Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-19
ON THE SQUARE.
THE MASONIC BAZAAR AND FAIR.
Grand Inauguration Ceremonies
A Brilliant Spectacle-The Ladies'
In Charge-DOnations Continue 20
Roll In-P1ora1 Tributes.

AA ~
Roll In-P1ora1 Tributes.
The Masonic Fair and Bazaar, for which
such extensive preparations have been
making the past several weeks, was for
mally inaugurated last evening at the NAM
moth Exhibition Hall, erected in Oglethorpe
Barracks specially for the purpose. Through
out yesterday the ladies, assisted by the
members of the several lodges, were
busily engaged in arranging the numerous
handsome articles that had been donated,
and in putting the finishing touches in the
way of decorations TO their booths. The
amount of work accomplished was tremen-
dous, and clearly demonstrated the verify of
the assertion so often made that whatever
the noble ladies of Savannah undertook to
do would be successfully and gloriously ac-
complished. The Exhibition Hall last night,
with its four superbly designed departments
of six sections each, for the four Lodges OF
the city, presented a scene that we venture
to assert has never before been witnessed in
Savannah, or in any city in Georgia, possibly
In the South. To attempt q detailed descrip-
ton of the beautiful sight, with the i'm
press of its b%rilliancy, the gorgeous dis.
play and the charm Of the scores OF lovely
ladies upon our mind would, we feel. prove
a failure, aud we reserve it for another
occasion. Suffice 1t that the opening was a
grand, a magnificent success, and not only
reflected credit upon the fraternity, but
upon all good citizens of the Forest City,
who had so cheerfully given their assist
ance to the cause.
It was thought that the hall was amply
| anmmn6i0ua IN aaannpnaHofa oil Who do
sired to visit the Fair, but this expectation
proved fallacious, as hundreds were unable
to obtain admission, and the hall was so
densely crowded that at times locomotion
was difficult, especially before the com
mencement Of the opening ceremonies and
Immediately after.
The profuse floral decorations, the myriad
brilliant gas jets, the playing of the lovely
fountain, the base of which was adorned
with choice natural flowers, made up a pic
ture of Respondent beauty, the charm of
which was enhanced by the presence of Sa-
vannsh's fair daughters.
Shortly after s O'Clock there was a buzz
throughout the spacious hall that the Bazaar
and Fair was about to be opened in formal
style, and there was an immediate pressure
to the eastern part of the hall, where the
stage was located.
THE INAUGURATION.
Precisely at S:15 O'Clock, w. NJ. j. H. Es-
till, Of Solomon's Lodge No. l, for whose
benefit the Fair is given, advanced to the
front of the stage, and after announcing the
programme, introduced the orator of the
evening, Hon. Rufus e. Lester, in some
pertinent remarks.
Mr.. Lester was received with enthusiasm,
and when the applause subsidized, addressed
the vast throDg, substantially in the follow
ing manner:
/ E~otL-o,, 81 fba AFuc{fo IT,. 7 0J;oe aMFJa,,o a
and Friends:
The brethren of the General Committee bid
me speak a word of salutation to you.
In their name, and in behalf of the Masonic
Lodges of this city, l greet you all. In the be-
half of Solomon's Lodge, whose history of good
works is measured by a century and a half;
of Clinton Lodge, venerable and respected not
less for Its virtues than its years; OF Zerub-
babel, which for its work may be styled the
sublime; and of Ancient Landmark, the young
est of the brotherhood.
1t is not my task to weave a garland of words
for this occasion. The hand of woman has
lent sufficient adornment here; and we stand
tonight in the presence of a scene, wherein it
seems the very inspiration of beauty has
To the ladies who have so cheerfully respond
ed in this cause, more than thanks are due.
For without them the effort to perform the duty
of raising a sum Of money sufficient to relieve
q lodge of financial embarrassment, must have
been dull and irksome, as well as fruitless.
