The news & observer., 1902-01-19

Grand Master Royster Tells of the
Grand Order.
AM ElEQiNT BANQUET WAS SERVED

IedIS OiO.
A splendid entertainment was offered
to the friends of Raleigh Lodge of Ma
sons. No. 500, in the Masonic Hall last
night.
Nearly IT'S Masons and guests assem-.
Died to do honor to, the occasion, to hear
the eloquent words of the speakers, to
enjoy the wit of the evening and to
feast on the banquet of good things which
were bountifully served 1t was a red
letter night and all the invited guests
speak in the highest terms OF praise of
the delights of the evening.
With the guests all assembled the open
ing announcement was briefly made by
the Worshipful Master. H. C. Butler. He
spoke briefly but eloquenty and his re-
marks were literally applauded.
Then came the prayer for Gods bless
ing upon the order and upon its guests
and friends. This was offered by Mr..
B. r. Lacy.
Music came next and vocal solo by
Mr.. A. Fl. Ball was happily received this
being followed by an exquisite violin solo
by Mr.. Clarence DeVaux Roger, which
won great applause.
The address of the evening was made by
Fast Grand Master B. S. Royster. whose
theme was Of the great order over which
he has presided. He traced it's history
and its growth, telling how it had -four
ished and then how its days of persecu-
ton came, which happily had passed
away. He cited the work done and in
eloquent words told Of the great purposes
which had led it ON, and which had
brought to it halcyon days in these times
when men saw and felt the immense good
that it was doing. His full address is
worthy hearing. 1t was such as to
impress one with the order and to in
spire one to become member and to be
guided by it's teachings OF fraternal love
and duty of man to man.
After the applause following his bril-
liant speech there was more music, this
being an enjoyable piano solo by Mr..
Marion Dunwoody and another violin
solo by Mr.. Roger.
Then came a number of improptu ad-
dresses, these being made by members
of Raleigh Lodge and visiting brethren.
and all bore upon the great future before
Raleigh Lodge. which springing up from
the lodges before established here had
gone forward, growing in strength and
in good works as the days went by.
Among those speaking were Messrs. T.
B. Womack. T. S. Kenan, T.. N. Ivey,
ohm Nichols w. A. Withers, w. w. Will
son, Jacob Fleming, of Neuse, and George
Norwood.
The banquet was next on the list, and it
was an elegant one, served in the best
style by Mr.. A. Dugh The first course
of salads, oysters, olives, pickles, and
other good things being disposed of there
came ice cream and cake, followed by
coffee, cheese and crackers, all winding
up in an enjoyable smoker as the fra
grant Havanas were passed.
The cream served by Mr.. Dughi de-
serves special mention as to the designs
Many of the pieces were in square and
compass form, others in the full uni
fern of Knights Templar. while others
symbolized the mystic letters Of the or
der which carry with them cheer com
fort and love-
One special feature of the evening was
the instruction given by the Lodge for
the Worshipful Master to telegraph re-
membranes to absent members. This
was done on motion of Mr.. w. T. Hard
ing, the parties to whom kilograms were
ordered sent being Messrs. C. f. Snyder,
Scranton, Pa Charles ID. Wildes, San
Francisco; H. o. Kendrick, Lowell, Mass;
A. G. Atwood and John Hodgsen, Hobo
ken, N. j.; w. E. White, Mcbane, and C.
M. Pritchett, Charlotte.
The feast Of good things over there
was an oratorical feast in which Masons
and non Masons fraternized on equal
footing. There. were speeches gay and
there were speeches grave. There were
. speechs that lifted one up to the great
heights Of Masonry and those which
brought laughter but all had in them
word Of praise for the lodge which en-
tertained, and bouquets of choice words
were literally presented to Raleigh lodge.
Chief among these addresses was one
made by Worshipful Master Butler, in
which he used some excellent original
poetry both in telling of his lodge and in
calling the roll. Here are the verses
which evoked round after round of ap-
llaus as they told of Raleigh, No. 500:
Altho' It's now but two years old,
'Tis quite youngster grown,
Is able now to plainly speak
TO stand and walk alone.
has DrdNeiy pdSSeu Inc teethlnS age,
And dandlng on the knee, FL
In the Masonic alphabet
Has learned her A. B. G.
oh, may she still in knowledge grow,
In good deeds noby done,
III true Masonic work advance
As years their courses run.
And when a hundred years have passed
Or this fair Southern land.
May Raleigh's name in honor still
With Hill and Hiram stand.
The evening of pleasure came to close
with these addresses, which were all en-
ioyed greatly. Seldom is il that so
pleasant an occasion comes to one. an6
as the evening ended there was none
who had enjoyed it's happy bonors hi
tlat voted the best of future success