Daily Republican., 1880-09-14

. il.oV SciOck ana formed In the bat
terry. II moved of In the following or
der. ..a..-.
Marshals,
Washington Gray's Band,
Lafayette and Oriental Lodges, Of
Wilmington, 108 members.
Upland Band Of Chester, Pa.
Dupsnt Lodge Of Rising Sun, so
members.
Representatives Of all the Winnings ton
Lodges.
81. Johns Lodge Of New Castle, 70
members.
| Friendship Band of Chester.
Scott Lodge Of Chester, 80 members.
Chester Lodge Of Chester, 23 members.
Armstrong Lodge Of Newport "a
members.
i Rlgnold Band Of Reading, Pa.
| st. Johns Commandery Of VIII
mington, 30 members.
Mary Commsndery, Of Philadelphis, 45
members.
Reading Commandery, 20
members.
| Grand Lodge of Delaware, rs
members.
| The parade passed through the
principal streets, presenting fine ap.
pearanse and then marched 10 the
hall where the dedicatory exercises
took place at high noon in the Lodge
room, the usual exercises being gone
through with.
Those present then proceeded to the
auditorium where the Grafton was de-
livered by Rev. J. Il. Caldwell to large
audience.
The address was as fellows
To those who have not been initiated
into the secret my ysteries Of Free Ma
sonry there doubtless are something's
In these rooms which are hard To be
understood, but among those who are
familiar with the history of these an
Oient rites everything is instructive and
many parts Of the ritual and its pecu.
liar phrassology have deep signin.
canee. ....
Free Masonry, however, sets up no
peculiar claim 10 such things, for all
similar instructions, both ancient and |
moderp, have what may be called their
mysteries--their rites, ceremonies and
customs, which convey many lessons to
their members. Nearly all societies,
not excepting the various religions Of
the world, do to q certain extent, and
in ways that are peculiar TO themselves
cover q portion Of their proceedings, il
not wholly from the public eye, al
least with veil Of mystery. As re-
CARDS some forms Of religion, the mys-
tioal parts were doubtless contrived on
purpose to hide their meaning from the
vulgar and thus invest them with an
air Of sasredness.
II Is not 80 with Pree MsSonsry as II
now exists in the enlightened com
munities Of the world. It is too late
in the history Of time for Q particular
dress, even II worn by . priest, or
mystical forms Of speech by whom 30.
ever they may be uttered or muttered,
or for symbolical rites, however, i'm.
posing they may be, to mislead the in
telligent or dupe the ignorant. There
fore, you who are nessitated are not to
anything that may trsnspire
or 70 design . part either actors In
these scenes 10 impose upon ignorant
A free noble purpose
the brethren who are employ
ID in the ssrrvances Of thiS day. II
y II
Historically considered the subject Of ,
ledications is full Of interest, II for ,
nothing else, on account of the impss-
ng nature Of the ceremonials connected >
with those. .
These were not mere unmeaAing per-
ormances. They had Q meaning; they !;
conveyed lessons Of practical value. :
they were designed to teach important :,
ruths. Let us, therefore, inquire into 4
he meaning Of this ceremony Of dedioa- =
ion. What does It meant What is its y
mporti What 10 II intended to tsachi a
Ve use the terms dedicate" and "con- a
ecrate" merely in the same sense and !,
n fact In services Of this sort. They ~
aean precisely the same thing-to set . .
part and devote 10 some special use, o
enerally to some religious or sacred :,
ss. II there is any difference in the ~ n
leaning Of the two words 1t relates TO N =
be manner other than the purpose OF n,
be dedication.
A curse may be performed mentally ~
4 the form Of vow or solemn n,
urpose ofthe mind, unattended with e
inward rites, or ceremonies, but usu- In
ly . dedication Is performed with -,
lore or less Of outward ceremony and r. m
tual observance. 10,
The idea Of completeness or entire y.
ess attaches to whatever Is dedicated.
il Is house or other inanimate thing
,ery particle Of Its substance with all II,
s capacities and powers Is set apart m,
ID devoted to the special purpose in. 40
nded by the dedication. y In an an
,dication there Is always the recogni- ~
IN and acknowledgment ofa Supreme III,
,wer, in whose name and to whose
rvics the subject Is dedicated.
Without the recognition and acknowl- .
gmsnt Of such power the dedica. wh
N services would be but unmeaning CHI
ummery. u y Free Masons dedicate
cir halls, &itArs and emblematic i'm. B.
ements, and by this solemn perform DO
90 they mean that such things are Jes
! apart TO be used exclusively for W.
asouic purposes. As those purposes Bel
lbrace sacred obligations, the incul- Ma
lion Of truth and the practice Of all +
,ial ans moral duties, there is some Der
nkk n.l nl 80 h. - -tkal M q