Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-06-25
preparations made for the afternoon
trip to the Park,
AT rae PARK.
one Thousand People Listen to Excellent
Addresses.


and took cars for the Park. The mem
bers OF the fraternity were accompanied
by their wives and families, carrying
we'll stocked baskets OF food. There
were probably one thousand persons
present on the grounds during the after
noon and early evening. They gathered
in groups or enjoyed themselves In
strolling about the beautiful walks, or
taking advantage OF the amusements
provided. About three o'clock several
hundred people assembled upon and
about the small pavilion.
Grand Marshal j. A. Miller called the
assemblage to order. There were cries
for Col. White, in response TO which he
arose ard delivered a brief address,
which was wholly impromptu, but was
one OF his best efforts. He did not con-
fine his remarks to the Masons, but ad-
dressed himself to the ladies present in
his happieSt vein. His speech was
punctuated with applause.
The next speaker was Hon. 0. ).
Long, whose address was one OF the
best of the day After few introduce
tory remarks, Mr.. Long explained the
significance OF st. Johns Day. de said:
MR.. LONGS ADDRESS.
at NAV be asked why this is festal day
for the Masonic fraternity; what special
reason is there for there for celebrating In
this Joyous manner the day set apart IN the
Christian calendar as the anniversary OF
the birth of ST. John the Baptist. Let US
take for our topic then THE Day We Gel
eorate." and examine its claims TO tue dis
tingushed place it holds in Masonic esl-
nation. The oath day Of June has been
for MANY years, how many l have been IN
able 10 learn, set eparC for celebration as
the anniversary Of the birth Of him whom
we have been accustomed TO call Saint
John the Baptist Whether this IS
in reality tie precise day or the
year upon which nearly nineteen hundred
years ago the infant John, the son OF Lacn-
arias and Elizabeth, first opened his eyes
to the light Of Heaven, whether this is the
exact anniversary Of tina day which pre-
coded by eight days the time when the
miraculouslv dunno priest wrote upon a
taolet in obedience 10 angelic command,
His name is john aud his mouth was
opened and mis- tongue lOOsened and ne
spake and praised God, whether this is In
fact the true birthday Of Saint John the
Baptist, we know not; neither is IL I'M
portant to know. 1t is sufficient Tor
US to know that upon one day OF
the three hundred and siXty-fve the person
who figures in sacred history as SAINT
John the Baptist was born, that he was a
tangible. living, breathing, human being,
aud we may accept without criticism the
tradition that gives TO the oath Of June the
honor of his natal day Exactitude In
such matters is unimpOrtant. The whole
Christian world celebrates the 25th OF De
GENDER as the anniversary Of the birth OF
Christ, and vet there is good reason TO
doubt whether that is the proper day,
many scholars inclining to the BELIEF
that Christ was born in August rather
than in December. But this uncertainty
as 10 the precise day is not permitted to
detract from the pleasurable emotion ana
expansion of heart which all Christians
feel during the holy Christmas time; and
the dav is consecrated to kindness OF
soul and generous conduct in memory of
him who gave good gifts TO men. The
New Testament account Of the birth OF
John the Baptist shows him to have been
a cousin of Christ and born six months be-
fore. If then the birth of Christ occurred
on the the 18th Of December, the oath day
of June may be regarded as the birthday
of his spiritual forerunner. The Chris
tian world having accepted the 25th OF De-
cember as the birthday Of the younger but
vet greater hero, we may well acquiesce
in the assignment and celebrate the oath
day Of June as the natal day Of our patron
saint
THE CUSTOM OF CANoNIzING,
or elevating TO the rank and dignity and
title of saints those who had been peculiar
ly distinguished for holy lives, arose in the
Roman Catholic then the only Christian
10 Of 1Ofh
tury; but long prior TO this the eleven
faithful apostles, to whom was added the
learned and eloquent Paul Of Tarsus, were
designated as saints, title derived from
the Latin sanctuS, meaning holy, derived
from the same root as our English words
sacred and sacrifice and other Of
ike kindred that will readi-
ly suggest themselves to you.
In the 10th century the Popes and Cardi-
nails concluded that the number Of saints
was too small, aud then, as | have said, be-
gan the practice Of canonizing or elevating
To saintship some Of those whose zeal for
the church and whose pous deeds distin-
guished them above their fellows. Not
long after, each of the several trades aud
professions chose as their special patron
and advocate some one of those saints who
while in life had pursued their particular
advocation. Thus Saint Crispin or Girls
piuus, who had been a shoemaker, became
the patron saint of that trade,
and from having mended the soles of
his customers while in life was
deemed worthy of caring for the souls OF
his fellow craftsmen in the spiritual world.
St Dunstan, who had been blacksmith,
became the patron saint OF the workers in
iron, aud ST. John the Baptist, from MS
having been a mem Der OF the mystical sect
-. lad Ffn
patron saint OF the Freemasons. There is
a tradition that the lawyers, unable under
this rule 10 fnd aRy of their own craft
sufficiently distinguished In holiness to be
cannonlzed as q saint, were compelled TO
accept the patronage Of the Devil himself
who has been their patron and counsellor
ever since; OF course l do not vouch for
the truth Of this tradition. Saint
John the Evangelist is not spoken Of as
patron saint OF the Masonic fraterity until
some time in the sixteenth century. But
for S years at lesst the society, known I'M
ger different names in different countries
and at different times. but now called
Freemasons, has revereG the memory OF
Saint John the Baptist and celebrated
with some festivity the anniversary OF his
birth. The revival" as it is called, OF
the Grand Lodge Of England, was effected
AZ a meeting Of the brethren held on st.
Johns day, in 17l7, and we
have documentary proof or the
continuous annual observance OF the
festival since that time. In fact, in an an-
cieut charter Of Cologne, Masonic docu-
ment written in Latin and supposed 10
have been issued in 1855, it is stated that
before the year l440 the society of Freema-
sons was known by no other name than
that of Johns Brothers. that they then
began 10 be called at Valencieunes Free
and Accepted Masons," and that at that
time 10 some parts Of Flanders, by the as
sistance and riches Of the brotherhood, the
first hospitals were erected for the relief
Of the invalid poor In other part