The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26

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rival of the Palatka delegation al
the Masonic hall and organized fol
the coming ceremony, and promptly
at noon emerged from the hall
formed into line and marched to the
new school. There were some fifty
or more Masons in line.
Promptly after arrival the exer.
cises began, with Grand Master G
F. Sprague as master of ceremonies.
The officiating Grand Lodge officers
were as follows.
NJ. W., G. F. Sprague, as Grand
Master.
R. w, C. Grimsley, as D. G. NJ,
r. W., E. Il. Haskell, s. q.
Warden.
r. W., l.. Eaton, as ]. q. Warden.
r. W., j. H. Harp, as Grand Treas.
r. W., Paul g. Smith, as Grand
Secretary.
r. r., d. M. Reeves, d. D., as
Grand Chaplain.
W., r. q. Ivory, as Grand Marshal.
W., Horace Prior as S. G. Deacon.
W., s. E. Neal as j. G. Deacon.
W., H. e. Loomis as s. q. Steward.
W., q. r. ROwtOn, as j. g. Stew
ard.
W., G. G. Westcott as G. Tyler.
W., Jno. P. Wall, rs G. Standard
Bealer
W., Jas. NJ. Chesser, as G. Pus-
iuivant.
The ceremony, while not long was
impressive, more especially the
prayer of the Grand Chaplain. AZ
Ger the ritualistic service had been
completed, Grand Master Sprague
put the finishing touches to the
norter and the stone was lowered
to it's place. In it's recepticle had
been placed:
A brief history of Lake Lodge, No.
70, F. & A. M; History of the
Church of the Holy Comforter (Epis
copaD Crescent City; history of the
town of Crescent City; map of town
ship IL including Crescent City; his
tory of the Presbyterian church !;
visiting card of P. NJ, VIM. E. Albin
of Temple Lodge No. So, Westport,
Conn, who is in charge of the mason
work of the building; card of
Leonard Eaton, the contractor and
builder of the school; history of the
Village Improvement Association !;
history of Crescent Lodge No. 33
Knights of Pythias; copy of the Pa
latka and Crescent City News Feby.
18th, 1904: copy of the Palatka Times
Herald, same date.
On completion of the ceremony the
Masons present and all spectators
repaired to the auditorium, where
Grand Master Sprague introduced as
the orator of the occasion Judge E.
E. Haskell of Palatka, the r. W.
Senior Grand Warden of Florida,
who delivered the Grafton.
Judge Haskell is a polished speaker
and Immediately secured the full
sympathy of his audience. His topic
was Masonry, and in it's discussion he
went briefly over the legend which
brings its institution down from the
building of the great temple of Solo
mon, through the prosecutions of the
middle ages, and up to the time in
1893, since when there has been his
tory of record. The judge referred to
the day and it's peculiar fitness for
the ceremony just performed. 1t was
the anniversary of the birth of
Washington, the father of his coun-
try, who was often called upon as
Grand Master of Masons in Virginia
to perform exactly the same cere-
mony as that which had been per-
formed by Grand Master Sprague
that day, among the more notable
occasions being his work in laying
the corner stone of the nations capt.
toll at Washington. Masonry was not
religious institution but its teach
ings were in full harmony with the
teachings of the Bible, and that book
of books had its place in every lodge
room. Masonry brought the high
and low, the rich and poor, to one
level; it took the rough stones and
smoothed them. 1t stood for morality
and good citizenship. The speaker
likened Masonry to the Gulf Stream
which, having its source in the Gulf
of Mexico, wound round the Florida
Keys and formed stream of light
blue, warm water, which flowed on
through the green of the Atlantic up
to the Labrador coast and then
branched out carrying warmth to
England. That warm, clear, blue
Gulf Stream had its influence upon
the waters of the broad Atlantic, and
the color of its water was typical OF
the blue lodge in Masonry which was
civilizing influence among the ma
lions of the earth.
Judge Haskell was listened to with
wrapt attention by large audience
and there is no doubt that his elo-
quent remarks had the effect
designed by the speaker of making
the real object and work of Masonry
better understood among the people.
At the conclusion of Judge Has
kell's address Grand Chaplain Reeves
advanced to the side of the platform
and in eloquent words, filed with
feeling, publicly thanked Hon. Ed
win aud Mrs. Gilbert for their great
generosity in erecting the building,