Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Japan.
various nations . A new canopy which has been for some time in preparation by Bros . Whitfield and Dowson was raised en permanence over the Worshipful Master ' s chair , and had a very light and graceful effect . The tables were three sides of a square , the upper end of which was ou the raised dais , the open end at the bottom of the hall giving plenty of room to the waiters to attend to their duties without crowding or inconvenience . Among the innumerable comestibles provocative of
gustative desire were mingled vases of flowers , and in front of the W . M . several beautiful silver vases that had been lent by Mr . Loureiro to add to the general coup d'eil . The hall was well-lighted , and nothing eould be more bright and cheerful than its appearance as the brethren entered ; but the most pleasant feature of all was that each wore his " laddiestmerriest smile ; " and under such circumstances it
g , is almost needless to say that for all who were present the St . John ' s Banquet of 1867 will be something to be long looked back upon with pleasure . The band of H . M / 2 nd Battalion of the 9 th Regiment was stationed in the verandah outside the hall . This had been well closed in from the weather by sails all round , and made a thoroughly comfortable room for them .
The W . M . of the lodge , Bro . Dallas , being absent , during the current year Bro . Smythe , P . M . ( of H . M . 9 th Regiment ) , has acted for him . Accordingly he presided on this occasion . Among the guests who honoured the lodge by their acceptance of the invitations were Bros . Plumer , G . Treas . of the District Grand Lodge of Cliina ( Hongkong ); Daunt , P . M ., ( H . M . 9 th Regiment ); and JaquemotP . M .
, The dinner having been disposed of , the toasts were commenced . They consisted of the usual " toasts of obligation , " which , well selected as they are , always elicit the readiest and heartiest sympathy of Masons . They were proposed by the usual officers and members of the lodge , and the earnestness that Bro . W . Smythe throws into everything he does in connection with . Freemasonry was fully supported by the manner in
which he introduced those that fell to his office . 1 . "The Queen and the Craft . " Her virtues deserved the loyalty and affection with which all hor subjects and all nations regarded the Queen , but on Masons she had an additional claim as the daughter of a good and honoured Mason . With this toast was coupled the 2 iame of the Prince of Wales .
Masonic honours were accorded , led by the W . M ., and he then successively arave " The Grand Masters of Great Britain and Ireland ; " "The Grand Orient of France , the G . M . and brethren ; " "The Grand Lodges of America and their brethren ;" "The District Grand Lodge of China , the District Grand Master and brethren , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Plainer , P . M ., the District G . Treas ., now on a visit to Yokohama , and happily their guest on this occasion . And lastly"All other
, Grand Lodges and their brethren , wherever dispersed . " In proposing these toasts , the W . M . paid a well-merited tribute to the great progress that Masonry is making under the Earl of Zetland , the G . M . of England . Of the actual working of the Grand Lodge of Scotland he had not had the advantage of personal experience , but he had heard the manner in which it was presided over very highly extolledand there were many brethren
, who worked under its constitution , now members of the Yokohama Lodge , whose efficiency and zeal for Masonry proved it better than words could express . Of the manner in which the Earl of Leinster , as G . M . of Ireland , performed his duties to the Craft he could speak from a lengthened experience as a subscribing member of an Irish lodge , and all enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the brethren working under their respective
constitutions and of the Craft in general . Of the Grand Orient of France , he knew not how to speak sufficiently high . He had enjoyed the benefit of considerable experience of its enlightened action in connection with the Craft ; and to show how excellent was the fraternal feeling in the breasts of those who acknowledge it as their fountain-head , he would mention that , when stationed at Zante yea ; -s ago , a lodge was got up , to work under the English constitution , when no less than sixty French Masons
came forward , and in every way by which they could assist their brethren , and work for the common good of Masonry , they did ; and always in the most generous and Masonic spirit . Of American Masons we had recently , and have still , so many good and true among our own members that we have only to point to them to convince all brethren of the worthiness of their Grand Lodges to receive the honour we propose to do them iu drinking to them . The departure of the U . S . Ship Shenandoah , a loss to the whole community , was especially so to the
