The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-06-30
ST. JOHNS DAY.

knights Templar of Maine Observe it Fitlv.
1 The Knights Templar of Maine generally OBJ
served St. Johns day, June oath, by holding
outings or making pilgrimages to the jurisdic-
tions of other communicates. The largest
gathering of Sir Knights was at Bar Harbor,
where st. John Commandery of Bangor enter
tanned the fraters of St. Alban Commandery of
Portland and DeMolay Commandery of Show
hogan. Fully 500 men were in line. In Port
land, Portland Commandery entertained Haver-
hill Commandery of Haverhll, Mass, which
was passing three days at Peaks Island The
members of Hugh de Paynes Commandery of
Melrose, Mass were at Rockland, and with
their ladies were launched aboard a three
masted schooner named in honor OF that COM
mandery. St Omer Commandery of Water
vile was the host of Palestine Commanderv of
Belfast and Lewiston Commandery of Lewis
ton, the day being passed at Oakland. Bradford
Commandery of Biddeford visited Dunlap Com
mandery at Bath. Trinity Commandery of Au-
gusta had an outing at Gurnet Bridge on the
New Meadows river, and Maine Conunandery
of Gardiner at Tacoma lakes.
Palestine Commandery, with about fifty
Knights in line, and accompanied by the Bel
fast Band, left for Waterville on the regular
train Friday morning. They formed in front
of Masonic Temple on High street, marched
down High street. up Miller to Church, down
Church to Main, and down Main street to the
station Their reception and entertainment at
Waterviile was beyond all words of praise
Showers n1arred part of the parade and the
sports at the fair grounds had to be given up but
tertanment was provided in other directions
and the the dinner a thing to be remem-
bered. The most eloquent men that can be
found in Maine were among the post prandial
speakers. Commander Philbrook of St Onler
Commandery in opening the post prandial ex-
ercises briefly introduced Eminent Sir Charles
F. johnson of Waterville Grand Junior Warden
of the Grand Commandery, to speak word of
welcome, and this was gracefully and elo-
quently done.
Commander Philbrook asked the next one
called to speak for Palestine Commandery and
the Blue Lodge. of which he was the present
head. "Here is living example of the kind
of a man Brother Bodge has>been telling about
apure, wholesouled, Christian gentleman and
true Mason, Rev. Ashley A. Smith of Belfast"
Other speakers had been greeted with ap-
plause that was hearty but the reception given
to the Grand Master of the Masons of Maine
rose to an ovation and it was SOME time be-
fore he could be heard. He said in part:
Beyond bringing the very cordial and frater-
nal greetings of 2S,32S Master Masons of the
grand jurisdiction of Maine l have ne desire to
interfere with the festivities with any extend
ed remarks, or with the good fellowship by
anything approaching speech. We know that
every word of welcome that has fallen from
the eloquent lips has been genuine and sincere.
Many times has he honored what he calls the
city on Belfast bay with his presence and it is
our hope that he will many times more.
like to think of the Blue Lodge as teaching
the same lesson as is taught in Templar Ma
sonry. There comes to my thought picture
in English history of William of Orange dress
ed in rough homespun, and that valiant and
courteous knight, Sir Philip Sidney, recogniz-
ing the innate manhood of each other, striking
hands. Beneath the rough homespun of the
one and the silken brocade of the other there
beat heart of true manhood, which instinc-
lively recognized each other. There comes to
my mind these words of the uncrowned laure-
ate of England Kipling:
East is east and west is west
And never the twain shall meet,
Until the two stand presently
At Gods great judgment seat.
For there is neither east nor west
Border, nor breed, nor birth,
Where two strong men stand face to face,
Tho they come from the ends of the earth.
And strong men, some of them. wear the in
sigma and regalia of Knights Tempar. And
others that distinguished and distinguishing
badge of Mason, the lambskin or white leath-
er apron, meet on the common level of man
hood.
A hundred times have you heard that the
lambskln is more ancient than the golden fleece
or the Roman eagle, more honored than any
chlvalrlc order of star or garter, and good men
and true are more honored by the wearing of it
than II their brows were bound with the laurel
wreaths of victory or the green bay leaves of
deathless fame.
For many centuries to come and in genera
tions yet unborn shall men rehearse the works
and repeat the words of our three ancient
Grand Masters, Solomon king of Israel, Hiram,
king of Tyre. and that other Hiram, the widow
son, sent TO King Solomon, who lost his life in
the defence of his honor and integrity
Our altars are dedicated to the holy Saints
John, one Of whom. Jewish prophet, who lift
ed his hands in warning and denunciation ex-
horting to repentance and righteousness; the
other, Christian tevangelist, who sought to
win men to his Master by the way of loves who
gave to men the highest definition of God in
the three simplest words that can fall from
human lips, "God is love-" Today, fraters let
hearts and leave this hospitable city with those
memories,
In conclusion the Grand Master quoted words
Of John Greenleaf Whittier, "the modern St.
John, and told story, that caught the fancy
OF all, about a clergyman friend who was ad-
dicted to flights of oratory. In preaching one