Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-23
FIFTY YEARSA MASON.
DR.. Thomas and j. G. Read Re-
ceive an Ovation.
Masonic Hospitality Displayed Last
Night-An Evening Enllvened by
Good Music.

Last night was memorable occa-
sion for the Masonic brotherhood OF
GAINESVILLE. GAINESVILLE Lodge No.
SO, did itself proud in IGNORING the
fiftieth anniversary of DIR. L. A.
Thomas connection with free mason
ry. Their lodge room was comfort
ably filled with the members of the
order and their wives and children,
gathered to enjoy delightful music
ale and a substantial lunch.
The Lodge Master, Thos. Bourne,
occupied the chair, officiating as
master of ceremonies. After an
overture by the Military Band
Orchestra, the exercise com.
menced with prayer by DIR. VIM,
Pettis, himselfa jealous mason. AT
ter this Master Mason j. G. Joseph
made speech explaining the object
Of the meeting and dwelling at some
length upon the aims and future
prospects of the masonic Widows
and Orphans Home at Nashville,
and endorsed it as an object calling
for the support and encouragement
of all masons.
Mr.. Joseph was followed by DR.. T
A. Thomas, who read an interesting
paper entitled masonic Footprints
which embodied his fifty years ex'
perience as mason. In as modest
Il fashion as was possible under the
circumstances he detailed his person
al history for half century in sc
far as it related to masonry. He has
been highly honored by the
various lodges with which he has
been connected, notably so in Califor
MIA, to which State he removed in
1857. In the course of his address
the Doctor made some telling points
in favor of masonry. Lack of space
forbids any extended notice of the
address.
"Come Back to Erin" a vocal SOLO
was rendered by Miss Meta Belle
Wiser, DIR. Sutphin accompanying on
violin, and Miss Wiser playing or.
gan. The applause denoted great
appreciation on the part of the audi
ence.
After this song Worshipful Master
Bourne announced pleasing duty
he was called upon to discharge, viz
the pres 'ntation each to DR.. It. A
Thomas and j. G. Read certif'
cate of life membership in the
Widows and Orphans Home al
Nashville, and proceeded to perform
that duty in neat little speech, first
to DR.. Thomas. The latter made
suitable acknowledgment in shor,
speech of thanks, abiding to the cir
cumstance as an additional token o.
the. esteem Of his brothers, for which
he was deeply grateful. Mr.. Bourne
then presented to j. G. Read his GER
tificate. That veteran of forty-three
years masonic service arose from his
chair, and in a few words of suppress
ed emotion, accepted the gift as ar
expression of love AMI fraternal good
feeling. Mr.. Read, said, however
before taking his seat that if the boys
had not taken snap judgment on him
he, too, might have had some "foot
prints" to point to.
Miss Wiser then sang beautiful
Moonlight" accompanied on the vic
lin by DIR. Sutphin. 1t was really g
musical gem and delighted the audi.
ence.
BY request of the presiding officer
DR.. Pettis spoke. His hnmor is cleo.
trical. Amusing his audience thusIy
for short time, he closed with a
beautiful tribute to his two aged
brother masons. With artistic real
ism he drew picture of the setting
sun, bathed in sea of purple and
gold, slowly receding from human
view and stirring the most sacred en-
otions of the soul to this picture he
compared the closing of the mortal
lives of these two aged men.
Possibly the finest musical selec-
ton of the evening was a Duet by
DR.. Sutphin and Miss Viser-"Jesus,
Lover OF My Soul" DIR. G. G. Wilson
accompanying on the organ. Sew
eral creditable selections were rem
dered by the orchestra, of whose
efforts DIR. Pettis made suitable
public acknowledgment, as he did OF
the kindness of the other musicians
who lent their aid.
At this point refreshments were
announced. A table nearly the
length Of the building was suddenly
brought to view from behind cur
tains. The ladies and invited guests
were first asked to seats. They were
waited upon by members of the or
der, who WED with each other in
their hospitable efforts in behalf of
their guests. A second table was
then prepared for the gentlemen,
whose onslaught on the eatables,
though terrific, did not by any means
consume the supply. The evening