Yokohama Lodge , as , including the good and universally esteemed Commodore , Bro . Goldsborough , P . M ., no less than fifteen Masons , who had been among the most regular attendants during the stay of the ship in harbour , had been lost to us . And , finally , as it had been and may be again the lot of many of the brethren to travel far and wide , and to meet with Masons everywhere whose fraternal kindness was ever ready to be extended to a brother from whencesoever he might comeit
, was gratifying to all the Craft to honour the toast dedicated "To all other Grand Lodges and their brethren . " In returning thanks for the " Grand Orient of France , " Bro . Jaquemot , P . M ., said that although not belonging to it , yet being called upon by the W . M ., and having much knowledge of it , he would respond , and he did so with the greatest pleasure , inasmuch as he could without any prejudice declare that the
Grand Orient of France deserved the encomiums that had been passed upon it . Great as was the Grand Lodge of England , the Grand Orient of France stood upon a level with it , and he might be allowed to say that the latter had tho advantage of the former iu its great interpretation of " Masonic brotherhood . " It was extremely liberal in its reception of all brothers , and none who had seen its working and known its excellence could ever forget it . Did he belong to the Grand Orient of France he would say , and being called upon in its behalf he did say— -I thank you , Worshipful Master and brethren , for the honourable manner in which the toast of the Grand Orient of France has
been proposed and received For "The Grand Lodger , of America , " Bro . Fletcher returned thanks in a few words ; and being requested by the W . M . ( although suffering from a severe cold ) , sung a verse of " Hail Columbia . " Bro . Plumer , P . M ., returned thanks for the honour accorded to the District Grand Lodge of China , of which he was a member . To the accident of his presence there on this grand
Masonic festival ho knew the kindness that the brethren intended in specially filling their glasses to the District Grand Lodge of China , was mainly due . The W . M . had truly said that this most easterly lodge in the world , and on which the sun first rose in running its daily course , was exceptionally placed , inasmuch as it worked in direct communication with the Grand Lodge of England , and was in connection with no
Provincial , or , as it was now called , District Grand Lodge . Still it was gratifying to him to hear the W . M . acknowledge the offered co-operation of tho District Grand Lodge of China which , had it been required , might have been of assistance to the young lodge . He was , however , pleased to see such a gathering of brethren as this , and it inspired him with the hopeamounting indeed to a pretty confident expectationof
, , other lodges being raised ere long , not only in ports of Japan already opened , but in those about to be opened , and the necessity of creating a "District Grand Lodge of Japan . " The S . W ., Bro . Rains , P . M ., then proposed " The health of Bro . Smythe , the Acting W . M . of the Yokohama Lodge . In th
course of a few remarks delivered with that earnestness which , equally with the W . M ., characterises the S . W ., and in that ready flow of words that so well express his ideas on all occasions , he told the brethren of the untiring zeal of Bro . Smythe , P . M ., and the numerous duties devolving on the office he had undertaken , of which none but the officers of the lodge , and not even all of them , knew anything at all . Indeed it was not principally the admirable manner in which he presided over the
more sacred duties of the lodge , or the ability with which he officiated on such occasions as the present , that called for their gratitude , but the thousand and one cares that devolved upon him in connection with the lodge every day . Bro . Smythe , P . M ., in returning thanks , expressed his gratification at the honour done him ; and whilst acknowledging his great love for and thorough belief in Masonry , which perhaps justified Bro . Rains ' s allusion to his enthusiasm for the Craft ,
declared that but fur the assistance of the officers of the lodge , the duties for which they conferred praise on him could not be carried out . He alluded to each specifically—but most warmly to Bro . Rains , P . M ., who , although a worthy and Worshipful P . M ., had unselfishly , and in the truest fraternal spirit , accepted the office and performed the duties both of Senior Warden and Treasurer . The lodge has been fortunate in its ollleers . He could not , in the short time at his disposal , enumerate a tythe
of the assistance he received from the Senior Warden . His time , energies , and his sound judgment were constantly being called upon , and he had never been found wanting . Of Bro . Miller , the J . W ., he could only say that one of his duties was
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Japan.
