Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-15
THE N AsOHIC FAIR.
President Pressed the Button
at White Russ.
A BRILLIANT OPENING
% -fEsss ; - II Go = -.-a--s
ARTISTIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE
VARIOUS BOOTHS.
An Immense Crowd Was Present and
the Financial Results More
Than Satisfactory.


the Financial Results More
Than Satisfactory.
By the pressing of button In the White
House at o'clock last evening President
Roosevelt officially opened the big Masonic
fair In Convention Hail. AS if by magic,
thousands Of multi-colored incandescent
lights sprung into existence, casting their
rays in every direction, and, with the other
decorations of the big auditorium, produc-
ing an effect that was fairly bewildering.
Ten thousand persons stood in GREATNESS
wonderment at the gorgeous transforma-
ton. The bands pealed forth the Star
Spangled Banner" and the big crowd join
ed In the refrain. The ceremonies attend
ing the opening of the fair were brief and
simple. The vast audience listened atten-
lively until they were over and then there
was a general exodus for the numerous
places of amusement.
The crowd was a good natured one. 1t
was there for pleasure and amusement and
there was superabundance of each. From
one end of the big auditorium to the other,
from the main hall to the annex, back and
forth the human concourse surged in its
efforts to cover with the eye the whole
show But in this the crowd was -disappoint-
ed, for the Masonic fraternity Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia has provided features
that will amuse throughout the two weeks
that the fair will run, and it win take
fully that time to do justice to the thing.
Formal Opening Ceremonies.
The whole scene last evening was one Of
inspiration. When one gaZed at the wealth
of decorations, the vari-colored lights, the
"a, foo
lures. everything being conducted with the
method and precision Of an army, one WON
dered that they all could have been con-
ceived and brought into condition Of tan
gibility in so short time. Praise for the
Masons of the District Of Columbia and
their untiring energy was heard on every
hand.
A few minutes before clock the men,
bers of the executive committee in charge
of the fair, the members Of the Masonic
Temple Association and the officers or the
Grand Lodge of the District Of Columbia
marched from the room Of the president of
the committee to the balcony. The audi
ence hushed as Acting Grand Chaplain c.
Alvin Smith stretched out his arms and
impressively invoked the Divine blessing.
To Mr. Frank H.-Thomas, chairman of
the executive commit tee was intrusted the
pleasant duty Of formally announcing the
opening of the fair. He spoke briefly, ad-
dressing his remarks to Mr.. George H.
sence Of Mr.. Malcolm Seaton, the grand
master Of the Grand Lodge Of the District
Deputy Grand Master Walker.
Mr.. Walker, with gavel in hand-the same
gaveI that was used by George Washing
ton in the ceremonies Of the laying Of the
corner stone of the national Capitol in
1793-advanced to the front and feelingly
accepted the responsibility for the success
of the fair. He said:
Il regret that, by reason OF serious III
ness, our most worshipful grand master,
whose deputy l am. is not present TO per-
form the duty allotted to me. for know
1t was a service which he anticipated, with
pleasure, and one in which he would have
taken great pride.
I'VE are assembled tonight to give i'm
pulse to a project the purpose OF which
is to erect building that shall be com
mensurate with the rapidly increasing needs
of our fraternity, not only for those VINO
dwell among us, but for those who come
from near and from far to sojourn here:
II do not need to assure you, Mr.. Chaif-
man, that the good work done by your
self and you co-laborers meets with the
hearty, approval Of the officers and mem
bers Of the Grand Lodge. They hope with
you that the day Is not far distant when
the craft shall have an abiding place
which shall in no wise suffer In compari.
son with the splendid architecture Oh
which the nations capital can poast.
at is often said of Masonry tnat no IN
stitution was ever raised on better pr1n-
ciple or more solid foundation. Its creed
is the Golden Rule; it's object benevo-
lence An ancient Hebrew saying was
that even when the gates OF heaven were
closed to prayer they were open to tears
1.-THE true Mason is one to whom the
burdened heart may pour out It's sorrows
to whom distress may prefer us sun;
whose hand is guided by justice ana
whose heart is expanded by benevolence,
at all times bowling in humble submission
to the God of the widow and the rather
of the fatherless.
"Man's responsibility to man. his duty
IN his neighbor. a question that was raised
when occurred that first awful Tragedy at
the early dawn of history, has been an
swered by Masonry. Each one OF us Is ms
brothers. keeper, and this grand order
would cultivate a spirit OF mutual de-
pendence and helpfulness.
Love Of country and loyalty to constl-
tuted authority are characteristic OF Ma
sonry While liberty and equality are
cardinal principles, anarchy finds no dwell
ling place in our lodge rooms. Inc sign
ers of the Declaration Of independence ana
the trainers of the Constitution were near
" all members of the fraternity emuiatlnS
the spirit Of freedom exhibited by their
forefathers at Runnymede, when was Wrest-
ed from King John the great cnarter OF
human liberty.
"Washington, the guiding star Of the
Of his day. was pleased at all times to
avow himself as Mason, and While Presl-
dent used this historic gavel In the cere-
monies Of laying the corner stone of the
United States Capitol.
'It is therefore fitting that this enter
prise, which has cost SO much OF effort
and energy on the part Of yourself. Mr..
Chairman, and those who have SO nobly
aided you, the results Of which are
fraught with so much hope to the craft,
should be set in motion by one who has
followed him as the nations chief, who.
by virtue Of his high office, is the first
citizen Of the world, himself a member of
our brotherhood, the President Of the
United States" -
Mrs Rooseveltss Gift.
Mr. Walker gave three resounding thumps
with his gavel theR bands struck up. the
lights seemed to shine brighter. the crowd
began to move and from that time on there
was a scene of gayety throughout the even
ing. az g ~
Chairman Thomas had just descended
from the balcony when q messenger hur-
ried into his room and handed him pack