Smyrna times., 1923-06-06
5000 At DEDICATION OF NEW
MASONIC HOME WILMINGTON
ADDITION TO INSTITUTION DIED.
ICATED WITH CEREMONIES
Masons There From Harmony NOdge.
No. 13, of Smyrna, and Every Lodge
i'll State-EpOch in State Masonry

I No. l3, of Smyrna, and Every Lodge
i'll State-EpOch in State Masonry
More than 5000 Nasons and their
families and friends from all parts OF
Delaware, as well as from adjoining
States, attended the dedication eXer-
cises Of the new addition to the Ma
sonic Home on the Lancaster Pike,
outside of Wilmington, Memorial Day.
The day was one of the greatest Ma
sonic events in the history of the
State. There We're members of the
fraternity present from every lodge
IN the State. Smyrna members of
/ Harmony Lodge, No 13, and their in
vited guests were there in representa-
tive numbers. Automobiles were park
ed for q mile along the pike in front
of the home and traffic officers were
kept busy from II o'clock in the morn
ing until Z in the evening. In addi-
| ton TO the vast number of machines
/ parked along the pike, hundreds were
parked in fields adjoining the home
/ grounds. 1t was estimated that more
than 1000 automobiles passed through
the grounds Wednesday, A squad Of
city policemen under Sergeant vii
mer X. Hahn, was on duty and per-
formed excellent service. Not one ac-
cident was reported. A ball game be-
tween a team from lodges Of Vii
mington, led by George L. Winters.
and one from the lodges of the rest
of the State piloted by P. D. Geoghe-
gan, opened the program for the day.
Dr.Moreland pitched for the Whining
ton team, while Spicer Of Delaware
City pitched for the opposing team.
The visitors touched DR.. Moreland
pretty well in the fourth inning and
he gave way to George Winters. The
game was called at the end of the
sixth inning, with the score A. The
dedication exercises started at one
0 o'clock, under the direction of Grand
Master Charles A. Bamberger. Those
on the speakers stand were Grand
Master Bamberger, Past Grand Mas
ter r. X. Stephenson, Dr.. A. W. Some
Josiah f. Evan, Charles D. Bird. Dep
uty Grand Master Edward ". Cooch.
W. S. Almond, Jr., Frank n. Over
deer. Dr.. j. Paul Lukens, Rev. Thom-
as Mcdowell and John F. Robinson.
The invocation preceding the ceremon-
les was made by Grand Chaplain
Thomas r. Mcdowell. Grand Master
Charles A. Bamberger next welcomed
the guests on behalf of the Grand
Lodge and the trustees. The presen-
tation exercises followed, when Frank
\. Overdeer, the contractor, presented
the key to Dr.. j. Paul Lukens. Past
Grand Master and chairman of the
home board, who in turn presented it |
to Grand Master Bamberger. for the
Grand Lodge.
Nearly Every State Has Home
Grand Master Bamberger reviewed
the growth Of Masonic homes in the
country. declaring that nearly every
State in the union now has one or
more. Rev. r. X. Stephenson. Past
Grand Master, lauded the Masonic
fraternity as a brotherhood born of
mutual love and he said that the home
was an expression Of this genuine
brotherhood. Dr.. A. W. Some. pas
tor Of West Presbyterian Church.
former Grand Chaplain of the Grand
Lodge Of New Jersey, told of the nee
eSSity for such an institution. Josiah
W. Evan, Past Grand Master of New
Jersey and the only living honorary
Past Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Delaware, delivered a stir
ring address ON the value of a Ma
sonic home. Marquis de Lafayette
was the only other man accorded the
honor Of being named an honorary
Past Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge Of Delaware. Bishop Philip
Cook pronounced the benediction. The
ceremonies were intersperSed with Sc
lections by the Commandery Band. un-
der the direction of Chas. VI. Banks.
and the Westminster Choral Club, un-
der the direction of John A.Thoms. Jr.
An exhibition drill by the battalion Of
ST. Johns Commandery was given on
the lawn. Joseph \. Knox, master of
DUPONT Lodge. No. %. A. +. & A. NJ.
was the chairman Of the committee I'm
charge Of the celebration and was con-
graduated on the complete success of
the affair He had associated with
him, the masters of the lodges of the
city and state, the bulk of the work.
however, falling on the masters of the
Wilmington lodges. Between the in
teryal of the band concert and the
sports many Of the visitors Inspected
the new addition. The building is
wing to the old structure and is Col
onial in type Of architecture. It is
constructed Of brick There is a small
porch at the entrance, supported by
Corinthian pillars. On the east end
Of the wing are a porch and sun par
Ior. Bedrooms have a rug, bed, chiff-
oner, bureau, chairs and large win
dow. The Colonial scheme is carried