But they have thrown around the work such
! ailuFom6ULS tHab Tie QllCulGy Will uOb DC 10
open the purse, but to close it.
What means this concourse of people? Is it
to crafty an idle curiosity Is it merely to see
a reed shaken by the wind? Or is it not be-
cause a cord has been struck whose vibration
speaks a revival of that Masonic sentiment
which recognizes a God and Father without re-
gard to sect or creed or cline, and the COM
mon brotherhood of men to which each is in
some way bound by a common humanity,
Were the occasion suitable and the time suf-
1oient, we might recount the history of the
! Order of Freemasons, and speak OF its tenetS,
and the virtues, the practice OF which 1t teaches.
OF Truth. the central point from which springs
every virtue and every good-the blazing star
that gives light and life to the sy stem. OF Pru-
dence, the balance wheel of conduct. and of
Temperance her twin sister. OF Justice, the
cement and support of society, so often OBJ
scured on earth, but giving earnest that it ex-
lists with unClouded luStre beyond the shores
cf time. OF ~Fatth-faith in God-the rock
upon which Masonry is built. For be it
known that Masonry has an end and an aim, a
final purpose. Without it it were idle to speak
of it's uses or its benefits. With it il becomes a
grand fabric and a worthy place for the
scholar, the man of science, the serious, the
contemplative and the wise. The Mason walks
upon the shores of tins, whence he knows OBJ
livion'S wave soon shall wash him, his name
and every track and trace.
"Yet with Him who counts the sands
And holds the water in his hands.
He knows "a lasting record stands
Inscribed against his name.
VI Oil NAlo 49, PAS Eo AOA5Hg
OF all this thinking soul has thought
And from these fieeting moments caught,
For glory or for shame"
OF the beautiful and the cheerful in all things
in nature and IN human life. How the good Ma
son. not unmindful of death, is more mindful
of life. How this thought is caught from ma
lures OWE lovely face, teaching him to look
upward, and not into his coffin. and be forever
clad in the Of the tomb, happy only
in the enjoyment Of misery. Around
h m on every hand the flowers in
their loneliness and beauty bloom, above
his head is spread the celestial canopy, the
stars, those windows of Heaven, through
which the angels Of light peep upon the world.
All these teach him the religion of the Beauti-
How the good Mason teaches his brother the
lesson of life by an exemplary life rather than
by a reproving tongue, taking less delight in
d~ecrying the morals of others than in improv-
ing his own.
These would be themes of interest-but 1
forbear. My time is up. My dozen or sixteen
lines are spoken, and are in the past. OF
them, like me-, there will soon be no track or
trace. These garlandS so tastefully twined-
the leaf. the bud and the f~ower-will wither
away. But the good deeds done here in this
cause.-the kind words spoken, like all good
actions, we believe will bear fruit forever,
and nayhap, like vapors rising out of the
earth and gathered into q cloud" will fall
in sweet and refreshing showers on the same
field from which they are exhaled."
These remarks were received with great
applause, supplemented with a lively air
from the Guards Brass Band, stationed on
the stage.
Brother Charles 8. Mallette then sang,
with thrilling effect, the beautiful
MASONIC HYMN
given below, the audience Joining In the
grand chorus, accompanied by the Guards
Band:
Hail, Brother Masons, hail!
Let friendship long prevail,
And bind US fast.
May harmony and peace
Our happiness increase,
And friendship never cease,
While life shall last.
Sincerity and love
Descendants from above,
Our minds employ;
Morality our pride,
And Truth our constant guide,
With us are close allied,
And form our joy.
We on the Level meet,
And every Brother greet,
Skilled in our art;
And when our labor's past,
Each Brothers hand Wen grasp,
Then. on the Square at last,
Friendly wen part.
May wisdom be our care,
And virtue from the Square,
By which we live,
That we at last may join
The heavenly Lodge sublime,
Where we shall perfect shine,
With God above.
Tbo nDn,J.. avoroIeos oIoeod with Tho