Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-06-08
Acacia Lodge No. 176 of This City
Received Charter at Meet
ing of Grand Lodge on
June z, 1865.
PROGRAM IN MASONIC HALL.
Initiatory Exercises-Fine Banquet
Excellent Address by
DR.. Newton.

One of the biggest events Of the
season was the fiftieth anniversary
celebration last night at the Masonic
hall of Acacia lodge of this city. On
June 18th, 1865, Acacia lodge No.
.176 received their charter at a
meeting of the Grand Lodge held in
Marshalltown.
At o'clock in the afternoon, one
candidate-Rev. H. L. Haywood
received the Master Mason degree,
the initiatory exercises lasting until
about $50. At that time one hum
dred and ten people sat down at one
of the finest banquets ever served in
the Masonic hall. The DeFrance or
chestra rendered music during the
banquet. Eastern Star suppers have
been famed for their culinary dis
play upon all occasions, but the sup
per of last evening outdid them all.
The tables were beautifully decorat-
ed with white carnations and the
young ladies Of the order did the
serving. Just before the banquet
was. served, J. w. Schroeder, secre-
tary of the order, to whom the great
err part of the credit of last nights
triumph is due, was called to the
front and presented with framed
Masonic register and certificate IL
Illuminated with hand cOlored SYM
bols, a valuable presentation from a
Masonic standpoint, and token of
the appreciation of the lodge men,
bership for the interest and zeal
with which Mr.. Schroeder performs
his work.
Shortly before 8 O'Clock the
guests repaired to the Masonic hall,
which was handsomely decorated for
the occasion with profusion Of
flags and huge Masonic emblem up
on the wall formed entirely of thir-
ty-nine electric lights, an illumina-
ton which was at once unique and
beautiful.
Ray Legg, a member of the order,
introduced DR.. Joseph Fort Newton,
pastor of the liberal Christian
church of Cedar Rapids, who spoke
for forty-fve minutes upon "The
Mems House." The members of the
order speak with one voice that new
err before has such an address been
delivered in the Masonic hall in this
city. Dr.. Newton traced the Masonic
origin from before the Christian era
cons ago, when the first dwelling
of man, whether cave or structure,
was home. The second was the
place of worship, the third the home
Of the law makers, and the fourth
the Mems House. Here were all the
old tribal customs and legends told
to the young men of the race and it
was here they gained their real i'm
petus.
The relations of the church and
the Masonic order were also discuss
ed and DR.. Newton proved himself
not only a forceful, mastery speak
er, but a student of many things.
Secretary Schroeder compiled and
had printed beautiful souvenir book
lets concentrating the tiftieth an
niversary of the lodge and its char
ter and the book is inscribed, ITO
the memory of those brethren who
have made fiftieth anniversary
possible. S. Kenyon, VIM. A.
Crosley, Hiram Zelie, Chas. Stod-
dard, v. A. Ballou, John Boyer,
James Kelly and John G. Bonner"
On the 9Th day Of March, 1865,
John S. Kenyon, Master Mason,
appeared at a regular meeting be-
fore Ashlar lodge, No. Ill, A. F. & A.
M. in Fort Dodge and eXemplitied the
work in the first three degrees of
Masonry. On the same date, Mr..
Kenyon, together with the -afore-
mentioned brothers, all having de-
mitted from their respective lodges,
petitioned the Grand Master Of the
Grand Lodge of the state of Iowa for
dispensation to assemble as law
full lodge to discharge the duties OF
Masonry in regular and constitu-
tional manner according to the orig
inal forms of the order and the reg
ulations of the Grand Lodge of the
state of Iowa.
On March Is, 1865, Edward A
Guilbert, Grand Master Of the Grand
Lodge of the state of Iowa granted
dispensation to assemble and work
as regular lodge in Webster City by