News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-10-18
A MASONIC GET TOGETHER
In North Dakota
Excellent Lodge Work-A Big Banquet
' fifty.Three Roasted Ducks and Numerous
Other tiands-An Automobile Ride Under
the Cold Stars.
BY LEONARD T. COLE

the Cold Stars.
BY LEONARD T. COLE
WAsHTA, South Dakota, Sept. IA.
Editor Ne,os and Cltizen:-
What with holding down hom
stead, teaching through the week an
preaching twice each Sabbath, supe
intending Sunday school, and servin
as assistant editor of newspaper, W
have not been able to 20 to our httl
Vermont farm on LaPorte Road, i
Morristown, this summer. But we el
pect to abide there in old age, if nc
sooner, anG if we inherit enough lon
gevity to be like most of our ancestors
our sunset OF life ought not to C ,m
sooner than our 95th year.
We do not take much to amusements
The cheap movies would soon fade out
if they depended on US for patronage.
But we do enjoy good outing, fra
ternal get.together, and other forms O
whole-souled relaxation, after hare
work.
So, when friend stopped us on the
side walk, Tuesday, October 3, and in
vlted us to go in an "auto bunch" tc
Britain, South Dakota, for Masonic
blow out" we promptly accepted, with
thanks.
Blue Lodge, Chapter, aud Command
cry Masons were present, and one Ma
son of the Thirty-third Degree.
Farmers, mechanics, merchants and
men of the various professions with sew
eral civil officers, local and state, were
there to receive the visiting brothers.
After the preliminaries. the. lodge
opened in the second. or Fellow Graft,
degree. The regular officers then va
Gated; and young men, themselves re.
Gently initiated, were called to the
chairs. Their work was most excellent
as they put candidate through the de-
gree. Veterans could not have done
better. With ease, grace, dignity, and
accuracy the work was most impress
sively performed; and the Mason OF
thirty-third degree said that he hao
never witnessed any thing superior.
Others bore similar testimony.
The "good of the order" brought out
instructive, and inspiring
addresses.
Immediately on adjournment, tables
were promptly spread as nicely as the
most fastidious ladies could have done.
Now, October is the legal game shoot
ing season, in South Dakota. Persons
July licensed may then hunt prairie
and ducks. Two species of
luck, some smaller than the domestic
owl, remain all summer in the Dakotas,
having their homes about the slucs,
coolies, lakes, and rivers.
Fifty-three brothers were seated at
he banqueting tables; and to each one
vas served whole, roasted duck.
Other substantial food abounded, veg
stables well cooked, and delicious rel
shes.
This supper was provided by the
young men of the lodge, and it was
erved by them with a dizziness that
would have done credit to expert wait
RS at Delmouico's. The accounts of
low they procured the ducks, were high
y amusing. Some of them were bruised
~ kicking guns. Others tipped over
heir boats in padding out onto the
ponds after wounded birds; and several
vaded in mud, or among reeds and
pushes to find the game which they had
brought down. !
In the seat of honor was placed an
ged brother who had recently risen
rom a long and dangerous illness.
around him were grouped others who
ave borne the burden and heat of the
ay.
The after-dinner speeches were replete
With wit and wisdom. bright and spark
ing, but not vulgar word or action
The most refined and pure
aides could have listened properly to all |
nd with enjoyment.
The informal face to face visits and
he personal introductions were most
leasing feature. We thus met men
rom our former homes Of Michigan and |
lew York, and several from New Eng |
and and Pennsylvania.
At length, far on into the night, un-
er the cold stars. we rushed along, |
bound, over smooth prairie |
Dads, by darksome waters, and along
hadowy groves developed from the
rec claim paintings of industrious early
ettlers.
The glare of our headlights cast lurid
ashes onto the windows of lone dwell
ngs which we passed; and numerous
startled by our approach,
an long distances in front of our ma
hine, while belated water fowls swoop-
d anon across our field of vision and
assed from view like weird spirits of
he night.
At last the kind good night and the