Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-25
.MASONRY'S HOLIDAY.
A Very Enjoyable Picnic by the
Order Yesterday.
THE PUBLIC INSTALLATION
q the OKcers-Elect . Leading Feature.
Good Music and An Abundance to
Eat-The Proceedings rs Seen
by Gazette Reporters.

we meet UPON inc IeNei anu We part upon III
square,
What words sublimely beautiful those word
Masonic are" -fRob Morris
For the first time in the history of Ere.
Mas0ns in Fort Worth, public demonstra
ton of the apt lines Of the lamented Poe
Laureate Of Masonry, as qnoted above, t,
the tenetS Of the Ancient Craft, was giveI
at Como park yesterday. Several day.
since The GAZETTE suggested that proper
observance Of the feast day of St. John
the Baptist, one of the patron saints o.
Free Masonry, would have the effect of in
sitting greater enthusiasm into the
hearts and minds of those who have trav
elcd, and whose pathway through life is
Illuminated by the wonderful lights of Ma
sonry. This suggestion was acted upon
and at O'Clock yesterday morning at the
sound OF the gavel in the East, Fort Worth
lodge was opened in form with over one
hundred Masons in attendance. Professor
Ault's splendid military band had been en-
gagged for the occasion, and when the craft
came down from the lodge room in order Of
procession, it is doubtful if any secret soci
ETY. in the city ever made better showing
or presented nobler specimens of just and
upright manhood, The procession was in
charge Of Grand Marshal J. c. Richardson,
with Messrs. Joyce and Gunnels as assist
ants.
Upon arriving at Como park pavilion an
hour was pleasantly passed by the AIasonsI
their wives, mothers, sisters and sxsseet-
hearts in renewing old acquaintance and
forming new ones. The commissary de-
partment was under the immediate super
vision OF DR.. jackson. and he saw to it that
the edibles were well taken care Of.
At II 30 Worshipful Master Zane Cetti
called the craft to labor and introduced
Right Worshipful Brother w. T, Swain, Sec
Rotary of the Grand Lodge of Texas, who
then proceeded to install the officers elect.
in due form, as follows:
Worshipful Master-Zane Cetti, senior
warden-N. M. Washer, junior warden
secretary-W. H. Field, senior deacon
j. NJ Logan, junior deacon-A. B. Jolly.
senior steward-J. A. Rogers, junior stew
ard-G. w. Akers, tiler-C. A Daniel
B. c. Rhome acted as master of cere-
monies.
At the conclusion of the installation cere-
monies brief address was delivered by
MIR. Hogsett, the craft We're called to
refreshment, and as most of them were
blessed with excellent appetites the feast
of good things disappeared with rapidity
that amply testified to the culinary abilities
of the ladies, many of whom evidently
recognized the sign of the Eastern Star.
After dinner, which lasted until nearly 9
O'Clock, the awkward squad were relegated
to the benches on either side and the after
noon was passed in boating and dancing by
those who enioysd those pastines.
The Blue lodge or Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Masons have existed from time i'm
memorial and from extensive researches
made in the archives of the past, all dis
coveries point to the fact that free Masonry
is almost coeval with Time, though the act
ual time when the order became prominent
and really had an existence in fact, dates
from the building of the first temple by
King Solomon, and here it was imbued
with that strong religious tinge which is
one of its cardinal virtues. Masonry ac-
knowledges no creed or sect or form of re-
ligiouS worship. 1t requires belief In the
divine inspiration of the Sacred Writings,
belief in and allegiance to Supreme Be-
ing, the Grand Architect of the Universe,
whose attributes are to be seen in emblem
attic form in every just and legally consti-
chosen in which the Mason offers his adora-
ton to Deity is left to his own election,
whether it be Mohammedan, Protestant,
Hebrew or any other form so that it recog-
nizes the one and only true God,
1t strives by system Of beautiful allie
gorical teachings to elevate its votaries to
q higher moral plane, and impress upon
them the duties they owe to themselves,
their Maker and mankind. It numbers.
in the land as well as the humblest artisan.
Once within the mystic precincts of the
lodge room all rank drops away; the presi-
dent Of the United States may be a mem
Der of lodge whose master may be q poor
No distinctions are recognized
in Masonic lodge room-save in its officers,
all N1aSons meet upon the level. The man
who works for a dollar a day has as much
voice in the councils Of Masonry as the
The conduct of MaSons toward
each other should be such as when tested by
the plumb they are found to be true and up
right And in their intercourse with their
fellow man the square of virtue is sup
posed to regulate their actions. There is
no room within the halls Of the mystic
for hypocrisy or deceit. They
ire bound together by solemn ties which
leath cannot sever and the virtue of those
lies have been demonstrated times without
number
Stretching far back into the dim and
misty past the history of the craft is an in
study. Through all the darkness
If the middle ages, through the dense veil
II ignorance and superstition, through the
black pail Of ennity and persecution,
lights Of Masonry have ever CLEANED, bright
md shining beaCons to those who were
eeking the light. 1t has survived the
tormS of centuries; through icons of time,
when mans Acknowledgement that he
vas a free and accepted Mason, was all that
lis life was worth. The order has come
Town to US to-day, its ancient landmarks
md charges unchanged and its teachings of
he moral law substantially the same as
when promulgated by King Solomon
It the grave of Hiram AbiH and
n the temple at Jerusalem. Many |
minent ministers have bowed their |
ofty heads before the altar of Free Ma
onry, and they have ever been found
mong the staunchest supporters after hay
nee been brought to light
To the student Of Masonry researches
nto its history open up new fields of beauty, |
nd books have been written in vain at |
empt to fittingly describe it. The man
rho has once won the jewel of the la |
aented grand master is thereafter man |
part, and the Masonic hailing sign will be |
and answered wherever the sun |
hines.
It is to be hoped the result Of yesterdays
estival will be seen in the closer social |
OF Masons' families and that it |
5 only the precursor of many interesting |
vents yet to follow.
Leland Hotel, Chicago,