The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-11-23

One OF the great events of the year was
the banquet given last night at the Ma
sonic hall, corner of First and Main street,
by the Scottish Rite Masons of this city, TO
| their newly-elected brethren and the nu.
merous visiting Sir knights of the order.
1t was great because there were great
men and great minds there, to say nothing
of the elegance of the refreshments and tue
many other things that made the place
attractive.
The banquet and decorations were sup
piled and furnished by the Ladies' Aid
society of st. Paups Methodist church,
and they were certainly creditable to that
! institution.
| The beautiful hall of the Masonic bodies,
! with its carpet full of EN- blems representing z
| the various scenes that attended the build
| ing of King Solomon's temple and the many
beautiful pictures that adorned its four
walls, was further adorn ed by palms,
flowers and eyergreens, the latter woven
into a line that extended to the four
corners Of the hall aud caught in the mid
die by "A beautiful floral design represent
| ingthe Thirty- second degrees in Scottish
Rlte Masouery. 4 cluster Of wax tapers
! Illuminated ne east or masters seat in
The lodge aud in addition lighted tapers
burned in other parts of the hail.
Two rows OF tables ran parallel to one
another the entire length OF the hall and
around them sat probably the most dis
tlngul~hed body of Kansas citiZcns ever
assembled in this city,
The banquet was In keeping with the
character of the guests. 1t consisted of
oysters, cold turkey, olives salads and
IN fact. Ali the 0e 0ellcarieS of tpa saasnu
Charles NJ. Jones on- of the brightest
| lights IN Scottish Rite Missionary in this
section of the couutry, aud one of the
most Jealous supporters OF the Masonic
! order in this city, was the toast master,
and as such he distinguished himself in
the happy manner with which he presented
the various toasts and introduced the
speakers. Hon. Emmett Beatty of Oklaho-
ma City was the first speaker introduced.
H paid a glowing tri butte to the hospitality
of tie people of the Peerless Princes, and
IN IA u happy vein vein p he referred
William =. Hackney and others. Ia A
shrewd and witty manner he wove into
his remarks some of the experiences of the
recent election, from Democratic stand
point. and asserted that the asSemblage
was unanimous in one opinion and that
Was that raw oysters should be on the
free list. Mr.. u -atty'S speech was a good
on and was loudly appltuded.
Judge Gleeson of Hutchinson was the
next speaker. He was imbued highly with
the lessons taught during the past four
days and his remarks reached the heart of
every body. He spoke principally about
the family and the home and his remarks
were very touching. He couuseled Ma
sous to be true 10 their loved ones above
ali Others. for which he was loudly
applauded. His picture of the Masonic
father looking into the eyes of his child
was really po tic.
Judge Slnss was introduced as the
philosopher" Many of the strangers
and some of the home people imagined
that this was pun on the part of the
toastmaster, but In less than ten minutes
they Realized their mistake Judge Sluss,
at first, spoke in light vein which was
replete with wit and humor. but he soon
got down amid MS profound thoughts and
entranced the guests with pnlsolophlc
ideas concerning Masonry. 1t was one of
the most realistic pictures, from begin
ming TO end, of the human and divine parts
of a mans life that one could wish to
hear. The humanity of his first remarks
did not impress themselves Till his more
sublime remarks were connect ed
with them. Shakespeare could not better
illustrate the human character in fifteen
minutes than he did. He wound up with
tribute to friendship never eXcelled here,
his remarks being directed to w. p.
Hackney, whom he has known for twenty
four years.
W hen Mr.. Hackney arose in response to
the glowing Introduction OF the toast
master, be was greeted by loud and eX
ceeding!y hearty applause. His speech !
was replete with the most beautiful senti- /
ments; sentiments which il would be vain, !
If not vanity Itself, TO try to describe. The (
gentleman from Winfield, it |
would seem, could not very well increase /
his fame orator before a souehern |
Kansas audience, but inspired. as he was,
by the superb historical, alegoricHl |
and moral lessons of the past !
four days, he entirely surpassed 1
himself and caused uncontrolled applause
Like Judge Sluss, his speech bristed with /
the humaDities of life. Every candidate
who has braved the trials of y journey
through the mysteries OF secret society,
recognized tbs picture he drew of his
journey through the thirty-two degrees
which he has gone through during the
past few mouths.
The next speaker was Hon. Eli. z !
Greer. editor of the Winfield Courier HIS
physical condition WAS not good, but for
all that his speech was brlm full of the
most soft aud tender remarks based,
on the friendship shown him
10y Mr.. Hackney all through his life, AS it
were. In conclusion he presented to Mr..
Hackney, In behalf of the Winfield Scot
tish Rite Masous, a beautiful diamond
ring, la token of their friendship. lie also
dwelt upon the fact that Mr. Hackney was
about 10 leave Kansas in a few days TO
make his permanent home at Cleveland,
Ohio.
The last speech was made by Mr.. Hart
lev OF Arkansas City. He is very bright
and cultured orator and expressed some
remarks that was very interesting TO Ma
sons aud which admirably illustrated the
truth OF its teachings
Alter this the mem bers went into mat
ters pertaining 10 the secret work of the
order.
The reporter for the EAGLE obtained
some data concerning the growth and
prospesity of the order in this city, bnJ
owing 10 the lateness of the hour ii Is i'm
possible to give it here although 1t would
prove decidedly interesting.