Morning journal and courier., 1888-09-22
onD HIRAM NO. l..
A Big Rally of the Membershfp-
IntarestinE Proceedings.

A BIG Rally of the memDersh1p-
Interesting Proceedings.
A few hours call from Secretary Beers of
cold Hiram" lodge No. is all that is re-
quired to muster into service several hundred
of its members on any occasion. Such prov
ed the case last Thursday evening at the reg
ular weekly meeting of this veteran lodge, for
in very short time after Worshipful Master
VIM. N. Frisbie struck his gavel and the ty-
ler's sword was drawn at the outer door, hard
ly seat in the spacious lodge room was found
vacant and the body of men that composed
the assembly were largely Of our well known
business and professional men from here and
hereabOuts. Indeed, it was gathering of
intelligent and happy countenances that did
one one good to look upon. Each one had a
kind word for the other and brought wildly
to mind the scriptural passage Of Chow good
and pleasant thing it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity" After the usual
business of the evening was attended to, at
full membership in Hiram lodge by being
raised to the sublime degree of q master Ma
son in due and ancient form. After this the
master called upon few of the brethren for
remarks and was promptly responded to by
those designated. The first speaker was Mr..
John z. Ricketts,, teacher in the High
school, who gave glowing account of his re-
cent vacation trip and visit to several lodges
in the several States, and of the cordial man
ner he was received and sumptuously enter
tanned by the officers and brethren, especially
when 1t was known that he was present as
representative of "Old Hiram" No. 1 of New
Haven, and great was the pleasure of the
fraternity upon being informed that their
work was of the same genuine type and puri-
ty as had always been exemplifed by Hiram
lodge. On his retiring special invitation
was extended to him to visit their lodges
again and to inform the members of Hiram
to do the same.
The next speaker of the evening was Hon.
q. G. Lewis. who made most eloquent and
earnest appeal in favor of cold Hiram" and
its ancient work and ancestry. The speaker
saids "Since he had been a Freemason he
had learned that this ancient lodge was hon.
nored and respected all over the world.
Not a man who was true and honorable
Mason at heart, from the gentleman of the
greatest intelligence in our civilized and cu1-
tured communities down to the most savage
and untutored tribes of the desert plains who
had heard of Old Hiram, but who bore that
respect and consideration for its members
and priced its past records with q sacredness
that is truly remarkable. This lodge has a
history which is as great in honor and an
tiquity as the Christian religion itself. On
its ancient records are found the names of
our gallant braves who fought aide by side
with General George Washington in revolu-
ton history; those of our staunch and noble
fellow citizens who left their 6resides and be-
loved families and shouldered the musket and
bravely sacrificed their lives in the defence of
our country; and later down do we find on
the records Of this historic lodge the names
of many of our leading citizens of rank in
city and State who have left behind them a
living example of honor and integrity which
for coming generations our brotherhood will
revere and hold in the most grateful remem-
brance.
In referring to the injudicious and uncour-
teous action of the Grand lodge officers in its
recent attempt to change the ancient work of
this lodge las was handed down to us by our
grandsires from the time when there was no
Grand lodge in America), he could but think
that the few who were thus engaged in that
questionable act were led to do SO without a
second consideration of the evil consequences
thereof, and were not sustained by the great
mass of our brotherhood, whom we should
ever be on the alert to treat with that cour-
teey and kindness that one brother owes an
other. This old lodge was dear in the hearts
of the order all over this broad universe, and
it would always be sustained in its sacred
rights as they had been handed down to US
by past generations.
Further remarks of interest and instruction
were made by a past officer from New York.
Brothers Theron Todd, Lacius B. Human,
Past Master +. N. Wiser, Past Master Butler
of Connecticut lodge, and several others.
After the speech making had concluded, the
worshipful master invited the members of
Hiram and all visiting brethren to the ad-
joining banquet hall where had been prepar-
ed an oyster supper in the same style as was
customary in the lodge years ago. Several
long tables running the full length of the
banquet room were set to accommodate City
to each table. Large dishes of the finest
fruit of the season were arranged in pyramids
profusely through the center of the tables.
The banquet was pleasantly enjoyed until
. late hour. When it was announced that
next Thursday evening Hiram lodge would
again give the work in the third degree, and
on each Tuesday evening until further notice
lodge of instruction would be held for all
who might wish to avail themselves of the
opportunity to become more proficient in the
work of the several degrees as given in this
lodge. Had it not been for the meetings of
the Hyperion and elsewhere Thursday even
ing the lodge rooms would have been much
oYercrowded. A desire has been expressed
by many of the brethren that similar meet-
ings as last evening should be held during
the coming month by Hiram lodge, and it is
contemplated to conform to their wishes as
often AN FS0gniblA MAEoN