The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-31
A FITTING CELEBRATION,
KNIGHTS TEMRLAR AND ASCENSION
Day AT MARIANNE, ARK.
A Delightful Gathering knights Pres
ent-Hospitellty of the People-Ap-
propriate Sermon of the Rev. R. s.
Deener. feg

been gala day for the knights Templar
of Eastern Arkansas. Since the organiza-
ton OF Apollo Commandery at Forrest City,
little more than a year ago, it has grown
most rapidly, being made up Of Masons
from Forrest City, Mariana, Jonesboro,
Osceola and other points Tho Com
mandery celebrated tho Ascension OF
Christ today, and our city is crowded with
the beauty and chivalry OF Forrest City
and the surrounding country.
Mariana is noted for the hospitality OF
her citizens, and on this occasion the Ma
sons OF every degree and their ladies'
spared no pains or expense to provide en-
tertainment for their guests.
At IL o'clock the passenger train arrived,
bringing the visiting Sir Knights and their
ladies, who were met ut the depot by the
Reception Committee and escorted to the
beautiful grounds surrounding our Insti
tute building. After a few minutes rest
tho following Sir Knights answered to
their names: j. b. Cummins, q. p. Tay-
lor, p. Brickey, p, ID. McCulloch, Il. A.
McCulloch, I. A. Baxter, j. NJ. Daggett,
w. j. Mathews, j. w. Mallory, o. l..
Egglestcn, II. Il. Pettus, J. l.. Leary, J.
l.. Stone, Il. Purle, G.. w. Cook, J. =.
Durham, j. p. Farar, +. II. Govan, ii.
N. Hutton, I. II. Leety. p. L. Northern,
I. A. Futrall, K. d. GrifIis, S. L. Hamp-
ton, l.. Rallwage, II. S. Deener, S. Il.
johnson, w. r. Hall, G. ii. Sanders and
| III. $. Undcrhill.
The lines being formed, they proceeded
| to the Methodist Church, where the SER
vices were held. The prelate met the pro-
! cession at the door and conducted the
| three chief officers TO seats on the right OF
the pulpit, the coloB OF the Commandery
being displayed ON the left The Sir
Knights filed in and occupied pews re-
served for them in the middle tier, while
the occasional hymn, "Onward Christian
Soldiers, was being sung. Mr.. B. NJ.
harrington led the choir and presided ut
the organ with a masters hand. The SER
vice was beautiful, impressive and in
structive. After the exercises at the
church all returned TO the grounds around
the institute and the Masonic lodge, where
refreshments were spread and fully en-
ioyed by all present.
THE SERMON.
OF the sermon preached by the Rev. r.
S. Dcener, pastor OF the Methodist Church,
IL is difficult 10 speak IL was a grand &C.
casion, and il is enough TO say that the
young divine fully sustained his reputation
rs one Of the finest pulpit orators and one
oi the ablest young ministers in the Meth
Odist Episcopal Church South. The fol-
lowing is a synopsis OF the sermon:
Text. Luke XIV, 50-5l:
Symbolsare the speech Of God. Through
them eternity looks down into time, the
infinite holds communion with the finite,
| the divine with the human. Especially IN
the infancy OF the race, when metaphysical
truth pcnt up In the heart Of man
could find no spoken language TO convey
| ils meaning. did the mind seek 10 express
| itself through symbols. How must the
souls of Egyptian and Chaldean magi have
thrilled with rapture rs wave after wave OF
thought thus rolled across their minds.
| How the immortal fires must have burned
within rs flash after flash Of truth darted
| through these symbols into their souls, re-
vca,ing the grand ideas Of God. eternity
aud Immortality. Such thoughts mus
find expression, aud their utleunco !,
found Ia the glowing symbols interviewer
into every pagc Of ancient Eastern philos
ophy. Tho passing restless multitude saw
nothing more In them than the ancient'
saw la the riddle Of the Sphinx. but 10 {
responsive soul every symbol seemed
ready to bend and break with the burden
Of a special revelation. II was this AL
ynncod state Of mind, which moved In
purcr atmosphere Of thought unapprcci
aied sby the crowd. that gave riso 10 thu
organization OF Masonry for the transmits
sion and preservation OF these truths DIES
tined 20 open up q higher civilization.
HUT the voice OF symbolism u hushed
We have wandered through It's mazes
We have looked upon It's beauties an'
contemplated Us glorics. Today we stan,
In the clear sunlight Of prophecy fulfilled
Of the realization Of nations hopes; and
~ We look back over the pathway We hav
come, We still see the rainbow OF hop
spanning every vale and crowning ever
hill. II glittcrs in Gods eternal sunlight
dispcls the darkness ~ the day the night
aud bcckons the weary "cniercd apprcr
tico' and fellow craft higher and s,i
? higher, until he stands upon the Noun
Q Of Olives and eazcs specifics upon I'll
o finished work Of the worlds Rcdecmer.
We come not today, however, 10 spea
i OF signs aud symbols We come not
4 shed tcars over patron saints or 10 strc'
I. Amamnthnc flowers on the graves Of III
A worlds llustrious martyrs But we com
= 90 pay humble homage 10 Jesus Chris
4 the Son OF God; TO notice thc bcginnin
!. and the end Of life tunsccndcntly beat
. Iiiul, powerful aud glorious.
lot rs attend then 10 the evidences
ChristH work while on earth, and III
whole range Of attcstation 10 the Diyinil
nf his claims, az had manifest In the ilcsl
; The phenomena attendant upon his brit
y the presence OF the siar-guidcd magi an
+ tho outburs, Of celestial harmony fro
= heavenly visiiantA, proclaimed Him Il
II long wished and now welcome deliver
A who had been tho great theme OF primcy
prophecy. Ills omniscicnt disccrnmol
~ a child In the coniuialion OF the docio
OF the temple tie youching the divinity
IN Of his mission a, hp baptism, the ioilir
the sagncity ofllkal Ina the defeat OF h
n sovereign on the mount Of temptation, u
Is miraculous conversion Of water into wit
10 at Cana OF Galilcc, the teaching Of u
u mother Of Peters wife that disease az
t. death obey his voice. tho healing OF u
10 noblcman's son, the walking upon Il
q. surgng roll Of the agilaicd libcnus, sti
~ Ing the stormy wave OF the sea VI Galilc
tie multiplication Of bread aud flesh In u
hafd of the cater, the raising Of his iricn
lazarus, after hoipg four days dead, u
bcaming ciIugpacc Of bis Deity On
shono ncsplcndcnt ON the Mount OF Tran
0ruration. his triumphant entry into Jcr
salem amid the acclamations Of the mul
/. "A Iaa|H IL Il.