The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-29
AN ANCIENT MASONIC RALL.
IN. Cradle or Masonry In the Conneeticu
Cclcny.
Norwich lCono.l Correspondent


Celeny.
Norwich Coma, Correspondent
The oldest Masonic hall In Connecticut,
and one OF the most curious structures In
the State stands near old "Brotber Jona-
than - Trumbulps war-ofice." on Leba-
mons historical green, so famous IN reyo-
Iutlonary tiues. The building Is about
six miles from tins city, and just of the
man road leading from Goshen 10 Bozrah-
vile. The date OF its erection pre-
cedes 17s0, and It's spilt-cedar-shingled
sides are rotten with ancient yellow
wood moss. IL is built in the clumsy but
strong style OF architecture OF ante-revo-
iufionary times, IL n long. low two-story
structure, and the upper floor tuis cut
several feet on either side. beyond the
main posts Ia the building, after the most
approved ancient pattern. A pronounced
"gambrel roof" forms the sides to the up
per story, terminating in graceiully-sIopiDg
caves, which have sheltered rising families
OF barn swallows for host OF years. The
wide single door TO the house Is studded
with big brass-headed nails. A heavy cast
iron knocker IN the shape OF Britannia's
coat OF arms confronts the visitor. The
door Is reached over q WORKOUT milestone
turned bottom upward and laid fat on the
ground In front OF 1t. The milestone Is
small and but four inches thick. Its finish
is exceedingly primitive. 1t was the stone
that ground the first Lebanon's corn down
on the Little Cheesebrook river, which
fumes along in the rear Of the Masonic
hall. under its deep fringes Of alden.
The Masonic hall Is a curious, weird
place to visit. One Joseph Metcalf reared
il with his own hands and good broad-aXe.
He lived 10 the lower part, and his.zeal for
the order OF Masonry led him to fit the up
per story for lodge-room, in which the
brethren in the then sDarselv-settled cOun-
try might meet. For many years it was
the single cradle Of Masonry in the eastern
part Of the colony. Now IL is tenanted
by bats, and the old residents about the
place think very appropriately, too. The
decorations in the temple chamber, though
somewhat faded now, are still start
ling enough to prOiane eyes, and show
q great amount of painstaking work
and loving labor on the part OF the
early artists. The walls are painted with
curious birds of an extremely variegated
and rather painfully gaudy plumage, sit
ting in a wilderness OF vines which nearly
cover the once white background. Then
there are scenes which, it is to be pre-
sumed, were intended TO be purely scrip
tural, although modern Masons do not pre-
tend TO understand them; and, by the by,
there are many other curious designs in the
apartment which they cannot fathom. One
sketch is supposed to belong to the Royal
Arch degree, and Its significance, OF course,
Is known only to the initiated. There are
curtains, tents, and banners In gorgeous
colors, but the most important OF the deco
rations consists OF wooden tablet. three
by four feet, framed into the wall over the
mantelpiece, upon which are painted
many symbols. The jewels OF the
Offices form the border, and within are the
pillars, the "All-seeing Eye" the square,
and cempasses, the drawn sword, pick
axe, trowel, skull and bones. sun, moon,
and stars, Mosaic pavement, aud shep-
herds crook and pot OF incense. The
coffin and beehive, which are supposed TO
be such comfort to the Masonic heart, are
pictured faithfully, and, in short, all the
work Is well executed except for the glare
from the bright colors used. The paint is
wonderfully well preserved. Other fea-
lures of the tablet are a globe in
the upper right-band corner, still re-
tanned In modern use, but the
winged spurs are unknown TO all who
have been shown the picture. and also the
serpent with the palm leaves. In the lower |
left-hand corner Is the most curious OF all |
the decorations-a mans head with an arm |
sticking out Of his mouth. The old hall |
has for years been the object Of numerous |
visits on the part Of the Masonic fraternity. |
Recently J. E. Goldsworthy purchased the |
tablet for removal to Providence, X. l., and |
the matter at the time created considerable |
and II was suggested that the |
proper place for 1t would be in the Grand
Lodge OF the State OF Connecticut.
Joseph Metcalf's daughter Charlotte is
now living, an old woman. in Boston.
Her mother was strongly opposed 10 her
husbands infatuation for the almost inces-
SAINT lodge-meetings that were held up-
stairs. One night an important meeting
was being held, and Miss Charlotte, burn
ing with desire to see what the brethren
were doing, climbed the old Bailey Sweet
ing apple-tree, which still stands behind
the hall, TO peep into the upper windows.
What she saw she never would relate,
though 1t did not terrify her. But when she |
slid down from her point OF observation the
noise attracted her father, who rushed down |
stairs and appeared before his family in the |
kitchen and demanded to know II any one |
had been out OF the house. Receiving no |
reply he reiterated his demand. Char |
lotte's heart began to sink, but her mother |
was equal 10 the emergency. Rising in |
her righteous wrath. she confronted her |
husband and sarcastically asked:
"What! Can't you make your internal |
deviltry work to-night?"
That settled ii. The old man left the |
room without another word. II is said |
that Charlotte's portrait as she then looked |
now hangs In the Grand Lodge-room in |