The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-06-28

As early as eight O'Clock in the morn
ing the visitors began to arrive and b.
noon there was large crowd present
estimated to be 10000 There were band
of all descriptions and they were all read,
to play so there was no lack of music.
The first service was the presentation t.
the Home of large American flag. l
was presented by Teutonia Lodge of Jer
sey City. The presentation speech wa
made by Past District Deputy Selnow
the acceptance being by Past Grand Mas
ter Fortmeyer.
On the arrival of the time set for thu
dedicatory ceremonies the Grand Lodge
preceded by Jennings band, marched tt
the front of the building where there wa!
a presentation of stone said to have beer
brought from the quarries of King Sol
ONION at Jerusalem. Then the Lodge pro
ceeded to the stand prepared for the oc
casion and the exercises began with sing
ing.
The address of welcome was made by
Josiah W. Evan, Grand Master, and the
Chaplain of the Lodge offered prayer.
The Home was presented to the Grand
Lodge by Past Grand Master Hamilton
Wallis, in the following words THE fra
ternity of Free and Accepted Masons OF
New Jersey, being animated with desire
to promote the honor and interest of Free
Masonry and to secure the comfort and
happiness of their aged and INDECENT
brothers, their wives, widows and orphans,
have provided this Home, which, in the
full assurance of your appreciation, they
now desire to have dedicated to the benev-
olent and Masonic purposes agreeably to
ancient form and usages"
The Home was accepted by the Grand
Master, who said: "The wisdom, good
judgment and liberality displayed by the
Grand Lodge of New Jersey in providing
means and securing this ediice, so well
adapted to its intended use, is highly
commendable, and meets with my most
cordial appreciation, and | sincerely pray
that this establishment may continue q
lasting monument to the spirit of Free
Masonry, and afford continual oppor.
tunity for the exercise of Masonic charity
and benevolence.
The Deputy Grand Master then ad
dressed the Grand Master as follows
''The evidence Of your unqualified APP
prevail is most gratifying to the Craft and
by resolution of the Grand Lodge of New
Jersey, unanimously adopted at its recent
session, they desire that you shall now
solemnly dedicate this edifice to the uses
and comfort of those for whom it is es-
tablished. "
The Grand Master replied 1.-THE de
sire of the Craft shall be complied with. "
The dedicatory service was conducted
by the Grand Master assisted by the sub
ordinate officers.
The first ceremony was that of pouring
corn. A vessel of that grain was present
ed to the Grand Master by the Deputy
Grand Master, who said: I'm the cere-
monies of dedication it has been of i'm
memorial custom to pour out corn as an
emblem of nourishment. therefore pre-
sent this corn to be employed by you ac-
cerding to ancient use.
The Grand Master, striking three times
with his gavel, poured out the corn,
saying: "In the name of the Great Jeho-
yah, to whom be all honor and glory, !
do solemnly dedicate this Home to Free
Masonry. The grand honors were given
by the fraternity and one verse of an ode
was sung.
The pouring Of wine came next. The
vessel containing the wine was presented
by the Senior Grand Warden, who said
'fWine the emblem of refreshment, having
been used by our ancient brethren in the
dedication and conservation of their lodges
and benevolent Institutions l therefore
present to you this wine to be used on the
present occasion according to the ancient
Masonic form
The wine was then poured on the build
ing by the Grand Master, who said: 'Ir
the name of the holy Saint John, l solemn
ly dedicate this Home to virtue" The
grand honors were repeated and the sec
ond verse of the ode was sung.
The Grand Junior Warden then present
ed vessel containing oil, saying: i pre-
sent to be used according to ancient Gus
tom, this oil, as an emblem of that JOY
which should animate every bosom upon
the completion Of every important under
taking"
The oil was poured out by the Grand
Master, who said: "In the name of the
whole fraternity / solemnly dedicate this
Home to universal benevolence.
The grand honors were again given anC
the last verse of the ode was sung.
With outstretched arms, the Grand Mas
ter made the following invocation: May
the Lord, the Oliver of every good anC
perfect gift, bless the brethren here as
sembled, and all those who shall be gath
cred within these walls, and grant to eacl
one of them, in needful supply the corr
of nourishment, the wine of refreshment
and the oil of joy"
$50 mote it be, 7 responded the Assem-
bled brethren, and then the Grand Mar
shall proclaimed in the South, West ant
East: I'm the name and by the authorit,
of the Grand Lodge of the most ancien
and honorable society of Free and Accept
ed Masons of the State of New Jersey,
proclaim this Home dedicated, in ampl
form, to the purposes of Masonic CHART.
and to the comfort and happiness of al
those who shall be gathered within it
walls"
Music was then rendered by the Schu
bert Glee Club, and the grafton was de
livered by Past Grand Chaplain Meury.
Henry s. Haines gave brief historical
address in which he reviewed the histor,
of the site of the Home, going back abou
200 years.
This concluded the exercises and th
audience dispersed, to follow their owl
inclinations.
The grand officers and their inv ite'
guests held "a banquet under a large ten
erected for the purpose. After Dime
speeches were made by several persons
Rev. W. P Finney, representing tn
Bible Society, presented the Home with
handsome Bible.
Powell Fithian, of Camden, had charg
of the vocal music, and he attended to hi
duties in an admirable manner
Thirty detectives were engaged to lool
out for crooks, but the latter got thei
work in just the same.