Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-02
The Masonic Picnic.

Not less than 1900 people enjoyed
the second annual meeting of the
Southwestern Wisconsin Masonic
Picnic Association in this city on the
24th. The weather was just right,
neither too warm nor too chilly. and
without rain or other unfavorable
characteristic. Had nature been in
voked to make special provision OF
wooded lawn for the occasion, the
happy crowd in attendance could not
have been better accommodated than
on the beautiful grounds selected by
the committee. Masons and their
friends from other towns were more
than satisfied by the provision made
for their comfort and entertainment
by the local lodge and the people of
Mineral Point. Hon. j. G. Monahan
expresses the general sentiment of
guests in his paper, the Darlington
Republican, thus:
"Mineral Point fairly outdid her
oCtl III Cdl lllS lOl WIG vi k1Cl
guests. Nearly all the buildings on
Main street were handsomely deco
rated; flags bunting, Masonic and
Eastern Star emblems being seen i'll
profusion everywhere, while across
the street leading to the grove, was
an immense, handsomely decorated
arch, bearing the word welcome .
The picnic was held in Strong's grove,
at the head of Main street. Here a
spacious stand had been erected, and
barrels of ice water Were distributed
over the ground. There was also an
abundance of hot water for the pur-
pose of making tea and coffee.
Fully three hundred people from
Darlington made portion OF the
1000 people estimated to have been
present. The special train, bringing
the visitors from the east and south,
was met at the depot by the Mineral
Point bretbern and their guests from
Dodgeville, Rewey and other lodges,
and to the music of the Shullsburg
and Mineral Point bands march
ed to the grove. Here an address of
welcome by Mayor White, welcom-
ing the guests to the city, a song by
the Philharmonic quartette of Shulls-
burg; quartette by the Hughes Sis
ters of Rewey; music by the band !;
response by Bro. J. w. Rewey, presi-
dent of the association; music by the
bands, concluded the forenoon exer-
cises, and a recess for dinner was
taken until 30
After dinner, there was two
hours entertainment, consisting of
L & 1.t of ftas.
a solo by Miss Wunderle, Of this city !;
music by the bands; eloquent
speeches by Revs. Frizzel, Kent,
Hardcastle, Pryor, Grand Master
jerks, Grand Secretary Latin, OF
Milwaukee, and others, and an ora
tion by j. q. Monahan."
Modesty of course forbade Brother
Monahan's saying more about the
oration, which was the leading feat
ure of the entertainment. 1t was
worthy of the great occasion, a
gem of beautiful thoughts and inter-
esting facts, eloquently expressed. As
he always does when he occupies the
rostrum, Brother Monahan captured
the audience, and had it for his own
from the opening sentence to close OF
the peroatlon.
For the benefit Of visiting Eastern
Star members, Mineral Point chapter
maintained headquarters on the
ground, in large tent, where Grand
Worthy Matron Annie Phillips held
reception throughout the day, and
where l42 visiting brothers and sis
ters were registered,
At the close of the entertainment,
a business meeting of the association
was called for election of officers for
the ensuing year, the result being
reelection OF the officers of the past
year, towit: j. w. Rewey president
j. r. Pryor secretary, and the mas
ters of the several lodges in the dis
trict as executive committee.