various nations . A new canopy which has been for some time in preparation by Bros . Whitfield and Dowson was raised en permanence over the Worshipful Master ' s chair , and had a very light and graceful effect . The tables were three sides of a square , the upper end of which was ou the raised dais , the open end at the bottom of the hall giving plenty of room to the waiters to attend to their duties without crowding or inconvenience . Among the innumerable comestibles provocative of
gustative desire were mingled vases of flowers , and in front of the W . M . several beautiful silver vases that had been lent by Mr . Loureiro to add to the general coup d'eil . The hall was well-lighted , and nothing eould be more bright and cheerful than its appearance as the brethren entered ; but the most pleasant feature of all was that each wore his " laddiestmerriest smile ; " and under such circumstances it
g , is almost needless to say that for all who were present the St . John ' s Banquet of 1867 will be something to be long looked back upon with pleasure . The band of H . M / 2 nd Battalion of the 9 th Regiment was stationed in the verandah outside the hall . This had been well closed in from the weather by sails all round , and made a thoroughly comfortable room for them .
The W . M . of the lodge , Bro . Dallas , being absent , during the current year Bro . Smythe , P . M . ( of H . M . 9 th Regiment ) , has acted for him . Accordingly he presided on this occasion . Among the guests who honoured the lodge by their acceptance of the invitations were Bros . Plumer , G . Treas . of the District Grand Lodge of Cliina ( Hongkong ); Daunt , P . M ., ( H . M . 9 th Regiment ); and JaquemotP . M .
, The dinner having been disposed of , the toasts were commenced . They consisted of the usual " toasts of obligation , " which , well selected as they are , always elicit the readiest and heartiest sympathy of Masons . They were proposed by the usual officers and members of the lodge , and the earnestness that Bro . W . Smythe throws into everything he does in connection with . Freemasonry was fully supported by the manner in
which he introduced those that fell to his office . 1 . "The Queen and the Craft . " Her virtues deserved the loyalty and affection with which all hor subjects and all nations regarded the Queen , but on Masons she had an additional claim as the daughter of a good and honoured Mason . With this toast was coupled the 2 iame of the Prince of Wales .
Masonic honours were accorded , led by the W . M ., and he then successively arave " The Grand Masters of Great Britain and Ireland ; " "The Grand Orient of France , the G . M . and brethren ; " "The Grand Lodges of America and their brethren ;" "The District Grand Lodge of China , the District Grand Master and brethren , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Plainer , P . M ., the District G . Treas ., now on a visit to Yokohama , and happily their guest on this occasion . And lastly"All other
, Grand Lodges and their brethren , wherever dispersed . " In proposing these toasts , the W . M . paid a well-merited tribute to the great progress that Masonry is making under the Earl of Zetland , the G . M . of England . Of the actual working of the Grand Lodge of Scotland he had not had the advantage of personal experience , but he had heard the manner in which it was presided over very highly extolledand there were many brethren
, who worked under its constitution , now members of the Yokohama Lodge , whose efficiency and zeal for Masonry proved it better than words could express . Of the manner in which the Earl of Leinster , as G . M . of Ireland , performed his duties to the Craft he could speak from a lengthened experience as a subscribing member of an Irish lodge , and all enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the brethren working under their respective
constitutions and of the Craft in general . Of the Grand Orient of France , he knew not how to speak sufficiently high . He had enjoyed the benefit of considerable experience of its enlightened action in connection with the Craft ; and to show how excellent was the fraternal feeling in the breasts of those who acknowledge it as their fountain-head , he would mention that , when stationed at Zante yea ; -s ago , a lodge was got up , to work under the English constitution , when no less than sixty French Masons
came forward , and in every way by which they could assist their brethren , and work for the common good of Masonry , they did ; and always in the most generous and Masonic spirit . Of American Masons we had recently , and have still , so many good and true among our own members that we have only to point to them to convince all brethren of the worthiness of their Grand Lodges to receive the honour we propose to do them iu drinking to them . The departure of the U . S . Ship Shenandoah , a loss to the whole community , was especially so to the
