The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-12

convincing force and eloquence, Rev. Ernest J. Craft, rector Of Christ P. B. Church, and associate chaplain Of the Connecticut grand lodge, F. & A. M.' explained last evening the frateGnAl, moral and spiritual purpose of Ma sonry. The service at Christ church Last evening marked the opening ex- srcises In the observance of the 15Oth anniversary of the founding of St. Johns lodge, No. 3. F. & A. M, of tfrIs city, TO those not members of the order who were fortunate to gain admtttance to the crowded edtfice, the fTnpr ressive service of the Episcopal church seemed no less beautiful than the sermon of the pastor was lnsplr- ing.
 The religious character of the order itself lent congruity to the service last evening. The members of St. John lodge, Corinthian lodge, No. 104, and their visiting brothers were seated in the body of the church There were men from all walks Of life. Hoary headed old men bent sTvith ethe weight of their years and young men stal- ~art in the strength of the early morning of life. Men whose names and positions occupy the most prom others whose station is less exa,ted. But all were of serious mien and from their conduct it was evidenced they were met on common level in their
 T.he crowded church presented pie ture that will long be nNmbered by those who were present. The bril- hantly lighted place Of worship, the peaIinx organ, the reverberant words Of the pres cher and behind him the vested choir whose sweet voices were raised in anthems at interva-s. all tion of the occasion:
 In the body of The church sat the members Of the lodge wearing the ~4r ~lE k11Af-- craft Thanking them were the mem bers of Hamilton Commandery, Knights Templar, in their shoWy un1- forms, and members Of the OrdAr of Eastern Star. while in the aisle pews on either sid eand In the gallery above were crowded the members of the congregation and others who came to zttend the service So great was tpe crowd that 1t was necessary to place chairs in the ante-room leading to the parish house There was deep feel wation as they joined in the responses to the priest or in the hymns.
 The members of St. Johns lodge and others of the Masonic fraternity Masonic Temp e1 in Broad street at o'clock last evening. The lodge was opened in due form in the blue lodge room and then escorted by Hamilton Conmandery, Knigl tS Templar, the members marched to S9e church The procession was formed and led by Ed ward T. Buckingham, past master and marshal of the lodge. Inside the edl- flee, Worshipful Master Andrew V. Barber, accompanied by the officers with their slaves of office, marched up and look seats in the front pews- The members of the lodge were seat cd behind them. with the officers walked Major Thomas Boudren. one of the oldest living members of St has been used by the lodge for 15O years and is one of it's priceless pos sessions, and the square and compass. With him walked Thomas Fletcher, who was raised on the same night and who carried the charter of the lodge in a steel tube. Behind the party were the historian, E. & Phillips, and Daniel M. Rowland, the latter the o-d- est living grand master.
 During the service Marshal Buck ingham and officers of Hamilton Com mandery were seated with the choir as there were not seats for them In the body of the >burch. As the choir entered at the proceSsional they sang Onward Christian Soldiers"
 Rev. MT. Crafts sermon was mas terIy explanation of the principles of Masonry and its deep religious foun- dalton. The sermon follows:
 Brothers of St. Johns Lodge of Free
 and Accepted Masons:
 Your brethren of the fraternity, the sir knights, your friends and fellow citizens congratulate you upon this celebration of the I5oth anniversary of
 
 'It is indeed an suspicious occasion. Institutions. like individuals, are ven- erated-or= should be-for their age, particularly if they have contributed to the upliftment of men, as this lodge has. One hundred and fifty years ago there was no Bridgeport; Stratford and Fairfield were the centers of life in this section, with Fairfield Ie6Ctng in commercial importance. The pyim- tive conditions at the time of the founding of the lodge can be gathered from the fact that 1t was cnly two dians, dwelling on what was then known as ''Golding Hil," removed to what is now the east side of Main street near the junction Of Washing
 "At that time there was no United States, no self-government; it was born At the ending of the Colonial period. tS tSssf ysagf eaffS those th WaT stort ot times, when the increasing tyranny of George III. was crystallizing the re- sentiment of the coionists into a set tied determination to gain their rights as men, even at the cost of their blood, and when plans to that end were being laid by some of the charter members of SI. Johns lodge. /
 Masonry's Beginning.
 "One hundred and fifty years ago there were no raiiFoads.7 no great cities and factories, and but a sparse popula- ton. St. Johns lodge has existed
 
 the birth of our government, our ma terial and territorial expansion, and today, strong and powerful, exerts a splendid influence in this now impor- tant industrial city, which contributes no small share to the power and pros perity of our nation And we, with you, are proud of the age and history ofsSt. Johns lodge. in the honoring of which we honor the great fraternity of which we are members.
 'Old as is St. Johns lodge, its age is as a drop in the ocean of years which halIow the fraternity itself. Ma sorry had it's beginnings before the founding of the Roman Empire, and perhaps before the shepherd kings of Egypt. This may seem a stretch of the imagination, and incapable of proof, but there are certainly some strong reasons for such a belief.
 ''The globe on which we dwell is old, and the human race is now be- heved to have existed upon it for 100,- 900 years. Through the discoveries of the archaeoIogist we are just be- ginning to know something of the an-