Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
were General Robinson's sword and
pistols, and the inscription,

w HCl lllc ITbCGSalpllt itdGlltA' VIZ VIZ
Of Prospect Hill, overlooking the village
of Brandywine and the borough of Will
mington, it was joined by the officers
and members Of the Grand Lodge OF
Delaware, A. h. A. NJ, and Hiram and
Temple subordinate lodges. The craft
thus turned out to do honor to a dis
tinguished brother, for General La
Fayette was Mason, and the following |
year new lodge instituted in Whining |
ton was named La Fayette, in his |
honor The brethren on this occasion |
were duly "arrayed in their jewels,
sashes and aprons, with two Fast
Masters carrying the Holy Bible, and
three others bearing candles, NC, who
| formed in front of the carriages, when
the musicians alghted from their carri-
ages and formed in the rear OF the
Masons, playing various airs into and
through town"
When the procession appeared within
sight the bells of Wilmington struck up
a merry peal, the cannon commenced
loud roar, and there was every indica-
ton of Joy and exultation. AS 1t
i approached nearer to the town, the
crowd began to press around the
barouche drawn bp the four white
Fayotte became visible 1t passed over
the bridge spanning the Brandywine,
and the sparkling water that rip
pied beneath were fresh from the
shores of the historic battle-ground
where La Fayette gained the praise OF
Washington for his gallant fighting,
and shed his fiery French blood for the
cause of American liberty. The bridge
was tastefully decorated, and at its
southern approach were gathered those
Of Wilmington's loyal citizens who had
remained at home for the purpose OF
swelling the demonstrations OF welcome
1 at the borough limits. Here the old
! gentlcmun's feelings Overcame him,
/ writes Editor Samuel Ilarkcr de bowed
:. to the multitude and exclaimed, i thanh
! you, thank you, my friends; am very
4 much obliged to YOU; and the tearsSush
i ing from his eyes rolled down his war
!. worn cheeks i'll Il stream, and turning u
Il MIR. Mcl4anG he remarked, wen, 1t Il
4 about forty two years since | was here
Il aud had no idea Of the improvement
which have taken place. ...
Ii Then the procession made round o
Il the borough streets, passing uhde
Il arches Of flowers and cvcrgrecns, ant
Al everywhere meeting decorations con
N spicuous in which was the beautiful
flag whose clusters of stars the honoret
guest had helped to create by his valo
10 on the field of battle. At Front an
4. Market streets was the most claboral
in arch, with q miniature ship pendal
re from the centre, and attached 10 IL
" placard upon which were inscribed Ill
Il. following appropriate lines:
| al SO rnl tn EnUpttp
I'll Friend of Civil Liberty:
So "A friend to the rights of mankind,
" Does this day among US appear;
as And La Fayctte ever shall find,
oh A welcome where Freedom is dear
bo ale comes from land where the press
~ Is controlled by corruption and fear,
- But here shall no tyrant suppress
AT The Truth that he trembles to hear"
~ The triumphal march ended at d
M CITY Hail. in the second story of viii
"a General James Wolfe rendered u col
III plimentary dinner to General LA Fayet
and large number of Wilmington
Co. first citizens. A feature of the occasi
no was an address to General La Faye
w. by Joshua Brinckle, Grand Master
III the Grand Lodge of Delaware, A. f.
the NJ, to which he most feelingly
ON sponded. His response is not given
10 full in the local chronicles of this trt
az great occasion, but it is recorded that
10 Noxpressed the pleasure it gave him
30 meet his Masonic brethren of Delawa
ro5 and the aifGctionate attachment he
40 TO the fraternity. He said Freemasor
; 10 was distinguished for the enlighter
r ~ liberality of its principles. 1t inc
: ~ Gated unlimited liberation OF rellglt
ova opinions; and although as soci
~ Nasons did not interfere with polit
an they considered every member as
inv- brother, and rs standing upon the So
'niiv natural level. Freemasonry in these
hoa spects favors liberty and equality,
ted ' foes Of tyrants. lie not, therefore,
q NE bc prsed that they should prescribe
his prosecute YOU
Ia In addition to this formal reply to
- ~ greeting of his Masonic brethren, q
70 A. IN eral La Fayette responded to
oo' toast: "The Borough Of Wilmi
~. ton-and may the Brandywine, n
%. on having been the scene Of bio
i'n, DISPUTE between the soldiers of libC
,a.n1 aud the satellites of oppression, bect
'G ,.ai more and more the powerful assis
n"'. of eyer-increasing manufactures.
~ response was not recorded, but 1t cal
a imagined with what pathos and
W S;l a. sonal feeling lie replied to this Sc
lock ment.
JUN Among other notable responses
..;,, toasts at this dinner were:
SUI BY Louis McLane-"The. Memoir
~ Washington. We renew Dur devo
10 ne 10 to his virtues in the presence of h
far,n lustuous friend"
~ ~. BY General Patterson of Philadel
, ,l, -"rho State of Delaware. Small
n ~. ~ the geography of our country-larg
n6 " thn list of heroes and statesmen"
~ ~ " Bv Senator Nicholas Van Dyke
' Sa..- surviving officers and soldiers of
' IS.n' American Revolution. Benefactoi
tn, 4 Ill the human race, may the evening o
NJ ~ with them be as happy as its mer
M NJ has been glorious and useful"
In. liie By John Wales-"rhe memor
n w. ~ Baron de Kalb, who gloriously fe
w. Ia The battle of Camden, at the het
~, Delaware and Maryland troops
ait1u' After the dinner the Young Mo
'VT TS " the Borough presented General Il
ine cite with a feiicitous address, to v
' III, he replied by thanking them for
" ~ kindness and wishing them much
.u,rds piness and prosperity.
49, Again the General, accompaniC
IL % roc his son, his friend and Chairman
.hmIt9 Lane, who by this time was as har
n ~ though positively assured OF his elC
ans ~ TO Congress, entered the bar,
orngIi,, drawn by the four white horses, al
III ~ corted by the same imposing proc
WED that marshalled him into Wtlmi
= I.St proceeded in state To the ancient
y NJ iS of New Castle, on the Delaware.
~ INA he attended the wedding of Charl
" VIZ POM son of Colonel Victor lu