The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-05
mnsons AID THE oBEI.lsK.
sceeption Given % Commander Cor
ringe in EBrookIyn--A Fitting Test

| Gorringe bv Angio-Saxon Ledge, NO. J3f,
r. and A. NJ, In the iodge-rOoms at the
corner OF Fulton street aud Fiatbush ave-
nuc. Brooklyn, last night, was success In
every way. About three hundred repre-
sentative Masons were present to welcome
Mr. Gorringe. The rooms had been hand
somely decorated under the direction OF w.
Brother Shanahan. The East was adorned
With choice shrubs and flowers. To the
right OF the Master was miniature obelisk
OF red and white pinks and roses, bearing
on its centre square and compass IN
yloIets on groundwork OF white piDks.
At the north'and south OF the chair were
pots OF flowers. The Masonic light, the
pillars OF the room, and the organ were
decorated in wreaths OF smilax picked out
with pink. The chairs of the Wardens
were decked with lilies and ferns. On the
Mosaic pavement were broad spreading
palms and ferns, and on the left OF tie
Master was low wooden model OF the
obeisk.
After the opening work OF the Lodge had
been concluded, Lieutenant. Commander
septed 10 the Worshipful Master by Right
Worsbipful ID. T. Walden on behalf OF the
Reception Committee.
Lieutenant. Commander Gorringe was
then conducted to the East, where he was
introduced to the brethren. Right Wor.
shipfuI Brother William Henry White then
made an address OF welcome on behalf OF
the Masons OF the Third Masonic district,
saying
"The grateful duty has been devOlved on
me to welcome you into this Masonic family
gathering. Heartily do / greet you IN their
name and in the name OF that great frater-
nity whose roll-call is answered the world
around. In this Lodge on this occasion the
irksome formality OF official welcome is
merged and lost in the grateful sense OF the
pleasure we have in seeing you returned
! triumphant over the obstacles that beset
YOUR mission abroad. We are here to con-
yey our sense Of obligation for the great SER
vice you have rendered the fraternity in your
Egyptian discoveries, and TO assure you OF
our hearty appreciation OF your jealous and
we'll directed efforts in our behalf. We
were very proud to learn that 1t had been
reserved for an American Mason TO break
the seal OF centuries and bring TO light the
message our Egyptian brethren closed up
in the base OF the monolitb; prOuder when
we learned that Brooklyn had given this
Masonic explorer Masonic light; proudest
when we found that we could again con-
other of Der worthy children had added vet
greater honor 10 that she now so modestly
wears. To your trained observation and
Masonic intelligence is the whole craft
indebted for indubitable proof OF the
antiquity OF our lineage. BY one hap
~ discovery, rightly interpreted, you
have stripped from the foundations OF
our Order the dfbriS Of centuries
and exposed its cornerstone for the in.
speciion OF Intelligent men. Nc reading or
thinking Mason now doubts the legitimacy
of your conclusion that the work you undd
in the removal OF the obelisk, to which you
brought such painstaking and scientific
care, was laid and erected with equal care
and Judgment by men who were operative
Masons bound together by secret know
ledge-possossing the same embems, and at
taching to them the same symbolic sgnif-
canoe as we do, who to-day claim TO be
their successors. There can no longer be a
doubt that the antelope OF our FreemasOnry
is to be found in the Egyptian hierarchies
which kept within their secret Organza-
tons scientific knowledge OF such of the
arts and sciences as were then known, and
perpetuated the civilizing elements Of hu.
MARTY and learning, and ieyerenced liy-
ing and true God. Such was the character
temples, and tombs OF ancient Egypt. We
proclaim those men to have been MasOns,
let others call them what they may; we
claim that the peculiar arrangement OF the
foundations Of that obelisk, its regular size,
its exact astronomical location, and the en-
bems found within its base, are Masonic
in every detail. Our venerable order,
a vigorous organization then, and, true
TO its pure instincts. was, as now, torch
bearer in the march OF human progress and
learning. You have rendered a most dis.
tnguished service by your discoveries TO
the learned Mason whose scholarly taste
led him TO seek, amid the tangled Skein OF
tradition, mythology, and history the one
bright thread whose continuous length
would lead him back through the labyrinth
Of vague and dreary speculation to the true
source OF the order. Henceforth he sees
with clearer vision, and his deductions are
strengthened by the basis of undeniable
fact with which you have provided him,
and for which all MasOns are by so
much your debtors. The yeriest sceptic
who greeted the first tidngs OF your dis
coyery with careless disregard no longer
doubts the force of your accumulated
facts, but, resting his claim upon the
Masonic character of these revealed en-
blems of antique organized secret societies,
demands Of the world name and character
for those relics II they are not Masonic. We
appreciate the learned skill and accomplish.
ed engineering that you have displayed in
the successful execution OF task that had
previously tested the abilities OF the ablest
engineers OF France and England, and con- !
graduate you and ourselves on the near ap- !
proach of the completion OF this task, and |
~. =. i
Mason OF our own family to so happily sup |
ply the missing link in our chain of evil |
dence. In the service OF your cOun- |
try we trust that the kindly fateS reserve |
for you high honors and exalted rank in |
your chosen profession; in social life may |
you meet true, devoted friends, and share in |
its truest happiness; but it requires none OF |
the prophets skill to foresee that high Ma
sonic honors will reward your asSiduity and |
zeal. In our annals your name will be in
delibly engrossed, and your fame become
the common heritage Of our lodges for all !
time; and to conscientious Mason no
earthly rewards can be more precious than
this assured place in the heart and memory
OF our ancient and honorable order. And |
now, sir, j again extend TO you a hearty,
brotherly welcome, and thank you for your
deeds in the name OF your brothers here
assembled may, the circle widens out be-
yond the barrier OF any lodge-and / well
come You to the fraternal love and hospital
ity Of all Masons who recognize manly
worth and disinterested service 10 the COM
mon good"
In reply to these addresses and to the
hearty welcome accorded him by the breth-
rem, Lieutenant Commander Gorringe said
81 l thank YOU for your kindly greeting and