The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-13
FITTING CEREMONIES MARK OBSERVANCE
 YESTERDAY OF I5OTH ANNIVERSARY OF
 INSTITUTION OF ST. JOHNS LODGE F. AND A. M.

Civil war
 During the early history of the lodge celebrations of St. Johns day, June 24' were frequent and the records of | the lodge show that more or less | liquor was drunk at meetings then. Iu fact it may be reasonably concluded 1 that If a barrel of rum was often used | to raise a barn it is not improba ole l that a pint of toddy was an excessive amount for raising" a Master Mason,
 First Meeting. l The first meeting of the lodge in | what Is now Bridgeport was held on June 24, 17S9, at what was called l then Newheld- After that the lodge met regularly at the corner of Union | and Water streets.
 At the time of Washington's death all wore badges of mourning for him as the grand master of the United
 From 1909 until 1921 the meetings were supposed to have been held in Fairfield, although on Oct. g, 1909, it l was voted to hold all meetings in | Bridgeport
 Anti Masonic Agitation. In 1920 the anti-Masonic agitation started and prevailed for about Is | years stopping many lodges from 1 meeting and causing much bitterness on the part of the people against ev- | cry hing Masonic. The speaker re- l lated how much this movement affect i ed even the grand lodge which h4d been formed in New Haven some years | Before by the lodges in the state. But 1 in spite of all th-s those in charge of | St. Johns lodge managed to keep the | lodge together. In 1880 this move ment reached Bridgeport and in IS36 a declaration of Masonic principles | was made and published in the local | papers.
 in 1884 learning that the town was l about to build a new two-story school ranged to have an additional story put on to serve as a meeting place which was done and in 1888 these rooms beng completed, they were dedicated on St. Johns day, Dec. 27. Lodge Moved. After this the lodge met there for a number of years Lut no reason is given for the change although the ner of State and Water streets. This was in 1847, which was a busy year for the lodge. In 1865 the lodge moved into Sturdevant hall, after which it moved into the present temple.
 The speaker declared there was nothing to show how, where or when those mentioned in thu. charter secured their degrees but he presumed they ter would not haze been granted.
 Sing "ShoOgy ShOO."
 The above were some of the main facts contained in the history, the whole being related in rambling sort of way but with close fidelity to dates, etc. They were apparently se cured from the records of the Tod ge after mu- h painstaking effort. For instance he related how in the '49 eA- 'citement many received their degrees and at once departed for the west. He aIso related how when he was a boy his father told him to be a good boy when he grew up and not to join the Masons. MT. Phillips told how many of the soldiers in the Civil war re- ceived the degrees of the order.
 Following his paper the Masonic t@hnnpr in ra1-U tender and affecting way, thereby win ming strenuous encore for them selves.
 Grafton by Mir. Tracy.
 Now came the real thing of the af- ternoon, the oration of Past Master Fred W. Tracy on Masonic Light" whIC h was a masterpiece of clear and concise dictlon and yet full of so many bea utiful tho ghts and passages that all fllt then-seI. es strangely loved.
 T want to say at the very begin ming of my remarks this afternoon upon the subject of Masonic Light, which has been assigned me, I snail attempt nothing new. The subject is too old for that.
 This celebration, however, would be in vain, If we did not have some very definite purpose in view and de- rive some substantial and lasting benefit therefrom.
 TO this end my efforts will be ex- erted.
 If some small results follow I shall feel amply repaid.
 There has ever been implanted in the hearts of all men of every race and cline, a desire, an inclination, reverence perchance for Nthings past, and a grateful appreciation for the labors and sacrifices of those who have gone before, which has forced them to pause upon the anniversa- rles of important events and to cele- 'brate on such occasions with appro- priate ceremonies.
 Anniversaries.
 50 engrafted on our very ma 5e We deem ens it his s@ost PegoGs dnfy to properly observe these anniversa- ries.
 This is especially true in the case
 "Recreant would be the son or daughter who did not remember the birthdays of father and mother and of love and affection, which are due at such times, from child to parent.
 Dim indeed, would be the fires of patriotism in the hearts of a people, who did not rise up and celebrate the important anniversaries of their nd- tion, and with praise and thanksgiV-4 ing recall the day which gave it birth, and in reverence and love lay garlands upon the graves of it's pa triots and heroes.
 Many of us can remember with what continued and imposing cere- monies this nation celebrated its one hundredth anniversary in 1876.
 "A very few of you may recall the occasion, fifty years ago, when St. Johns lodge celebrated it's centen- nial anniversary, but the vast major ity who participated then have long since entered the Celestial Lodge above.
 '"These centennial celebrations have been very frequent in towns and societies all over New England.
 And so today in conformity to this universal custom and moved by tt sense of duty which we owe to the memory of the founders of this lodge, we have assembled to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its organi- zation. Thanks, thanks to the loyalty of those mem berS, who have thus manifested their devotion to the or der, and by their efforts and their energies made this celebration reality.
 The story of these events in which we are today the actors, will make an interesting page in the rec ords of the lodge which future gen eratfons of masons may scan with pleasure and pride.
 Great Changes.