The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-06
THE MASONIC CONVOCATION
Grand Success of Yesterdays Work
in the Higher Degrees.
a Large Number OF Visitors rom Abroad
Present-The Banquet and Speeches
of the Evening.

CuHliuubu gbSNeTudy DS bHo CbulciElH| - thb
15e and I6o saraiah Council OF Princes of Je.
rusalem, during the afternoon. A large nuinber
OF visitors from Cincinnati. Columbus, Cleve-
land, Dayton, Louisville and other places in adj
joining States were present, including H..
Henry L. Palmer, $50, sovereign grand
commander OF the Northern Masonic
jurisdiction; M. EnOch L. Carson,
$50. deputy for Ohio. and H..
e. g. Hamilton, $50. of Valparaiso, deputy for
Indiana.
Upon the opening of the council the distiH-
guiShed visitors were received with the grand
h0nors Of the rite, after which the work of the
degrees was proceeded with. New tableaux had
been prepared, and ali who expressed any opiu-
ion. said they were the most beautiful ever ston
in these degrees. Every officer exertod himself
to do his work well. and sue
ceeded. but upon M. r.. Sow,
P. Or. Master Charles e. Wright, and
H.. H. McGaffey. grand master of ceremonies,
fell the chief burden of the work. During the
session the MuHcie Masonic Qnartette, consist
ing of William Patterson. first tenor; William
Little, second tenor; John Cassidy, first pass,
and Lon NJ. Nicely, second bass, took part in the
music, singing "Heavenly Father in fiEe style.
In she evening TIE work was in indianapolis
Chapter of Rose Croix, 10 aud $50. with Judge
Byron K Elliott, NV. and P,i.Master, pre-
siding, and Jacob w. Smith, $50, as grand mas
ter of ceremonies The large stage and new
scenes gave opportunity for some very
fine tableaux in these beautiful degrees, ana tEe
effect was most grand. The music was finer
than ever before, the Muncie quartet singing
one number, "T alone the cross must bear"
while the Scottish Rite quartet filed the rest of
the programme published yesterday morning.
The entire work of the day was most success
ful, and the visitors from abroad were i'm
pressed. with the fact that the Indiana bodies
will take the first place in performing tho rites
and ceremonies incident TO these degrees.
The proceeding for this. the closing day Of the
c0nvocatim consists OF the work in the Consist
DRY, 19o TO 32o. commencing at 10 O'Clock 4. NJ.
These are the most impressive of tile series.
though there f. little opportunity for a ino
musical programme.
THE BANQUET.
At the close OF the ceremonies in the chapter
of Rose Cr0ix the visitors andsmembers were
ushered into the banquet room. where covers
were laid for nearly 100 guests. When all had
taken their places, DIT. C. Z. Wright who presId-
ed, called upon Rev. Myron ". Reed, 80, TO
invoke the divine blessing, after which the
feast of good things was quickly
disposed of. The president then in
troduced Judge Byron X. Elliott, who
welcomed the visiting brethren in u brief but
most eloquent address, which was heartily APP
III. Il. f Carson, in response to the second
toast. "Fhe supreme Council" sald this was the
first occasion he had TO find fault with Indian
apoIls for ealhug upon him to respond to the
toast. He said the Supreme Council was to
Scottish Rite Masons what the government was
to the ~nation-the head and front
Of the rite in the Unhed States;
acts OF the Supreme Council, our loyalty TO it is
answering. The speaker then adverted 80 the
growth of the Scottish Rite. which, he said, had
| lppn within the n89t few HRarS wOnAprfnl In
early days he dreamed Of what the rite might
be. First comes The beautiful lessons. then
combines all that Is beautiful to the eye
and pleasing TO the ear. In 1852 the Fite was
Indiana, and now every State is represented in
either the Northern or Southern supreme Coun.
Gil. Thirty years ago IT was Thought antagon-
istio TO masonry, but 1T was not so
now. He has never yet found u true
Mason who was not a better Ma
son for belonging to the Scottish Rite.
To the young members lie said the day would
never come when they would regret becoming
| Scottish Rite Masons, and long may they con
| tinue their allegiance TO the Supreme Council.
| H. l.. Palmer-If the duty of responding to
the toHst, The Sovereign Graud Conmander,"
lis at this time, I fear 1 should
not have been here. But 1 came to
council upon yonr ilustrous brother here (refer-
ring to n. r. Ruokle, $50, which was received
with great applansel. The speaker acknowl-
! edged the compliment to the high office which
il was his good fortune to Ml. If a stranger
we're placed where he stood the inquiry would
arise, why are these men here tO-night-an as
sembly of nearly 400 individuals, from
| whom q Senate Of the United States
might be selected and do it no
| Injustice. They are Scottish Rite Masons. The
/ first three degrees are the cornerstone upon
! which the whole superstructure Is erected, and
the Seottish Rite Is simply carry ing ont the les
sons therein taught. The rite was formed for
the purpose of making men better c,tizens, bet
ter husbands and fathers, faithful TO God
and their country. II leads us on
In the pathway of duty until it leads us to this
cross of Christ. No man can sit here as a Scot
/ fish Rite mason unless he believes man ia i'm
| mortal, and In the religion taught by Jesus
Christ. The speaker expressed his qualification
at the growth of these bodies in Indiana, and
| his opinion that since they had got into the
new quarters their progress would be
| attn greater. He hoped that the RITE in this
[ STATE, reserving their zeal, would attain the
| front rank In the Northern Masonic jurisdiction.
n. II Ruekle, in response TO THE Indiana Con
I sistory," hoped that this was only the beginning
Of many Masonic meetings which might be held
III this building.
| Bruce Carr, in response to "The Grand Lodge
and grand master OF Mason's in Indiana said:
ain the beautiful ceremonies witnessed here This
| evening, a master Mason haa II fuIier view of
the lessons Taught In the first degrees. The
/ glory OF ancient craft Masonry is symbolism.
Yet the msu who shall portray In his char
acter the symbolism or Masonry is the true Ma
SON"
In response to "rhe Grand Commandery," s.
B. Sweet said he mad n warm feel
ing for the Grand ConImandery, and Tor
! the Scottish Rite, and he would have every Scot
fish Rite Mason u Knight femplar. ana every
1 Knight Ielnplar u SCOlJl5u KITE mason. Tho
year last past was one of the most prosperous
In the history of the Grand CoInmandery of In
diana.
j. b. Kimbail. for che GLASS; protested
against his selection TO respond to the toast. and
If he could find the man who selected
him he would -. The class has advanced
step by step in Masonry up 10 this evening. He
thought when he became a T1mplar he stood
on the pinnacle of Masonry. But in the Scottish
Rite degr, os he WAS more than pleased. We
have taken lessons in these two days which will
make us better men aud better citizens.
s. NJ sullivan responded for ''Our Visitors"
He said: The visiting brethren thank You
for their reception. SO long as you
make these spreads and give
us such an intellectual feast "a we have en-
joyed to-day, you viii have many visitors.
No other body on earth has the social feature