The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-02-23
COL. OLINSCOTT TO
GIVE S2O.OOOFOR
MASONIC HALL
Site For Building Given BY Mr.
And Mrs. John H. Norton
TEMPLE CHAPTER EXERCISES
interesting Centennial Celebration of
Masons Last Night-Historical
Address by Henry L. Stilson

Address by Henry L. StiIlson
The feature OF the centennial cele-
bration of Temple chapter, r. A. NJ,
last evening was the announcement
of the gift by Col. Olin Scott of S2O,-
600 to the Masons of Bennington for
a new Masonic hall on the lot east OF
the Second Congregational church
This lot is given by Mr.. and Mrs
John II. Norton. The two gifts be-
come effective only if the additional
sum of $4,000 is raised on or before
April LIST.
The centennial celebration of the
chapter was of itself an event OF
great interest to Masons and there
We're members of the fraternity pres
ent from all parts of the county and
from Rutland and Burlington. II. d.
Fillmore, f. p H., presided. Music
was furnished by Woods orchestra,
and it was the general opinion that
the orchestra gave some Of the finest
selections ever heard in Bennington.
trombone solo by Frank Hurley
and a vocal solo by Joe Daley were
greatly enjoyed and warmly encOred
Prayer was offered by Rev. J. c.
Mitchell of Pownal, following which
there was an address of welcome by
II. d. Fillmore with response by
Grand High Priest Edward II Martin
of Middlebury. The two principal
speakers of the evening were Henry
L. Stillson of Bennington whose his
torical address is printed in full be
low and Grand Chaplain Rev. A. J..
Hough of Montpelier who gave a
most Interesting and valuable 40-min-
ute address on the importance Of
keeping up the high standards Of
Masonry.
Following Mr. Stllson's address
A. w. Varney announced the gener-
Gus gift of Col. Olin Scott and Mr.
and Mrs Norton. Mr. Varney, O. NJ.
Barber. H. d. Fillmore and Frank, F..
Battles are members of committee
from Mt. Anthony lodge with whom
the details of the gift were arrang-
ed Col Scott was called on and
spoke briefly. He was given ire
mendous ovation Mr. Norton was
scalled for but his modesty was such
| that he declined to say anything.
District Deputy High Priest J. c.
Roberts of Manchester was introduc-
ed and gave capital short talk.
Benediction was pronounced by Rev.
A. }. Hough and the gathering ad
journed to the banquet hall where a
splendid supper was served by the
ladies of the Eastern Star.
The centennial celebration was ar
ranged by committee composed OF
w. H. Nichols, Ralph H. White, Ed
ward II, Holden and Fred d. Ranney
| Mr. Stillson's address in full was as
follows:
1t seems essential that the History
of Temple Chapter, Royal Arch Ma
sons" should be preceded by a few
Introductory remarks and that an
incident of its life on an afternoon
convocation in the early seventies OF
the 18th century ought to first go Oh
record. This special gathering of the
Chapter, was supplemented soon af
terward by a similar assembly oil
Bennington Council, No. 3, Royal and
Select Masters In an inspired nom
ent Companion John Taylor Shurt
left, now deceased, conceived the
plan to invite the surviving fathers
of the Rite to an exemplification Of
the degrees of the Chapter and Coun
ell, to be held during the daytime be
cause of the advancing age of these
veterans upholders of the Masonic
Institution. The invitations wen
forth and several responded, eacl
coming from considerable distances
by carriage, the age of trolleys anC
motors not having yet arrived locally
The writer, a recent immigrant to his
toric Bennington attended these
unique gatherings; and so strong was
the delightful impression then made
that after nearly forty years he Il
writing from memory. The four com
panions recalled were: Nathan Bow
en-, Smith Montague, Leland Fair
banks and James Hicks There ma!
have been more or the elder brethren
present and several may have assist
ed in the work, but unfortunately, tn,
minutes are not available to give thu
names.
Did these companions enjoy the de
} grees, as well in age as in their Ma
.. sonic Youth? Yea, verify the sigh
aroused enthusiasm such as has new
err before nor since been witnessed b,
the writer in q personal experience
of over fortythree years The rec
ords show that every one had beel
! burden bearer" in the Graf
) throughout his entire active Masoni
life: and one,-Nathan Bowen--wa
, High Priest of Temple Chapter, pres
ent and presiding at its annual cor
. vocation. December o. 1892, and wa
: reelected on that occasion. Whe
2 the dark age" of the anti-Masoni
excitement had spent its strength tn
name of Nathan Bowen heads the lis
of those seeking resumption OF labor
on July is, A. l.. 1858 1883, Gale
again by the Grand Chapter to pre-
side as High Priest. The ancient
time-immemorial brother an
brethren for the Lodge "compar
ion" and companions for the Char
ter possessed a deeper meaning tina
modern definitions would imply A
stated by a historian OF acknowledge
rank. the words admitted n Brother
or Companion" so common in oil
records, prove conclusively that tn
terms are not of American parentagC
nor of recent origin but, that Xix
much else obscure in Freemasonrl