Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-12-28
PUBLIC INSTALLATION.
Highly Interesting Exercises by the
Masons at the Presbyterian
Church Last Night.

The members of Montezuma Lodge,
No. l, A. F. d A. NJ, provided splendid
treat last night, not only for the members
of the lodge, but for all those outsiders
who either from curiosity or desire of in
struction attended the beautiful ceremony
in the Presbyterian church. This edifice
was most kindly placed at the disposal of
the craft by the Rev. G.G. Smith, and was
crowded to its utmost capacity. The
brethren. having duly opened their lodge
in dine form, in their lodge room, walked
in procession to the church, and here, after
an invocation by Rev. G. I. Mills, acting
rs grand chaplain, and musical selection
by the orchestra of the 10th infantry band,
the various officers were invested by Gen.
e. L. Bartlett, acting as grand marshal,
with theinsignia of their duties, and de-
tailed to their discharge with short but
trenchant advice from the installing mas
ter, Hon. l.. Bradford Prince. Thrust have
been exceedingly gratifying to DR.. Har-
roun, worshipful master, to be called up
on once more to preside over this excel
lent and fourishing lodge, and the words of
congratulation that were addressed to
him by Gov. Prince woke a responsive
echo in the hearts of all. After the Off
GERS had been duly installed, and the
lodge thus put into working trim for the
ensuing year, Gov. Prince proceeded to
enlighten to certain extent those of the
assembly to whom "the light" has not yet
been communicated as an outward and
visible sign.
For nearly an hour the eloquent in
stalling master held his audience spell
bound, while he dilated on the beautiful
principles that animate all true free
masons. The Grafton was indeed grand
treat, the speakers fervld eloquence evil
dencing that he spoke from the heart
and thorough acquaintance with his
sub ject. 1t may interest the public to
learn that the superb masters apron
which Gov. Prince wore on this occasion
is known to be over $50 years old, having
been worn in Germany by Mrs. Princes
neutrality-suspicious..
The impressive ceremony concluded,
the members of the lodge and the invited
guests returned to the lodge room,
where an ample repast was duly dis
CuSStu, bIdCeu ny OHo pLcecASo VI ho'y
fair ladies and enlivened by the jovial
songs and racy tales of Major G. W..
Knaebel and other entertaining brethren,
among whom was conspicuous Mr.. w. H..
Gulliford, member of the grand lodge
of England.
In this connection it may be we'll to in
dulge in bit of history. Montezuma
lodge was instituted here in 1847 under a
charter granted by the grand lodge of the
state of Missouri, and it was the success
sor of Hardin military lodge, organized
here in 1916, by American troops. Thus
Monteznma lodge stands as the Oldest
Masonic lodge west of the Missouri river.
New Mexico's first governor under the
American flag, Gov. Charles Bent, Gen. Kit
Carson, Brigadier General Carleton, U. s.
A., and other noted pioneers were mem
bers of this organization.
And speaking of old lodges, here it may
also be stated that the Oldest lodge of
Free Masons in America, st. ohn's Lodge,
of Boston, recently held its 1G0th annual
meeting, at which the new officers were
installed by Wyzeman Marshall, who was
master of the lodge in 1858, 1859 and 1860.
This lodge possesses two carved punches
of grapes that are the original tavern
sign adjoining the front of the Bunch of
Grapes Inn, in Boston, where the first
lodge of Free Masons in America was
established in 1893.