The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-06-26
A. F. AND A. M.
CELEBRATION OF ST. JOHNS DAY
AT MAPLETON.

M mAELnT1SNs
The good Brethren Of Josephus lodge
No. l2S, AT. and M of Napoleon, con-
ceived the idea early in the season of
celebrating this day, which was Wednes-
day last, the oath inst, and for several
weeks had been making preparations
for celebration worthy of the day and |
order. Invitations were extended to |
all neighboring towns and cities, and
nearly all agreed to be there in goodly
numbers. The organization at Maple
ton put their best and most effective
forces IN the service, (which, by the way
includes all masons, their wives, widows,
sisters and daughters) and every partic-
ular in the arrangements was adjusted to
rebound TO day of sport and instruc-
ton.
On the morning of the oath, the ele-
ments menaced the occasion, for the
weather was dark, rainy and foreboding,
and the managers could not refrain from
the thought that:
"The well laid plans OF mice and men
| Aft, gang gee."
But masons are not To be retarted in
their work by wind, rain or tide, and
the sands of their nature were not swept
by the waters of the armament 80 as to
in the least unman them. On the 7:40
train from the south, a goodly delegation
arrived from Wells and other points and
| wara mat hy InSanhuS 1nl.,a aud 40
corted to the spacious grounds of J. +.
Brown, where the fun, frolc and eating
was TO transpire. An hour was spent in
fraternal sociability, until the arrival of
the 9:l5 train from Mankato, which
brought delegation far beyond the
fondest hopes of the Napoleon brethren.
About the same time teams began TO ar
rive, bringing delegations from Blue
Earth City. Winnebago City, Garden
City. Alma City and other points, in all
making about one hundred masons, their
families and friends, aggregating over
two hundred. Each and every one
seemed determined to make the day u
success and to aid every other one IN en-
joying himself. Mr.. Brown and wife
were everywhere present and opened
their residence, bidding every one enter
and be at home. None could help feel
ing welcome and that il was well to be
there.
At eleven o clock the exercises opened
with singing by the Mankato Glee Club,
which dispelled the last shade Of disap-
pointment on account of the weather
and cast cheerfulness all around. w.
n. Plymat, Esq, followed with an al
dress of welcome touched off in his hap
ply vein, which served to bring greater
degree Of fraternal sunshine To the oc'
casion and cause all 10 feel that mason>
are truly brothers.
,, This was followed by the real treat OF
the occasion, the address by the Hon. }
A. Kiester, of Blue Earth City. In all
respects it was gem of brilliancy. 1t is
: impossible to synopsisize it with any de.
{ gree of justice. Its brilliancy was felt by
: all. Everyone present pronounced il
, the grandest address they had ever
heard. So closely knit was it in thought
and so finely finished in eloquence, that
to quote fragments would in no wise
give an adequate idea of its merit. One
might as well attempt to illustrate the
beauties and grandeur of Niagara Falls,
by pumping water into bucket, as to
attempt an abridgement of this address,
hence nothing short of verbatim re-
port would be just notice. 1t was
grand in conception and grand in ora
; tory. At the close of the address, it was
) but natural to look to the welfare of the
inner man, after the sustenance the in.
tellect had received. In word, it was
dinner time, and nobody knew from just
j, where the mamma came, nut survey ol
the Spread was surprising. The lawn
is said to include three acres and it was
literally covered with the tables loaded
down with the best things of life, and
for once, Plymat and Brown found
more than they could eat, while the
thought was inevitable that the wives,
widows, sisters and daughters gathered
there from the different communities
were not only blessing, but "joy for
ever" Afterali had feasted sumptuously,
they gathered up not seven baskets full
but seven wagon loads.
In the afternoon the brethren retired
to the hall of Josephus lodge for work
and instruction, which occupied their
attention until about half past five
o'clock, after which the visiting brethren
and friends began to depart for their
homes feeling supremely happy and
glad that they had been there. The
visiting delegations all hold Mapleton
and her whole souled people in kind re-
membrance, and it will need no urgent
invitation TO assemble them within her
bounds upon any similar occasion in
the future. Josephus lodge feel under
lasting obligations TO their friends and
brethren for their aid and presence.