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Article MASONIC FESTIVITIES. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Festivities.
MASONIC FESTIVITIES .
"WEST INDIES . The Masonic Festival of the 50 tli anniversary of the existence of the Friendly Lodge , 383 , of Montego Bay , was celebrated on Monday , August 10 th , with all the pomp and splendour for which the Craft is proverbial . As the clock proclaimed the termination , of the Sabbath ,
the cannons announced the ushering iu of the 10 th day of August ( from henceforth a red letter day in the annals of Masonry ) , the band playing the National Anthem , all Montego Bay— -which ivas about one quarter of the inhabitants of Westmoreland , one quarter of Hanover , and One quarter of Falmouth—rose as one man , and every avenue of the town was densely packed from that early
hour to the hour of closing the festivities of the day . Simultaneously with the breaking of tho morn , the sound of the axe and hammer were heard , every flower garden "was invaded at that early hour , and as many persons as "the lodge room could hold commenced the internal decorations , which were on a scale of very great magnificence , while tradesmen were busy at the erection of un
arch on the main street of the town . Banners and flags floated from the dwellings of several members of the Craft , and at daylight all the preparations of the past . six hours were ready for the inspection of an admiring and excited multitude . Between six and eight o ' olock ¦ conveyances from both entrances of the town gave ample warning to the inhabitants that such a day was before
them as many of its oldest inhabitants never saw before , and from that hour it became necessary that the preservation of the public peace should be maintained . And so it was , under the very able inspectorship of Mr . A . H . Alexander , who undertook and carried out the best means to ensure so desirable an end , and maintained the strictest discipline in his force .
At seven o ' clock the committee appointed to inspect and report on the quality of the beef intended for presentation met , and having reported satisfactorily , its distribution commenced at the stall , to the more decent class of recipients of Masonic benevolence . By eight o ' clock this pleasant task devolving on the Stewards was so systematically managed , as to cause
them to retire and prepare themselves in their holiday clothing for public review The hour fixed for the moving of the procession had not arrived ere every street and house were litprally filled with eyes anxious to behold the brethren , who waited in the lodge room a few minutes after the appointed time , for the sound of the parish church bellfor which they waited in vainthe
, , rector having prohibited its use on the occasion . At twenty-five minutes to eleven o ' clock the Entered Apprentices' march was struck up when fifty-five members of the noble and ancient Order presented themselves in the following order : —
The Band . Two Tylers with drawn swords . . 3 Entered Apprentices two and two . g Two Steivards with white rods . 2 Fellow Crafts two and two . u Two Stewards with white rods rj Master Masons two and two .
= 2 Two Stewards with ivhite rods , t , Mark Masters two and two . -2 The Treasurer . & The Secretary with Book of Constitutiou . " The Inner Guard . The Holy Bible with the Compass and Square , borne by Bro . John "Watt , supported on the right and left by the
anu < J umur UBIUUIIS . Two Stewards with white rods . Eoyal Arch Companions three and three . 'The Worshipful Past Masters , M . A . Nunes , Presiding Master A Worshipful Past Master of the E . A . Order .
The march was commenced from King-street , on to Market-street , through the Parade , and the extent of the populace might be imagined when our readers are informed that it took over half an hour to reach Trinity Ohapel a distance of about five hundred yards , having to halt repeatedly on the way , the press being so great . The whole of St . James ' -street was one mass of living
beings . Having arrived at the chapel , the column was was opened to the right and left and advanced in reverse order , the Worshipful Past Masters entering first , being received at the door by the Reverend and Worshipful J . It . Hepburn , Past Master and Chaplain . Here , again , the efforts of the constabulary were unceasin g to preserve order , and some time elapsed ere the service could
commence . The usual morning service having been performed the Eeverend Incumbent preached a forcible , practical , and eloquent sermon , which was listened to with marked attention . The text selected on the occasion being the first epistle of St . John , iv . chapter , 17 th verse— "Beloved , let us love one another , for love is of God . " The singing was excellent , and the chapel was
filled with an attentive audience , and everything went off in order . A collection was made on behalf of the chapel fund , after which the brethren re-formed column and moved in quick-time to the court ho'i . se ivhere they were received by the Worshipful and Honourable G . L . Philios . Past Muster and Cusoos of tho naiish . tho Eev .
Chaplain , and the heads of the several departments , to witness tbe distribution of beef and bread to the poor of St . James ' . A sight more pleasant it has seldom been , the lot of many to behold . A temporary stall was erected in front of the court house , on which the word " Charity " was inscribed , ancl before which upwards of four hundred paupers were standing —• ' the Jame , the halt , and the
blind "—each with a ticket to ensure his or her ration . The Stewards took up their position in the stall , and having announced all ready , the Chaplain stepped forth and offered a blessing . The distribution then commenced and was earnestly followed up until every loaf of bread and pound of beef was off- Some of the helpless ones , ive are informed , were robbed of their tickets by some
of the spectators , who enjoyed that which was intended for the more destitute . After this the brethren returned to the lodge and adjourned for some time . The influx of visitors of all classes was very great , but notwithstanding the presence of over 6 , 000 to 7 , 000 persons on the streets at any one time during the day , every room up and down stairs of the court-house
, windows and housetops were packed . The utmost order prevailed ; particularly among the brethren ivhose appearance on the march was admired by every beholder . Bro . Gregory who had the post of Master of Ceremonies had no easy task , but with unequalled zeal he sustained his position throughout the trying proceedings of the day .
