The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-24


one OF the oldest bodies OF FreemaSons in
this country is observing the l50th ami
versary of Its organization the opening
exercises Sunday taking the form
of parade and historical remarks
at the First Baptist meeting house. To-
day, the feast OF st. John the Baptist,
there will be an evening reception to the
worshipful master and wardens Of the
lodge, to be followed by a banquet and
musical entertainment.
In the parade yesterday afternoon Mes
tell, Orpheus, Rising Sun, What Cheer
and Mount Vernon lodges escorted ST.
Johns lodge and the Most Worshipful
Grand lodge from Freemasons hall to the
meeting house. some 300 brethren form
ing the line. marching in column of fours,
wearing the official jewels and aprons
and bearing the symbols OF their respec-
tive offices. At the entrance to the church
the grand lodge was saluted by the breth-
rem OF the Blue lodges as it passed
through the lines.
The exercises included an address pre-
senting the history of st. Johns lodge
and much valuable general Masonic data
by Rev. and Right Worshipful Henry w.
Rugg, ID. d., of this city; an address on
Masonry by Right Worshipful Solon w.
Stevens of Lowell, past grand senior war
den of the Grand Lodge OF Massachu-
sets. and singing by the Albion quartet
son and James G. Bartlett, tenors, and
George II. Remele and David NJ. Babcock,
bassos.
st. Johns meeting was formally opened
at 80 o'clock at Freemasons' hall with
worshipful Albert l.. Morrison as master.
PARADE FORMATION.
The line for parade was formed at
o. clock in Dorrance, Pine and Eddy
streets, made up as follows:
w. Edward NJ. Clarke. Chief Marshal,
and aids, Alfred G. Chaffee. Frederic
Hayes, George ii. Huddy, Jr.. and Her
bert B. Vigneron.
Nestell Lodge, No. 81, w Lynn w. Felch.
Master. 81 brethren.
Orpheus Lodge, No. 36, w. William l..
Sweet. Master. 10 brethren.
Rising Sun Lodge. No. 80 w. George H.
Huston, Master. "a brethren.
What Cheer Lodge, No. 81, w. Herbert
ID. Nickerson, Master, "a brethren.
Mount Vernon Lodge. No 4. w. William
c. Chambers. Master, 20 brethren.
St Johns Lodge, No. !, of Providence.
w. Albert l.. Morrison, Master, 30
brethren.
Most worshipful Grand Lodge. NJ. w.
Arthur H. Arlington, Grand Master OF
Masons, 30 members.
Proceeding through Dorrance street,
Exchange place. Steeple and North Main
strets, the line drew up In front of the
First Baptist meeting house, and, after
the usual honors had been paid the grand
lodge, entered the church, the entire main
floor of the auditorium being reserved for
the fraternity. The public was admitted
to the galleries.
THE PROGRAM
The program OF exercises was as fol-
lows;
Professional: anthem, "Rejoice the
Heart OF Thy Servant" quartet; respon-
sive reading, Psalms 30 and 81, Rev Hen
ry NJ. King. u. D.; anthem. onward,
Christian Soldiers" prayer, 'Rev. ana
Brother Levi B. Edwards chaplain; re-
Spouse, Lords Prayer" Gerrish; histor-
lcal address. Rev. and r. w. Henry w.
Rugg. ID. d.. anthem. Ten Thousand
Times Ten Thousand" Schneider; ora
tion, r. w. solon w. stevens. past grand
senior warden OF the grand lodge OF Mas
sachusetts: quartet. Sunset" benedic-
tion, Rev. DIR. King.
Rev. DIR. Rugc. in the course OF his his
torical address covered the 80 years OF
the existence OF st. Johns lodge.
s. w STEVENS GRAFTON.
r. w. Solon w. Stevens oration dealt
with the antiquity OF Freemasonry. Tne
orator said in part:
when the obelisk, known as Cleo
patra's Needle, erected 1900 years before
Christ was TO ne taken uoWn, - ytuIS
ago. for the removal 10 New York. cer-
tain emblems and implements found be-
meath Il had a peculiar significance, and
when the obelisk was re-erected In Cen
tral park, New York these were all
placed beneath II I'm the same relative
position as that In which they were found.
IL stirs the blood to think OF that column.
pointing backward thousands OF years To
that land OF mystery that borders on the
Nile, standing now in the restless centre
OF the Empire city OF this great power
OF the modern world. 1t tells OF certain
great moral principles that arc the es-
sence OF Ancient Free and Accepted Ma
sonry, which have been busily az work In
every civilized life, building the spiritual
temple"
At tho close Of the exercises In the
meeting house the lodges returned 10
F'reemasons' hall. The ushers at the
church were Brothers Charles Is. Dean.
Berton T. Kile, william @. Lind. Edwin
L. Mathewson. William Y. Otis, Albert
f. Paddock. stephen G. Potter. Howard
A. Presbrey. Clarence q. Remington.
Clarence A. Ryan. Fred A Slocum ana
Harold r. Warren.
PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
l..II ts4n~ rn-