Yokohama Lodge , as , including the good and universally esteemed Commodore , Bro . Goldsborough , P . M ., no less than fifteen Masons , who had been among the most regular attendants during the stay of the ship in harbour , had been lost to us . And , finally , as it had been and may be again the lot of many of the brethren to travel far and wide , and to meet with Masons everywhere whose fraternal kindness was ever ready to be extended to a brother from whencesoever he might comeit
, was gratifying to all the Craft to honour the toast dedicated "To all other Grand Lodges and their brethren . " In returning thanks for the " Grand Orient of France , " Bro . Jaquemot , P . M ., said that although not belonging to it , yet being called upon by the W . M ., and having much knowledge of it , he would respond , and he did so with the greatest pleasure , inasmuch as he could without any prejudice declare that the
Grand Orient of France deserved the encomiums that had been passed upon it . Great as was the Grand Lodge of England , the Grand Orient of France stood upon a level with it , and he might be allowed to say that the latter had tho advantage of the former iu its great interpretation of " Masonic brotherhood . " It was extremely liberal in its reception of all brothers , and none who had seen its working and known its excellence could ever forget it . Did he belong to the Grand Orient of France he would say , and being called upon in its behalf he did say— -I thank you , Worshipful Master and brethren , for the honourable manner in which the toast of the Grand Orient of France has
been proposed and received For "The Grand Lodger , of America , " Bro . Fletcher returned thanks in a few words ; and being requested by the W . M . ( although suffering from a severe cold ) , sung a verse of " Hail Columbia . " Bro . Plumer , P . M ., returned thanks for the honour accorded to the District Grand Lodge of China , of which he was a member . To the accident of his presence there on this grand
Masonic festival ho knew the kindness that the brethren intended in specially filling their glasses to the District Grand Lodge of China , was mainly due . The W . M . had truly said that this most easterly lodge in the world , and on which the sun first rose in running its daily course , was exceptionally placed , inasmuch as it worked in direct communication with the Grand Lodge of England , and was in connection with no
Provincial , or , as it was now called , District Grand Lodge . Still it was gratifying to him to hear the W . M . acknowledge the offered co-operation of tho District Grand Lodge of China which , had it been required , might have been of assistance to the young lodge . He was , however , pleased to see such a gathering of brethren as this , and it inspired him with the hopeamounting indeed to a pretty confident expectationof
, , other lodges being raised ere long , not only in ports of Japan already opened , but in those about to be opened , and the necessity of creating a "District Grand Lodge of Japan . " The S . W ., Bro . Rains , P . M ., then proposed " The health of Bro . Smythe , the Acting W . M . of the Yokohama Lodge . In th
course of a few remarks delivered with that earnestness which , equally with the W . M ., characterises the S . W ., and in that ready flow of words that so well express his ideas on all occasions , he told the brethren of the untiring zeal of Bro . Smythe , P . M ., and the numerous duties devolving on the office he had undertaken , of which none but the officers of the lodge , and not even all of them , knew anything at all . Indeed it was not principally the admirable manner in which he presided over the
more sacred duties of the lodge , or the ability with which he officiated on such occasions as the present , that called for their gratitude , but the thousand and one cares that devolved upon him in connection with the lodge every day . Bro . Smythe , P . M ., in returning thanks , expressed his gratification at the honour done him ; and whilst acknowledging his great love for and thorough belief in Masonry , which perhaps justified Bro . Rains ' s allusion to his enthusiasm for the Craft ,
declared that but fur the assistance of the officers of the lodge , the duties for which they conferred praise on him could not be carried out . He alluded to each specifically—but most warmly to Bro . Rains , P . M ., who , although a worthy and Worshipful P . M ., had unselfishly , and in the truest fraternal spirit , accepted the office and performed the duties both of Senior Warden and Treasurer . The lodge has been fortunate in its ollleers . He could not , in the short time at his disposal , enumerate a tythe
of the assistance he received from the Senior Warden . His time , energies , and his sound judgment were constantly being called upon , and he had never been found wanting . Of Bro . Miller , the J . W ., he could only say that one of his duties was