Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-05-02

In April 1881, Essex Lodge, No
IS, |. o. o. f., was instituted in
Island Pond, with bright hopes and
anticipations for the future, which
are now more than realized, for i,
Is an influential organization, with a
large membership (ovcr 1901 con.
sisting principally of men who arc
prominent in supporting and up,
holding the best interests of the
town. In the nine years of its ex,
istence it has expended many
hundreds of dollars for the relief
Of poor distressed brothers, their
widows and orphans, and has ever
aimed to inculcatc the principles
snd moral precepts which govern
the Order, too well known to be
recapitulated here. Very recently
the lodge has occupied new and
spacious quarters in the new block,
which Is an ornament 10 the town,
and denotes spirit of enterprise on
the part of its projectors. Having
possession Of these new quarters it
became necessary that they should
be formally dedicated to the pur-
poses for which they were intended.
This ceremony occurred last Friday,
April %, and was an occasion of
great interest and pleasure. At the
time appointed for the dedicatory
services an immense assemblage had
gathered in TIE new hall to witness
the exercises, many being unable to
gain admission. Among the visitors
in attendance we noticed Grand
Master Clifford of New Hampshire,
and Grand Master Valley of the
Province of Quebec, also Bro.
Gymcr, Past Grand Master of that
Province, and many members of the
fraternity from this State, Maine,
Massachusetts,, New Hampshire and
Canada. The grand officers having
been formally admitted, the pro-
ceedings began by singing the
opening ode, followed by prayer, at
the con ilusion of which the grand
master signitied his will and pleasure
that the ceremony of defeating be
proceeded with, whcreupon the
grand marshal, Bro. Chas. Gonva,
gave short address showing that
i'll all ages and in all climes the
hallowed associations of the altar
have formed the great central at
fractions in all worships, and moved |
by this universal sentiment Odd ,
Fellowship has her altar her sacred
shrine around and before which
we, as Odd Fellows, bow and wor-
ship" consequently no further cere,
mony should or ought to proceed
until the altar was built. Here
commenced the work of erecting
the altar by the IIeralds, Bros.
Hobson, Foss, Thurston and Mac
kenzie. These were tastefully robcd
with tnrban, robe, and sandals, after
the Eastern custom, viz: that of the
Herald of the North being white, of
the South pink, of the East blue, .ef
the West scarlet. These IIeralds,
amid appropriate remarks pertaining
TO their occupation, from the grand
marshal erected the altar, which
when completed stood forth with
einbIematic colors the embodiment
of the grand principles that under.
lay the stupendous fabric of Odd
Fellowship. Tee base was repre-
sentation OF white stone with the
word PURITY painted on the face of
1t; the next was pink, lettercd
the next blue, lettered /
LOVE; the next scarlet, lettcred
TRUTH. the next green, le.tered
FAITH; the next gold 'colored, lcttcred
HOPE; the next and last, royal pur- ,
pie, leLtered CHARITY, surmounted i
with an altar railing painted white.
The altar being finished the Noble ,
Grand, Bro. 4. j. Parsons, addressed
the Grand Master, presenting him
with the keys of the hal) announced
the completion of their labors, and I
requested in behalf of Essex Lodge,
and of the Order in Island Pond
that 1t be set apart and dedicated I
to the business and purposes of Odd
Fellowship. The response of the
Grand Master was in the usual form,
followed by prayer and singing, and ,
then the Grand Master by the /
of the Grand Lodge of
Vermont dedicated the hall in the !
ritual prescribed, and caused such c
dedication to be appropriately pro- !
claimed by the Heralds, a feature I
in itself peculiarly interesting. b
After nraYnr and SINGING tho Quail