St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-06-25
Grand Masonic Celebration.
The Imposing Ceremonies held Yesterda;

past in connection with the dedication
of their lew temple i'm Sanborn's block
on Main street, which was described
in these columns at the time of its
completion, last March. The upper
portion of the new building was deco
rated with bunting, surrounding the
emblematic &c" with the square aud
compass. Below were the notices,
"Weicome Brethren" "In Honor of the
Grand Lodge" "In Honor to the Visit
ing Sir Knights" The Odd FewllOs did
a courteous act, for which the MasOns
express appreciation, by decorating
their building on Railroad street, the
motto 'Brotherly Love- being promi-,
nent, with bunting and the emblem of
the triple links displayed above it.
Flags were hung across Railroad street
opposite Randall's block and JOhnson's
block.
Headquarters for the visiting lodges
and encampments were provided in the
vacant stores under Music hall, the
Grand lodge occupying the Grand
Army hall. The visiting brethren be-
gan to arrive Tuesday night, and dur
ing Wednesday forenoon nearly all the
organizations expected arrived. Soon
after nine O'Clock an excellent serenade
was given to the officers of the Grand
lodge of Vermont by the st. JOhnsbury
han nd in IF no 10
house. At about 1890 O'Clock, Pales-
tine commandery and the st. Johns
bury band escorted the Grand lodge
from the Grand Army hall to the new
Masonic hall, which was dedicated by
the Grand LOdge,-MOst Worshipful
Marsh o. Perkins, grand master,-ac-
cording to the ritual of the order. At
the close of the dedicatOry services,
refreshments were served to the Ma
sons in attendance in the banquet hall.
Public interest conferred largely i'm
the grand parade at 30 p. M, which
was fine affair, bringing into line 400
men, and including three brass bands.
The uniforms of the several bands,
lodges and encampments, gave pleas
ing variety and brilliancy to the pro-
cessiOn. Sir +. f. Fletcher made an
excellent chief marshal, and was well
seconded by his aides, Sir G.. III. HOr-
ton and Sir j. II. Gleason. The head
of the procession was photographed by
Clifford just before starting. The
procession was led by platoon of po-
lice and the st. JOhnsbury band, fol-
lowed by Palestine Commandery
Knights Templars of this place, num-
boring 40; Crescent Lodge of Lyndon
vile, 20 members ; the Danville band !;
Washburn Lodge of Danville, about
30 members Moose River Lodge of
West Concord. about 30 members :;
| Caledonia Lodge of West Burke, %
members the Littleton, n. H., brigade
band st. Girard COmmandery Of Lit
Teton, over 40 members North Star
| Commandery of Lancaster, n. H., %
members Passumpsic lodge of this
town, numbering about 100; and the
officers of the Grand Lodge in car
riages. The procession moved from
Main street to Mt. Pleasant, thence to
| Summer, thence to Western avenue,
thence to Main street again, down
Eastern avenue, up Railroad street,
and countermarched up the avenue to
Music hall, which was soon filed by
the MasOns and the public. A large
number of Masonic officials occupied
seats on the platform.
Worshipful Master A. +. Nichols of
Passumpsic lodge presided. After mu
sic by the St. Johnsbury band, prayer
was offered by Rev. Edwin WheelOck
of Cambridge, grand chaplain of the
Grand lodge of Vermont. Col, Kit
tredge Haskins of BrattlebOro, grand
high priest Of the Grand Royal Arch
| Chapter of Vermont, was introduced
| as the spe aker of the occasion. The
address was eloquent and impressive
and received with much favor. The
! following is a brief abstract.
Said the speaker: AS Israel sent
| forth her thousands tn participate in
the dedication of that magnificent tenn
| pie on Mount MOriah, so have you, the
faithful craftsmen of to-day, represent
| tatives of the 900 900 members of our
order i'm the United States alone, come
| together to assist i'm the solemn cere-
monies of the dedication of the beauti-
| fully adorned, well prOpOrtiohed, and
| elegantly furnished temple of Passump-
sic lodge, No. %, of Free and Accepted
Masons. The active and more impor-
| tant duties of the day being over, it
| seems proper, especially III the pres
ence of SO many of the uninitia ted, that
we should devote little time to re-
viewing some of the principles, features
! and objects of our time-honoTed insti-
| tuition.
He spoke of the antiquity and the
! objects of the OrdeF,-tO exercise the
best affections of the human heart, and
to relieve misfortune. No other insti-
tuition in the wort l. is so well calculat-
ed to benefit those who join it. 1t has
stood the test of ages, it has the APP
prevail of the best Of men, its fOunda-
tons are truth, charity, and brotherly
love. Its doors are open to every rep
utable citizen.
The speaker told of it's world wide
| influence, how in the civil war its
members, fighting Oh opposite sides,
! had given each other aid on the battle
field, in prison and hospital. If then
masonry can develops the best and no.
blest traits in time Of war, how much
more can be expected of it i'm peace
Incidents were given of relief afforded
sick anu destitute members, and the
families of deceased MasOns. Such III
stances occur all over the land. What
other institution has such charms and
confers such benefits on its fellowmen
In conclusion the speaker reminded
his brethren of their duties. We should
look on the universe as one magnifi-
cent building inhabited by children Of
the same father, who says, any chill
dren, love one another" Masonry il
not content with saying, Be We filed
Be We clothed, but il feeds the hungry
and clothes the naked. Let each one