Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-09

complete and gratifying. The day will
90 on record as one Of the great occa-
sions In Oxford County, and IS witness
ing one Of the largest gatherings OF
Masons ever seen In the county.
The Masons began to gather around
the hall OF Paris Lodge during the fore
noon, most Of them coming In on the
two forenoon trains. Several OF the
more distant lodges sent unexpectedly
large delegations. About thirty were
present from Bethel Lodge, and about
the same number from Blazing Star
Lodge OF Rumford. jefferson Lodge OF
Brysnt's Pond brought the Bryants
Pond band with them.
At IL 80 A. VI. the procession was
formed In Market Square, In front OF
Masonic Hall. Capt. II. n. Bolster OF
Paris Lodge was marshal OF the day.
The Norway band headed the procession,
the Bryant's Pond band being placed In
front Of Jefferson Lodge. The lodges
which attended In body were:
Paris Lodge, No. ~, South Paris.
oxford Lodge, No. Is, Norway.
Mt Tfrem Lodge, No. LIZ, Waterford.
jefferson Lodge, No. 100, Bryants Pond.
Granite Lodge. No. Is. West Paris
Besides these lodges delegations were
present from the following:
Blaring Star. No. 20. Rumfori.
King Hiram, No. 81, Dixhcld.
Bethel. No. %. Bethel
Evening Star, No. lag. Buckneld.
Delta. No. las, Lowell.
whitney. No. ls', Canton.
At the rear Of the procession were the
officers OF the Most worshipful Grand
Lodge Of Maine, as follows:
Warren q. Carney Of Portland, &. T.
A. B. rarnham OF Bangor. q. NJ.
Joseph A. Locke OF Portland, ID. q. NJ.
c. r. Wiley Of Bethel. rs y. q. w.
waldo Pc,i.pgfll OF Rumforl Falls. as }. g. W..
Rev Martyr Summcrbcl OF Lewiston, u. Chap
George u. Bisbce OF Rumfori Falls. Architect
NJ. y, King of Portland c. Treas
M Hicks OF Portland. rs q. Sec
Enoch Poster Of Bethel. n $. &. ID:
Thomas W. Burr OF Bangor. rs &: Marshal.
=. IL. Packard OF West Paris. rs J. q. ID.
NJ. T.. Hall OF Bolster's Mills, as ;. u. >.
Henry c. Kicker. a. j. &. ).
John A. Farringto OF Lowell. as q. ). ID.
Albert w Walker OF South Paris. as q. 5. II.
J.F. King OF South Paris, asG. i.
George W Hammond. OF Paris, carrying H.
T.. ;. and e.
Altogether there were nearly though
perhaps not quite four hundred Masons
In line. The line OF march was directly
up Pleasant Street, across the Grand
Trunk track, and up Western Avenue To
the court house site. As they approached
an arch was formed, the procession
opened to right and left, and the Grand
Officers passed through and assembled
ut the northeast corner OF the building
around the corner stone, which was sup
ported by temporary derrick. The
rest Of the Masons gathered around In as
favorable situations as possible, while
hundreds OF spectators clustered around
the open cellar and took stations upon
the hillside, to witness the impressive
ceremonies Of laying the corner stone In
the usual form.
Grand Master Farnham commanded
silence, and an ode was sung by male
auartette consisting Of Messrs. Thayer,
Dennison, Briggs and Hall OK South
Paris. County Commissioner Stearns
addressed the Grand Master, and re-
quested him TO lay the stone. The ex'
tended ceremonies Of the Grand Lodge
we're then performed. The box placed
beneath contained this record:
Corner stone laid by NJ. W. Augustus II
Farnham, Bangor, Grand Master y. 4 A. NJ.
with the assistance OF other officers OF the NJ
W. Grand Lodge OF Maine and such Masons ~
attended from the fourteen subordinate lodge.
In this county. These buildings were designed
by Brother g. NJ. Coombs. architect, Lewiston
and contracted TO lie erected by Joseph Phil
brook. Lisbon"
Besides this record there were placed
in the box: A calendar OF the Su-
preme Judicial Court Of Maine, 1885
1896: an official register for Oxford
County, lS95. 96-court directory and
county officers: copy Of the Oxford
County Advertiser Of June IS, 1893,
printed in Norway BY Fred W. Ssnborn
a copy OF the Oxford Democrat OF July
,. 1895, printed 10 Paris by Atwood 4
Forbes, and such coin OF the United
States Of America OF 1895 as could be
procured; copy Of the Masonic journal
for June. 1895; copy OF the Eastern
Argus Of July 2, 1895; and reprint OF
the Ulster County Gazette for date In
the year $500.
The address was delivered by Hon.
James 5. Wright Of South Paris, and
was as follows:
THE GRAFTON.
"And the King commanded, and they
brought great stones, costly stones, and
hewed stones, to lay the foundation OF
the house"
We have met here to-day as members
of that great and noble brotherhood, one
Of the most ancient and the grsndest OF
all fraternal organizations, as Free and
Accepted Masons, to lay the foundation
stone of public building; and In accord
ance with the ancient customs and US
ages of Masons, that stone has been
placed In the northeast corner Of the
foundation OF the building.
This order, in its origin, was confined
wholly to operative masonry, and Is sup
posed to have originated In the Middle
Ages by the associations that were form
ed during that time by masOns and
builders, as well as by workmen belong
ing TO other crafts, and for their mutual
protection and pecuniary benefit - and
these organizations travelled from place
to place, wherever churches and other
public edifices were to be erected, and at
the time Of the erection Of King Solomon's
temple, these associations were known
and bore conspicuous part In the con-
struction Of that noble and historic build
ing. These associations were mainly
employed in the building of churches and
other religious edifices. They enjoyed
the especial favor aud protection Of the
Pope, and, consequently, received many
special privileges. Thus they were de-
nominated Free Masous, and men OF
eminence united themselves with the
organization but in modern times the
order has no connection with operative,
but Is confined to speculative Masonry.
Although our ancient brethren worked
in both, and 1t has long been the custom
Of the order, carrying out the principles
Of the ancient origin of the fraternity, to
be present and assist in laying the cor
ner stone of important public buildings,
so we, as Free and Accepted Masons,
have come here to-day, not rs did the
ancient brethren from Tyre to assist
King Solomon in the building of his
Temple, but as speculative MasOns to lay
the corner stone Of this new court house
In the spirit Of fraternity, not to use the
trowel in spreading the cement that is
to unite the several parts Of this build
ing into one great mass and structure,
but to use il In that more noble and
glorious purpose Of spreading the cement
of brOtherly love and affection, and with
the hope that from the ceremony here
performed and the friendly greetings
here exchanged some lasting good may
come to all who participate, and to all
who witness the work Of the order on
this occasion.
1t Is hard to break away from ancient
mo0rings and to abandon old landmarks,
consequently differences of opinion arose