The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-31
At 2lSt. Annual Banquet on
St. Johns Night
BIG CROWD WAS PRESENT
Among Them was veteran Mason
Rice, Who Hasn't Missed a Single
One Of the Whole
Seriea

Inc zist annual Masonic assembly lot
the celebration OF the festival OF st.
John was held last evening in Wood
mems hall under the auspices Of the For
eign Masons. This festival in honor Of
the patron saint Of Masonry, which has
been faithfully celebrated in Barre each
year for twenty-one years by the mem
brs OF Operative Lodge, No. $50, OF
Scotland and the members Of the local
Masonic lodge, has always been one Of
the most enjoyable occasions In the Ma,
sonic circles and last evenings celebrn-
tion was in every particular success
and fully equal TO the high standard set
4 by former festivals.
There were nearly 200 people present,
who were seated at four long tables that
stretched the length of the hall. On the
platform at the head Of the hall was
smaller table at which were seated tho
master OF ceremonies, James Scott and
Mrs. Scott, George Troup, who for sew
eral years had been the efficient leader
of these festivals. Arthur G. Tildcn,
master of Granite lodge, No. 25, and
Mrs. Tilden, Donald Blake, senior deacon
of Granite lodge, and Mrs. Blake, Alonzo
T. Clark, chaplain of Granite lodge, and
Eli T. Rice, the Gold man in Masonry
in Barre, again occupied his seat at this
table Mr.. Rice was present at the first
festival held in Barre and has attended
every one held since
The toastmaster in behalf Of the mem
bers of Operative lodge, No. 100, extend
ed hearty welcome to the company
and the festival Of ST. John being
night for pleasure, he wanted everyone
present to enjoy themselves the best
they knew how. Toasts were then
drunk IN silence to the president of
the craft and to the grand lodge of
Scotland Past Master John c. WyIis
was then called upon for a song and
WIS obliged TO respond to an encore.
Senior Deacon Donald Blake proposed
toast to Operative lodge, No. 100, and
after listening to his well chosen re-
marks the whole company drank to tho
toast George Troupe responded to this
toast IN his usual entertaining manner
Two Scotch songs were enjoyahly sung
BY Mrs. John Morrison and toast 70
Granite lodge, No. IS. was then pro-
posed by James S. Milne.
Arthur G. Tilden, master of Granite
lodge, responded to the toast and in bis
remarks gave q brief account Of the
record OF the lodge since it's organization
on January IL, 1856. The FIRST meetings
Of the lodge, he said, were held in the
hall in the Reynolds block. This hall
becoming too small 70 accommodate the
fast increasing membership, the lodge
- ~. 4nS< s4s~ 80 nsxfx
block, where it remained until three
years ago, until it moved into the sti1
larger and finely equipped rooms in the
Blanchard building. Here with q total
membership now numbering 423. he said
that they were again beginning to BE-
pressed for room and that this year y
committee has been appointed to see
what arrangements could be- made ard
the cost Of erecting Masonic temple
that would be credit to the lodge and
the city.
AT the close of these remarks, George
Troupe announced that larga temple
was now being erected in Aberdeen, Scot
land, and 0prative Masons In America
were expected to contribute towards the
cost of its erection he hoped that For
eign Masons In Barre would not fail to
give their portion. The toastmaster next
called upon r. T. Smith, who spoke
briefly, saying that when he was d boy
there was d strong sentiment throughout
the state against Masonry and he had
that feeling himself at the time, but to-
day he would advise any young man
to become a Mason.
MIR. Rice, the Oldest Mason In Barre,
was then sgked to speak The veteran
Mason said that as he looked over tho
company and missed so many faces that
he had seen at these occasions iii former
years, it made him feel sad and he
had hoped that they would not call upon
him to speak this time. Ere then closed
by telling story that brought down the
house.
City Clerk James Machay said that
he had always looked forward with
pleasure to attending st. Johns night.
The celebration Of st. Johns night In
Scotland, he said, was tie time when
all the lodges held their annual meetings
aud closed with a social time, such IS
is being enjoyed here tonight. An en-
joyable song by Miss Young then closed
this part of the evenings program and
a chicken supper was then served.
The supper over, the tables were clear
ed from the hall and the grand march
started. led by Chairman James Scott
and Mrs. Scott, followed by sixty cou,
pies. The dancing then continued until
the break Of dawn this morning The
foor director was George Stewart, as
sisted by George Anderson and William
STEPHEN. The committee which had
charge of the assembly was composed Of
James Scott, chairman, William stephen,
secretary. William Alexander, Angus
Mcdonald. Robert Beagrie, William
Scott. William Anderson, James Wood,
Alfred Milne. George Williamson, VIII
liam cauld and Ceorue Iainr.