Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-01-17
The Snunre and Compass.

To the Free Masons the most interesting
event here for years was the dedi-
cation of the new hall of Malta Lodge No.
so by a special Grand Lodge on last Friday
evening, January 18th. The new Lodge
room is on the third floor OF the Weirick
Building, and in its arrangements, its size,
and bright southern exposure the Masons
have very pleasant home for the Frater-
nity in this town. The first chartered Lodge
of Masons here was Livingston Lodge No.
&c in 1889, which was succeeded by Malta
Lodge No. 50 in 1S47. Leading citizens
have always been supporters of the Frater-
nifty in this county.
The officers of the special Grand Lodge
assembled for the occasion were as follows !:
BID. Gibson, Grand Master; Gustav Brown,
Deputy Grand Master; s. Lee Phillips,
Senior Grand Warden; J. W. Carney, Jun
ior Grand Warden; G. NJ. Hough, Grand
Treasurer; G. F. GalIaher, Grand Secreta-
nv; A. d. Barr, Grand Chaplain; B. F.
Foil, Senior Grand Deacon; Van L. Perry,
Junior Grand Deacon; ]. W. Kelley, Grand
Marshal; B. D. Gibson, Grand Orator; w.
L. Hedges, Grand Tyler.
The Special Grand Lodge was received
by Malta Lodge and in due form was invi-
ted to conduct the exercises. The emblems
of the Lodge were upon a table near the
eastern end of the hall, with covering of
white, and near by were the consecrating
elements, the corn, wine and oil.
With the appropriate professions around
the altar, the prayers of invocation and
dedication, the announcements of the Grand
Master who scattered the corn and poured
the wine and oil upon the uncovered en-
blems, and the proclamation of the Grand
Marshal, the new ball was dedicated in ac-
cordance with the impressive rites and SYM
Lols to God, virtue, morality and universal
benevolence,-th teachings of Free Mason
nv. The craft was called from labor to re-
freshment and partook of fine supper pre-
pared for them in the ante-room of the hall.
The Grafton was delivered by Col. B. d.
Gibson, who, at the request Of the Lodge,
had prepared an interesting and instructive
sketch of the historical and traditional
events in Masonry. as to its antiquity, It's
objects, its tendencies and its principles IN
der the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood
of Man. We mention only few points OF
the address:
He said that Free Masonry endeavors to
better and to unite men in band of broth
FRS bound by the power of gentleness, socia-
! bility of the heart, bene6cence and fervent
devotion to Deity that the Masonic Fra
ternity with such teachings is the Oldest on
the face of the earth the union of the OPP
erative and speculative Masonry dated at
the building of King Solomon's Temple
1904 years ago; a Lodge in England will
this year celebrate its 96Sth anniversary,
and one in Scotland its S35th the earliest
about Masonry in the United States was in
1870, in New Jersey, and 1888 in Virginia
and Massachusetts; Masonry is not selfish ;
it is patriotic; is not religion, but only a
moral teacher treasuring the Holy Bible on
its altar as rule and guide; Masonic oaths
are not the blasphemies which the scriptures
forbid the permissible oath is the religious
affirmation of the binding effect of ones
reliance on Deity for GU dance in the par
ticular undertaking; nor is the secretism OF
Masonry such as should arouse the enmity
of Church or State; no antagonism in its
secrecy, only to advance the cause of a
brotherhood; in the army, the navy, in all
affairs of business success is based on keep
ing secrets; the greatest and best men have
given the fraternity "God-speed %; one
only is cited, the immortal Washington who
wrotein 1898, that "The grand object Of
Masonry is 10 promote the happiness OF the
human race, and the principles are founded
in the laws of Truth and Justice" conf
dence and charity, hope, help, relief and
truth mark the extension of Free Masonry ;
with its ages of renown and social virtues,
it is part of all Nations and a benefit 10
every form of mans government; existing
in the four quarters of the globe, aud a
membership of 100000, a brother in the
craft finds in every cline the grasp OF a
friendly hand, and among all peoples the
safety of home.