The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-25
AROUNDTHEBANQUETTABLE
AnEveningof Festive Enjoymcntfor the
Members of the Scottish Rite.
4 Largely Increased Attendance at the Con-
yocation-The Degrees Conferred and the
Addresses Delivered-Notes.


Scottish Rite convocation yesterday. at least
500 members and visitors being present The
work of comforting the degrees upon class OF
twenty candidates commenced at o'clock In the
afternoon, under the direction OF DR.. Charles e.
Wright, presiding officer of Saraiah Council of
Princes of Jerusalem, with Francis T. Holiday
master of ceremonies. The degrees of this body
are called the Historical and Traditional
Grades" viz: 15o, Knight of the East, or Sword;
I6o, Prince of Jerusalem. They were conferred
with unusual smoothness of detail, the band,
under the leadership of Joseph Cameron, and
the choir, composed Of NJ. d. Butler, John g.
Blake, will Staub Geo. Woodford, Prof. Belcher
and Lon Nicely, of Muncie, rendering efficient
assistance.
II the evening, at half past z o'clock, workw
resumed in Indianapolis Chapter of Rose Croix
with Judge Byron K. Elliot presiding and Jacob
W. Smith as master Of ceremonies. This
body, like the Council controls but two de-
grees-the Philosophical and Christian
Gradesp-l7o, Knight of the East and West;
1872, knight of the Rose Croix de H-R-D-M
The choir and massive organ did good 1ervice
the solo by Mr.. Blake, "The Mistakes of My
Life Have Been Many" and the hymn. Man of
Sorrow" being especially well rendered.
The work closed at late hour last night, but
will be resumed again this morning at 10 o'clock
in Indiana Consistory, s. P. r. S., of which
Joseph w. Smith is commander-in-chief and
John T. Brush master of ceremonies.
The annual banquet took place Immediately
after the close of the work in the Council be-
tween and o'clock in the evening Covers
were laid for over four hundred members in the
spacious banquet hall, and all the seats were
filed. The menu was excellent and reflected
credit upon Mr.. Henry Burk, the caterer Of the
Rite. The divine blessing was invoked by Rev.
j. S. Jenckes, rector of ST. Pauls Cathedral in
IN appropriate manner. When the members
were through with feasting on the good things the
walters were ordered to retire, and Dr. Charles
e. Wright, master of ceremonies, announced
that Judge Daniel w. Howe would deliver the
address of welcome
Mr. Howe on behalf of the Scottish Rite Of
Indiana, welcomed the visitors and nonresident
members to this annual reunion, and paid a
glowing tribute to the work and intents of the
order.
The next toast was 1.-THE Grand Lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons Of Indiana" to which
Grand Master Albert p Charles responded, pre-
luding his address by some rather witty remarks
lie seemed to labor under the impression that he
punishment upon the brethren, but kindly for
bore. He closed by saying that the Grand
Lodge had this day paid off the last dollar Of its in
debtedness, and lad some money left in the treas
airy; that the Scottish Rite, indirectly, had rem
iered great help, that he thought the Grand
Lodge would now meet annually instead of BIZ
snnialiv, and that the annual assessment would
be reduced from one dollar to fifty cents per
capita.
Our Well beloved Friends and Trusted AL
Eoet be MI to- To Mar WIS lad IN w
Henry G. Adams, who said that he was not pre-.
pared to make an address, but would infiict a
volume or two of the one he made last year, if
the members insisted upon it He spoke of the
kindly feeling existing between the Scottish Rite
and Knights Templars, qualifying his statement
by naming number of prominent Masons who
were members of both orders, and concluded
with the hope that it wouldnot be long before all
members of the Scottish Rite would join the
tanks of the Knights Templars, and all Knights
become Scottish Rite members
"Our Country" was to have been responded to
by Judge Allen Collars but. owing to his alb
sence, was omitted
ieey. John t. BOYD, of Covington, responded
to the toast Ancient Craft Masonry but said
his knowledge of the subject was in a state of
s.innocuous desuetude" His remarks were in
4 humorous vein, and were listened to with in
crest
THE York Rite was ably and eloquently re-
<lponded to by Judge Joseph G. Suit, of Frank
fort His remarks were substantially as follows:
Coming through the mists of the past and from
out the tangled thickets of legend and tradition,
Ancient York Rite Masonry has become history,
and, as such, a blessing to our race. Its univer-
sality has contributed much to the brotherhood
of man, its tenets to the destruction of caste and
prejudice; its practices to the incubation of high
moral sentiments and the establishment Of gen.
erons social intercourse as here exenplified. 1t
commands the obedience, and challenges the ad-
miraton of all the mighty host who copy from
the splendid designs upon its sacred trestle
board It is at the same time the most exclu-
sive, liberal and generous-exclusive as to
As to its membership, and .gener
Dus in its entire liberation of all
other orders, sects and creeds. But it's crown
ing glory is its charity, that sweet refrain Of the
peace, good will toward men, It is the synonym
of all that is grandy and divinely charitable It's
charity was missile hurled from the catapult
of the indnite at the target of selishness 1t
struck the center, and the world stopped in its
busy footballs to listen to the sound of the shot
It's charity is higher than faith purer than love,
and brighter than truth. Truth is a sparkling
gem in the diadem of all the virtues but truth
may be severe, if not unjust Love is the glow
ing grace of an honest heart, and yet love may
be selfish Faith is one of the brightest and
whitest of all the royal robes; still faith may be
the cloak of error. But charity, sweet, precious
charity, York Rite charity, is a whole kingdom
of virtues. from whose summit there is but one
step to Godhead.a
The next toast was the "Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite" with response by Hon. Stanton
J. Peelle His remarks were received with the
closest attention, and were heartily appauded.
He said: lone of the first things learned in the
study of the law was that man is q social being
and fond of the society of his fellows; man is by
nature social; man is by nature fond of the
society of his fellows and by these social gath
erings we but cultivate those natural tendencies
which elevate man in the scale of citizenship.
Here we learn to appreciate more fully the re-
sponsibiities of citizenship by intoxicating those
moral principles of truth, justice and charity,
which must necessarily underlie society
IL we would perpetuate free government
The principles of Masonry, as taught and illus
tend to cement men together in the support of
common cause. that common cause always
being the betterment of man by the practice of
brotherly love- peace and good will. In short,
every good Mason Is good citizen, and good cit