The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-26
AT THE PARK.
An Enjoyable Day Spent There by tho
Masonic fraternity.

an GhIoyholo D1y Speut 4uerc W thO
Masonic Fraternity.
After the conclusion of the laying OF
the corner stone OF Simpson NJ. E.
church, the line of march was taken up
to the Elm Grove motor station, and
the Masons proceeded to Wheeling
Park, whcrean enjoyable day was spent.
There was nothing of a formal character
until at o'clock when those present
assembled at the pavilion, and were
again favored with speech from Colo
mel White. after which an address was
delivered by Grand Orator y. S. Long,
which was as follows:
ut may be asked why this is festal
day for the Masonic fraternity; what
special reason is there for celebrating
iu this joyous manner the day set apart
in the Christian calendar as the ami
versary OF the birth OF st. John the
Baptist. Let us take for our topic then
The Day We Celebrate and examine
its claim to the distinguished place it
holds in Masonic estimation. The 9th
day of June has been for many years,
how many l have been unable to learn,
set apart for celebration rs the ami
versary OF the birth Of him whom We
have been accustomed to call Saint
John the Baptist Whether this is in
reality the precise day OF the year upon
which nearly nineteen hundred years
ago the infant John, tho son OF
Zaceharias and Elizabeth, first
oponed his eyes to tho light OF
heaven, whether this is the exact
anniversary Of that day which pre-
coded by eight days the time when the
miraculously dumb priest wrote upon a
tablet in obedience to angelic command,
"His name is John" and HE mouth was
opened and his tongue loosened and no
spake and praised God, whether this is
in fact tho true birthday Of Saint John
the Baptist we know not; neither is it
important to know. 1t is sufficient for
US to know that upon one day Of the
365 the person who figures in sacred
history US Saint John the Baptist was
born; that he was tangible, living,
breathing human being, and we may
accept without criticism the tradition
that gives to the 24th Of June the honor
OF his natal day. Exactitude in such
matters is unimportant.
TIE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
1.-THE whole Christian world cela.
brates tho 18th of Decener as the ami
-versary of the birth OF Christ, and yet
there is good reason to doubt whether
that is the proper day, many scholars
iuclining to the bobiet that Christ was
born in August rather than in Decorn-
Der. But this uncertainty rs to tho
precise day is not permitted to detract
IRON the plcasurable emotion and ex-
pansion OF heart whech all Christians
feel during the holy Christmas time; ;
and the day is consecratod to kindli-
ness of soul and generous conduct in
memory OF him who gave good gifts to
mon. The New Testament account of
the birth of John the Baptist shows
him to have been cousin of Christ
and born six months before. II then
tho birthday OF Christ occurred on the
25th OF December, tho oath day of June
may be- regarded as the birthday
OF his spiritual forerunner. The Christ
ian world having accepted the 25th of
December as the birthday OF the young
or but yet greater hero, We may we'll ac-
quiesce in the assignment and celebrate
the oath day OF June as the natal day Of
our patron saint. The custom OF canon
izing, or elevating to therank and dignity
and title OF saints OF those who had
been peculiarly distinguished for their
holy lives, arose in the Roman Catho-
he, then tho only Christian church,
about the middle OF the tenth century
but long prior to this the eleven faith
full apostles. to whom was added the
learned and eloquent Paul, of Iarsus,
were designated as saints, title deriv-
ed from the Latin SdnctuS, meaning
holy, derived from the same root, as
our English words sacred and sacrifice
and others OF like kindred that will
readily suggest themselves to you. In
the tenth century tho popes and cardi-
nails concluded that