room, and
were called from ''labor. to refresh
ment,n to await dinner.
Our readers may draw on their imagi-
nation for the finest and most bountiful
dinner that they have ever seen, this
Cokesbury Masonic Dinner will excel
them all. Every arrangement was full
and complete and the Dinner was
abuhdantly enjoyed by the guests, as
we'll as by the hosts. The day was warm,
and iced lemonade at proper intervals
was dispensed with good effect.
After dinner, in answer to a toast, NJ.
w. G. NJ. Hoyt responded in all ad-
dress principally to the craft, in which
he alluded to the fact of the Prince OF
Wales being recently installed Grand
Master of Masons Of England, the dedl-
cation of a superb Masonic Temple IN
New York and the part taken by the
Masons in the Bunker Hill Centennial,
as showing the popularity and strength
of Masonry and indicating the kindly
offices taken by them in restoring fra
tcrnal feelings between the North and
the South. At the conclusion of which,
in consequence of the railroad schedule,
the public festivities of the day were
closed, and a large proportion of the
craft babe adieu to those who had so
handsomely entertained them.
In the afternoon and evening the Roy
al Arch Masons assembled and the fol-
lowing degrees were conferred:
The "Marl1 Masters" Degree, NJ
F.. H. p. J. F. G. DuPre, presiding.
The Past Masters" Degree, M E.
G.. H. p A. Il. Smythe, presiding.
The Most Excellent Mastcr's" " De-
gree, NJ E.. p c. H. p Jas. a.
Hoyt, presiding.
The Royal Arch" Degree, NJ E.
H.. p John A. Stuart, presiding.s
Thecraft were most nicely entertained,
and all speak in the highest terms of the
hospitality and good cheer of their
Cokesbury brethren. The entire citi-
zens of Cokesbury are noted for their
cordiality and ability to entertain in the
most agreeable manner, and of course
the Masons Of that community are none
| the less so.