National Republican., 1878-06-25
FESTIVAL OF ST. JOHN.
Celebration by the Colored Masonic
Bodies Yesterday.
Procession and Jubilee at Gales Woods
Drill Of Knights Tempiar-oration by
Professor Richard T. Greener-The
First Initiation of CoIored Masons
Some Interesting Historical
Facts - The Orators Ad-
vice to His brethren.

| The colored Masons of the District and rop.
resentatives from the adjoining States cele-
bratod st. Johns Day, yesterday. by a parade
and festival. The commanderies, lodges, and
chapters began to assemble at Masonic Hall,
Eleventh street northwest, about eight n. M,
and about eleven o'clock proceeded to the City
Hall, whero they were formed in marching
order by the Grand Marshal, Jonathan X.
Countee assisted by First Aid J. II. Battles,
the right resting on Fourth street aud Indiana
avenue. The line Of march was taken up
about twelve o'clock. with the following order
o f. ,cssion The @ and CommanGery, headed
by Mckenny's band and under the command
OF A. W. Faucil,:.E. q. c.; simOnd's Command
cry, No. l, under Sir John Clark, L. c.; Mount
Calvary Commandery. No. 4, under Sir Perry
II. Carson, +. C.. representation from Hen
derson, No. 9, aud Dec, No. 3; Grand Chapter,
under T. 4. Jackson NJ. Z. q. II. p. Prince
Hall Chapter, No. 5, under J. b. Washington,
VI. Z. H. F.; Union Chapter, No. 9. of George
town, under Isaac Davenport, T. H. p; st.
Johns Chapter, No. Z, under j. n. Hunt, NJ.
L. ii. p; King Hiram Chapter, No. :, under
Simon Archer, VI. l.. IL. p. delegation from
Virginia, consisting Of the Grand Chapter of
the state, under J. B. Montgomery, G. Z. c.;
Eureka Chapter, No. 2; Jerusalem Chapter,
No. Rising sun Chapter, No. o; Acacia Chap.
ter, No. 8-all of Alexandra-under II. l..
Harris, w. NJ. the blue department. compris.
ing Sprig of Acacia, No. II, 20 members; John
+. Cook Lodge, No. TO- 25 members; Pythago-
ras Lodge, No. o, 25 members; Warren Lodge,
No. $, 30 members; Widow Son Lodge No. :,
Of Georgetown, 80 members Meridian Lodge,
No. 0, rs members; Eureka Lodge, No. g. 25
membcrs Hiram Lodge. No. 4, of Georgetown,
20 m'mbers; Phoenix Lodge, No. 81, 30 mem:
bers Social Lodge, No. /, 80 members; Grand
Lodge Of Virginia, and representatives
Of Nos l, 2, and 3; also delegation from
Lynchburg, Va, representatives Of the grand
lodge of Maryland and the grand lodge Of the
District. The mon were all clothed in suits Of
black with suitable Masonic rcgalias, and pre-
sented very neat and fine appearance.
THE PROCESSION
moved over the following route: Down Indi-
ana avenue to Third, TO Pennsylvania avenue,
up Pennsylvania avenue to Washington street.
Georgetown; thence to West, down West to 7,
thence TO Massachusetts, avenue, down Massa.
chusctts avenue TO New York avenue, along
| New York avenue TO the new Scheutzen Park
ut Gales woods where they arrived about half
past two o'clock, and were received by the re-
| cepton committse-Brother J. II. Countec
Companion e. II. W. stokolcy, and Sir Knight
Charles H. Jones.
The knights moved directly to the pavilion,
where they were drawn up in dress parade Or
der and were put through a series OF knights
| Templar evolutions very acccptably to the
large audience which had gathered. aud were
then dismissed. An hour or so was spent very
agreeably chatting, partaking of refreshments
swinging, singing, &C. The two bands added
very much TO the pleasure of the occasion, and
their strains were listened to with great de-
| light. About five o'clock the regular pro-
gramme Of exercises were commenced The
Masonic choir, T. =. Bell leader, rendered sew
| eral ine selections, and prayer was delivered
by Rev. J. W. Bell. George W. Brooks Most
Worthy Grand Master, made the opening ad-
dress.
THE GRAFTON.
Profcssr Richard T. Greener, the orator of
the day followed. He began by alluding to
the festival Of Saint John, the disciple whom
Jesus loved, and referred to Saint Johns con-
nectiOn with Masonry. He gave an historical
account Of the first initiation of colored Ma
sons-Prince Hall aud others, 9th of March,
! l175. In l7Si they applied to the Grand
Lodge of England for a charter. September
II, 1854 1t was granted, and is numbered 49,
African Lodge, upon page 80 Of the Jurisdic-
tiOnal Claims of the Most Worthy Grand
Lodge of England. Tho charter bore the
names Of Lord Howard, Henry Frederick
Ddkc Of Cumberland He discussed the claim
OF the Massachusetts, Grand Lodge to jurisdic-
ton over Prince Hall and his brethren, and
traced the rise of colored Masonry until the
present time. There were now nearly lOO,O
recognition at hone they applied abroad for
true fraternity and found it. Brother Caubet
pleaded the cause Of the American colored ma
sons before the Grand Orient of Francs, In
1915. At Darmstadt, 10th Of May, 1873, the
Grand Lodge Of Hamburg voted with re.
gard to the motion made by the Grand Lodge,
Prince Hall, and of the Grand Lodges of Ohio
the convention of Grand Lodges declare that
these Grand Lodges appear properly cOnsti-
tuted, aud that the German Lodges will ac-
cord TO members Of these lodges and their
sister lodges, without reserve and joyfully,
acceptance into their lodges" Apina Grand
Lodge, Of Switzerland, had also recognized the
cOlOrcd brethcrcn. St. Andrews Lodge of
Massachusetts,, of which Paul Revere and Jo-
seph Warren were masters, admitted
colOred members. But, said the orator.
at Is not by charters simply
be they ever so genuine, nor by seals
and titles, though doubly aud trebly authen.
tiCatcd, that we are to develop and make real
progress as race and as Masous our salvation
is u be worked out by our own right arm, by
our own innate worth aud rigid sense Of duty
as well ms appreciation Of rights. No amount
of recognition can make us mel until we first
recognize aud cultivate in ourselves those Gle
mcnts Of respect, thrift and intelligence by
| which alone race can be exalted.
DO we complain because the veil is not lifted
at once Do we nurmur sometimes as we
| wander through the wilderness signing for
perfect manhood and cquaity2 We may re-
member that Ireland has been in subjuction
over 600 years aud the yoke is not completely
lifted. DO we mourn often ut the intolerance
of caster Let us recall how frtters bound
the HinGoo, the Egyptian, the Frenchman and
Englishman. We may remember that the fore.
most intellectual race in Europe, the one
strongest In wealth, in genius in song aud
literature Is the once despised lsracltes, and
recollcct what prosecutions they have endured
in all countries aud ages since their Dispersion"
After referring to the antiquity of Masonry,
its umiyesaity, and its principles of liberty,
equality, and fraternity, the speaker CON
cluded with an eloquent appeal, to prove them
selves good citizens true MasUns, and earnest
Christians, by steady upright lives, maintcn.
ance of order, obedience to authority, and
patience under supposed wrongs and positive
grievances. Professor Grcener was followed
by Charles W. Proctor, who made q very inter-
estng address, taking for his subject The
History Of Chapter MusOnry in the District"
The festivities were continued until midnight.
Row at II Funeral.
Albert Biondi, u young Italian, living on
Seventh street, near G. southeast, is no
rospecter of the dead The funeral Of his sister
took place yesterday afternoon, and his grief