The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-02-04
THE X. O, X. A. OPEN CoNCLAvE.

The installation and open concave held by
Castle North, Knights of King Arthur who had
as guests the members of Castles Waldo and
Charming on Friday evening, was an extreme
ly interesting and highly successful occasion.
The castle hall was suitably decorated with
banners and the shields of the castle members,
and looked most attractive. The parents, rela-
tives and friends were seated about the ROOM
and all We're impressed at the pagent present
ed by the entrance of the castles, to a march
played by Miss Amy E. Stoddard. Each knight
bore his banner and wore the regalia of his
degree. The Merlins of the castles, the three
queens of Avillion, the three kings in their
ermine-trmmed robes of royal purple and the
Marquis of Maine brought up in the rear of
the long procession. The conclave was opened
in form, with Howard Heath as King. At the
close of the ritual service, the members of
Castle North with their King, the two visiting
kings George Langill and Frank Hazetine
and the three queens, Misses Edith West Avis
M. Morrison and Marguerite D. Pilsbury, re-
tired. On their re-entry, the newly-elected
heralds chamberlains, and master of the ex-
chequer We're installed by the Marquis of
Maine, Rev D. L. Wilson, assisted by the Sen
eschal H. M. Prentiss in due form. At the
entrance of the queens the knights gave
salute in token of their pledge of chivalry to
woman, and of loyalty to theirqueens and made
an arch with their banners under which the
queens, escorted by the chamberlains, passed
on their way to the throne to await the COM
ing of the newly elected king. The king,
Frank H. Mudgett, was escorted to the throne
oy the Seneschal, and impressively installed by
the Marquis of Maine, assisted by the queens.
who invested him with the tokens of his office,
his sword, mantle and crown. The castle then
gave hearty salute Hail to the King" and
pledged fealty to him. After appointing the
officers who are to serve during his reign, the
King announced the program, which began
with piano solo by Earl Hubbard, and was
well rendered and so heartily enjoyed that
the young musician was obliged to respond to
an encore. Master Hubbard is Castle Norths
pianist, a position he assumed shortly after he
received the degree of page. Thomas E. Bow
ker, Knight. gave reading from the "Com-
ing of Arthur" and was followed by quar-
tette from Castle Waldo members, Ralph
Bramhall. George Langill Roy Macomber and
Harry Coombs, who rendered Nancy Lee in
particularly enjoyable way. They again
pleased the attentive audience with their en-
core. Ray Lndgren gave evidence of Won
derful memory by his reading, which was a Sc
lection from "The Passing of Arthur" MIR. E.
S. Pitcher sang appropriate solo and great
ly to the regret of all, refused to respond to an
encore Houston Small's finely delivered read
ing was from the Coming of Arthur" Rev.
D. l.. Wilson read interesting letter of
greeting to the assembled castles from Frank
Lincoln Masseck, the International King of the
Knights of King Arthur, speaking of the rapid
growth of the order and of its good work
Three honorary degrees were then conferred.
Harold Jones and Stephen Clement were given
the degree of Baron, with the accompanying
badge and parchment, in token of their salts
factory completion of the first reading course
and the writing of paper. Dana Southworth
who was made a Baron last year, this year re-
ceived the parchment and badge which accom-
pany the honorary degree of Viscount, in
recognition of his satisfactory completion of
the second reading course, and the presenta-
ton of thesis. A solo by Frank Mudgett,
"The Fight is On with the chorus by the
castle members fitting close to the pro-
gram which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The closing ritual was mpressively gone
through with before the castles marched out.
Among the number of spectators present, no
one voiced anything but delight with the even
ing, the program and the ceremonies. They
were knightly company of boys and young
men, and that the order has already done an
imm ense amount of good in our city is the
opinion of all who have informed themselves
regarding it. and the good work is going steadi-
| ly on.
The Castine and West Brooksville Exchang-
es of the N. E. T. & T. Co., which were form
erly operated by the Ellsworth District,
were officially turned over to the Belfast Dis
trict on February 1st. Owing to the fact that
| the natural outlet of these two exchanges ia