Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-21

Old Hiram's hospitality was never tested
nd found more happily responsive than 1t
vas last night upon the occasion of its an
,ual banquet and reception In the Masonic
Temple At Union and Chapel streets. Fully
'svsn- hundred Of Its members and friends
united In night of happy fellowship and
Masonic sociability in honor Of the ons hum
lrsd and fortieth anniversary of the fine old I
lodge. The hall was gaily dressed In |
Itreamsrs Of red, white and blue. Tho sides
we're fsssooned with bright Asgs of all kinds
md varieties. The long table occupied by
'he toastmsstsr and invited Ruests stood at
he honA Of the hall, and over this was q
striking array of Old Hirsm's banners, sm-
blsms and symbols. A large American Gag
was draped over the top Of clock which
hung upon the wall above the toastmaster's
head. Upon one side Of this was Old
Hiram's chief banner, and upon the other
side was another banner inscribed:
... Old Hiram
,-2 Born" In 1850.
The committees, decked in blue badges,
clustered about tho table at the head of the
hall a. the guests Hled In, led by ex-Msyor
Henry g. Lewis, and took their places be-
side the six long banquet tables. Excellent
musical selections were rendered In the
meantime by Thomas orchestra, which also
edited the ears Of the banqueters with melo
dious strains throughout the evening.
An invocation was offered by Rev. A. h.
Goodenough, and the hall full of banqueting
Mssons assaulted the toothsome burden
which rested on the surface Of the
snowy covered tables. There were about
800 guests from out of town. OF these about
100 came from Hartford. Among them were
Rial s. Peck, commander of Worcester conn
mander of Washington commandery; George
II. Hubbard, Nelson e. English and A. A.
Hunt, past masters; DR.. William II. Law,
Seymour Chase, secretary of st. Johns lodge;
Theodore Newton, senior warden of st. Johns
lodge; L. II. Williams of Louisville, KY.
About the table reserved for guests were the
following gentlemen: Hon. John II. Leeds,
General E. D. Sloat, Rev. L. b. Squirss, Rev.
A. q. 0oodenough, Rev. DR.. N. B. Chap
man, Judge L. P. Dsming, President James
D. Dewell of the chamber Of commerce, w.
w. Lee, A. P. Hyde, Judge Lynde Harrison,
J. K. Wheeler, Hugh Sterling, q. e. Benton,
Lieut.. Gov. 8. K. Merwin, Senator Fl. Wales
Lines, Mayor Peck, W. A. Wright, E. G.
Birdssy, Judge ]. P. Studley, ], w. Coo,
Alderman f. @. Bushnell, Lewis D. Chidsey,
Henry Fresenius, ex-Mayor Henry g. Lewis.
Major J. E. Barnes, R. w. Dyas, w. G.
Hindsley, T. E. Baldwin, Hon. John N.
Lines, ex-Alderman 8. B. Shoninger, @. E.
Price, General Barton, Ashbel Storrs, Henry
Reynolds, +. L. Andrews, F. N. Wiser,
julius Twiss, George E. Frisbie.
Toastmaster Herbert E. Benton said before
opening the toasts Of the evening that he felt
10 his duty to express his pleasure In behalf
of Hiram lodge to be able to greet the
brothers, one and all. as brothers. He called
upon the Right Worshipful Grand Master
n1ark Ruckin0hano In rasn0nd n Tha Grand
Lodge of the State of Connecticut.
II ID the greatest honor that could be con-
fsrred upon me, said he, TO be called upon to
answer to snch toast as this,
and especially 80 to answer to 1t
before Hiram No. 1. The Grand lodge
capable of receiving material to instruct and
to bring to q more perfect state. It is an
organization of no mercenary motive, but ID
founded upon brotherhood and love. In
union there is strength. We have we'll be-
gun the second century of our grand lodge.
Let us improve by the examples of the past.
We have not now the opposition from church
and state which our forefathers experienced.
Let rs SO act that when we are called from
this world we may be received by the grand
architect Of the universe to that place not
made by hands, eternal in the heavens.
Lieutenant Governor Samuel e. Merwin
was loudly cheered as he rose to respond to
"Ths State OF Connecticut." sit is not my
good fortune to be mason," he began, but
was interrupted BY shouts Of Let's work
him tonight and the like. "Connecticut,"
said he, els one Of tho noblsst of the
grand sisterhood of states, great in all
things save. territory, and population.
Her cities and villages are busy
hives of industry. Her life is the
breadth of prosperity. Her wares and their
way to oil parts of the globe. tits . patriotic
state. Her leaders were grand on land and
sec and In the halls of the nation. Her peo-
pie are noble people, intelligent, industri-
fathers believed, that God helps those who
try to help themselves. But with all of our
prosperity, We have the poor always with us.
This, the Oldest of all our charitable socie.
ties, has been doing good work for more than
century. You have soothed the dying
hours Of your brothers and brought comfort
lived hundreds of years. II 10 good, or IL
would have long since been forgotten.
Mayor Henry F. Peck replied to the city
of New Haven. He also said he was not q
Mason. He said the city was an
easy one to govern because the peo-
pie are alaw-abiding people. havellearned
TO look upon your body 90 Ged fearing men.
You have the ten commandments pinned
upon the head boards of your beds. II We
were all Masons we would find the millennium
here. believe your work Is toward this
end. People are rising to higher plane by
means of this education.
Harmony, tho Strength and Support of
our Institution, was to have been responded
to by John b. Swartwout, but owing to the
present.
Hon. Alvin P. Hyde of Hartford responded
to the toast. He said his remembrance OF
Old Hiram went back to 1923, but he had
10 thouehs il was unwise TO
refer to family feuds after they
are settled, but to out off old Hiram, the
head and front Of Masonry, said he, was like
taking father from his offspring. But the
feud Il settled. We have not lost the bright
est jewel In the diadem Of the states mason-
y.
We have harmony and union now. This
n the great support Of masonry. There il
something in masonry which leads us out OF
petty matters and though enemies in battle,
to treat one another as brother and man.
Go where you may, the fact that mans .
mason giving him standing which Ia inval-
liable. Go and become mason and ysu will
find soming that binds Ms together ~ nothing
else can.
A song bill of fare was renderedtby
quartette of +. r. Langdale, D.. A. Jones,
g. P. Smith and z. @. Bennett.
Past End Master John H. Barlow of Birm-
ingham, responded to the Masonic Law and
Uusage, In the absence Of Hon. Luke A. Lock-
wood. He said law was necessary. Mason
~ ID an institution that has descended to rs
and its laws and usages may seem harsh to
this advance age, but there is no doubt but
the laws are wholesome. Some
may say after the Law
to conform with the present day; but when
You do this you have q modern institution
not % good az many of the present time. II
you want to find that which ia democratic
you can find 1t nowhere better than on the
aoor Of the lodge room. We are all on the
same level here.
Masonry and the Church was responded to
by Rev. DR.. n. B. Chapman. He said he
loved the company of horny handed, grimy
Nasons who had laid aside the trowel and
brushed off the mortar and let the travail of
work lapse into the ease of hospitality. He
liked to meet with Old Hiram, for It always
feeds for all 1t II worth. He said he felt like
that rash Hartford youth did who had pro-
posed to an aged spinster and been accepted.
When asked how It felt to be engaged he said,
II II felt the same before as 1t did after he
would never have done II. have wondered
many times what was blighting the country,
what was running our industries. have
Thought Masonic ministers were blighting
the church. have felt blue over 1t and In
some despairing moments have gone over
to Fair Haven and taken . look ut my
T2rothar aoOdanouoh I found hA did mot