Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-04

Lafayette, then ON a visit to this coun-
try. Accordingly the Grand Lodge,
accompanied by the members of the
fraternity, Royal Arch Masons, Select
Masters and knights Templar formed in
procession and marched to Prospect
Hill where General Lafayette was met
and escorted to Wilmington. Hating
near the Town Hall the brethren opened
to the right and left faced inward and as
Brother Lafayette passed between them
gave him the grand honors. The Grand
Lodge then entered the Town Hall and
the Most Worshipful Grand Master J.
Gordon Brinckle, delivered to Brother
Lafayette the following address:
"Sir and Brother: The pleasing duty
has devolyed on me of presenting to
you the congratulations of the Grand
Lodge of Delaware on your arrival
within their Masonic jurisdiction. In
common with others, we as citizens are
animated by the most lively sentiments
of affection and gratitude towards you.
We cannot forget. that surrounded by
the endearments of your family and the
Establishments of society, with for.
tune which enabled you to enjoy at
home all the pleasures to which youth
could give zest-that born ID foreign
land separated from us by three thou.
sand miles of ocean and bound to us by
no ties save those which impel the good
TO interpose between the oppressor and
the oppressed, you came to our aid
through dangers and difficulties; that
you entered our little army without
rank; that you risked your life; that
you shed your blood in our battles; and
in short, that you identified your feel
ings with those of an American and
patriot. And we know the high char
acter you then earned has never been
forfeited After a long absence you
have again visited our shores, and you
are saluted by the joyous greetings of
ten millions of people rendered more
free and more happy by the result of
the contest in which you bore so con-
| spicuous part, than any other people
beneath the canopy of heaven. These
| greetings are the spontaneous workings
Of delighted hearts. There breathes
not an American who does not honor
the name of Lafayette. When We look
| abroad into the world and view the stu
alton of our brethren in other countries,
| theconviction isinestimably forced upon
us that as Masons we owe you further
debt of gratitude. An attempt is made
in the north of Europe to render our
society disreputable by making a con-
nection with us a disqualification to
hold any public office. In the South our
brethren are prohibited from assembling
under the penalty of suffering the pun
| ishment of traitors. Almost everywhere
on the continent we are prescribed and
even in Ireland our lodges are in effect
closed by the arm of government.
"One would think that the hosts of
worthy men who in all ages belonged
to our society, would sufficiently attest
the purity of its principles, and demons.
| trate that whatever they might be, the
institutions of Free Masonry inculcate
nothing which can demoralize its desci.
pies, or disturb the peace and harmony
| of society.
"But the rules of governments not
based on the affections of their subjects
start at passing shadows.
| sin the United States we are more
fortunate. Your arm has helped to build
up government which has nothing to
fear from the peoples over whom it ex-
tends and therefore needs not prohibit
whatever the prying eyes of hired spies
and informers cannot gaze upon.
"IIcre in extending the pale of our
society and practicing the sacred tenets
of our order we have nothing to con-
tend with but the prejudices of the
ignorant. To such we could formerly
declare the great and good Washington
was Mason-we can now point to
Lafayette and proudly say the man
"without shame and above reproach" is
brother, and the recent progress he
has made in our mysteries affords ample
proof that he feels respect for our in
situations and is not indifferent to our
prosperity.
"We fervently pray that the Supreme
Architect may have you both here and
hereafter in his holy care and keeping
Brother Lafayette III answer to this
address, expressed the pleasure it gave
him to meet his Masonic brethren oil
Delaware, and the aifcctionate attach.
ment he felt to the fraternity. He said
Free Masonry was distinguished for the
enlightened liberality Of its principles
1t inculcated federation Of religious
opinions and although as society
Masons did not interfere with politics
| IllpN COuSNlGlGN CNGly % q
brother and as standing ON the SAINT
, natural level. Free Masonry in thest
respect favors liberty and equality, the
foe of tyrants, be not therefore surprised
that they should prescribe and persecutC
You.
, The members of the Grand Lodge
were then seyerally introduced tc
Brother Lafayette and returned to thu
lodge room.
At the special communication Of thu
NJ. w. Grand Lodge, A. +. A. NJ, helC
held July 25th, 1925, it was resolved tt
have made from an oak growing on tn
battle ground of Brandywine, 10!
suitably oruamented to contain Brothe
LaFayctte's certificate of membershi
of the Grand Lodge of Delaware AM
that the committee transmit the box t
, Brother Lafayette before his departur
|, from the United States.
General Lafayette attended this com
munication of the Grand Lodge an
was accompanied by his son, Brothe
George Washington Lafayette, and hi
secretary, Brother LaVasseur.
= The Most Worshipful Grand Master
Arnold Naudain,i in presenting to Brothe
9 Lafayette his certificate OF membershi
, Of the Grand Lodge, delivered the fol
lowing address:
"PeneruJts Brother: On presentin
I you with this testimonial of the afectio
and gratitude OF your brethren in thi
2 State, permit me to inform you that til
/ Grand Lodge has ordered box to cor
tain it to be made of oak taken from til
battle-ground Of Brandywine, as nea
as possible to the spot where you fir.
: lost blood in our revolution, which wi
n be transmitted to you before you leay
! the United States.
-,