Four o ' clock precisely was the appointed hour for opening the lodge rooms for the inspection of the ladies , and over twenty times was that building filled to overflowing with tbe respectability , beauty , and fashion of this and the sister towns . Here tho Stewards proved that " they are true aud sincere , and just to the fair , "every attention was shewn them by these officers . All
left the room expressing the high pleasure they felt at the appearance of the banqiietting room , which was laid out at that hour , for the reception of one hundred and fifty members of the Craft and their friends .
At five o ' clock precisely the brethren again assembled at the lodge and proceeded in solemn form to the Court House , when after being received by a respectabls audience , the Worshipful Past Master , M . A . Nunes , was introduced by the Worshipful Z- Meunell , Past Master , as the lecturer appointed bj- the brethren to descant on the sublime mysteries , which that Worshipful brother did to the admiration of all present ; and justice cannot possibly bo done to the efforts put forth by that worthy
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Festivities.
MASONIC FESTIVITIES .
"WEST INDIES . The Masonic Festival of the 50 tli anniversary of the existence of the Friendly Lodge , 383 , of Montego Bay , was celebrated on Monday , August 10 th , with all the pomp and splendour for which the Craft is proverbial . As the clock proclaimed the termination , of the Sabbath ,
the cannons announced the ushering iu of the 10 th day of August ( from henceforth a red letter day in the annals of Masonry ) , the band playing the National Anthem , all Montego Bay— -which ivas about one quarter of the inhabitants of Westmoreland , one quarter of Hanover , and One quarter of Falmouth—rose as one man , and every avenue of the town was densely packed from that early
hour to the hour of closing the festivities of the day . Simultaneously with the breaking of tho morn , the sound of the axe and hammer were heard , every flower garden "was invaded at that early hour , and as many persons as "the lodge room could hold commenced the internal decorations , which were on a scale of very great magnificence , while tradesmen were busy at the erection of un
arch on the main street of the town . Banners and flags floated from the dwellings of several members of the Craft , and at daylight all the preparations of the past . six hours were ready for the inspection of an admiring and excited multitude . Between six and eight o ' olock ¦ conveyances from both entrances of the town gave ample warning to the inhabitants that such a day was before
them as many of its oldest inhabitants never saw before , and from that hour it became necessary that the preservation of the public peace should be maintained . And so it was , under the very able inspectorship of Mr . A . H . Alexander , who undertook and carried out the best means to ensure so desirable an end , and maintained the strictest discipline in his force .
At seven o ' clock the committee appointed to inspect and report on the quality of the beef intended for presentation met , and having reported satisfactorily , its distribution commenced at the stall , to the more decent class of recipients of Masonic benevolence . By eight o ' clock this pleasant task devolving on the Stewards was so systematically managed , as to cause
them to retire and prepare themselves in their holiday clothing for public review The hour fixed for the moving of the procession had not arrived ere every street and house were litprally filled with eyes anxious to behold the brethren , who waited in the lodge room a few minutes after the appointed time , for the sound of the parish church bellfor which they waited in vainthe
, , rector having prohibited its use on the occasion . At twenty-five minutes to eleven o ' clock the Entered Apprentices' march was struck up when fifty-five members of the noble and ancient Order presented themselves in the following order : —
The Band . Two Tylers with drawn swords . . 3 Entered Apprentices two and two . g Two Steivards with white rods . 2 Fellow Crafts two and two . u Two Stewards with white rods rj Master Masons two and two .
= 2 Two Stewards with ivhite rods , t , Mark Masters two and two . -2 The Treasurer . & The Secretary with Book of Constitutiou . " The Inner Guard . The Holy Bible with the Compass and Square , borne by Bro . John "Watt , supported on the right and left by the
anu < J umur UBIUUIIS . Two Stewards with white rods . Eoyal Arch Companions three and three . 'The Worshipful Past Masters , M . A . Nunes , Presiding Master A Worshipful Past Master of the E . A . Order .
The march was commenced from King-street , on to Market-street , through the Parade , and the extent of the populace might be imagined when our readers are informed that it took over half an hour to reach Trinity Ohapel a distance of about five hundred yards , having to halt repeatedly on the way , the press being so great . The whole of St . James ' -street was one mass of living
beings . Having arrived at the chapel , the column was was opened to the right and left and advanced in reverse order , the Worshipful Past Masters entering first , being received at the door by the Reverend and Worshipful J . It . Hepburn , Past Master and Chaplain . Here , again , the efforts of the constabulary were unceasin g to preserve order , and some time elapsed ere the service could
commence . The usual morning service having been performed the Eeverend Incumbent preached a forcible , practical , and eloquent sermon , which was listened to with marked attention . The text selected on the occasion being the first epistle of St . John , iv . chapter , 17 th verse— "Beloved , let us love one another , for love is of God . " The singing was excellent , and the chapel was
filled with an attentive audience , and everything went off in order . A collection was made on behalf of the chapel fund , after which the brethren re-formed column and moved in quick-time to the court ho'i . se ivhere they were received by the Worshipful and Honourable G . L . Philios . Past Muster and Cusoos of tho naiish . tho Eev .
Chaplain , and the heads of the several departments , to witness tbe distribution of beef and bread to the poor of St . James ' . A sight more pleasant it has seldom been , the lot of many to behold . A temporary stall was erected in front of the court house , on which the word " Charity " was inscribed , ancl before which upwards of four hundred paupers were standing —• ' the Jame , the halt , and the
blind "—each with a ticket to ensure his or her ration . The Stewards took up their position in the stall , and having announced all ready , the Chaplain stepped forth and offered a blessing . The distribution then commenced and was earnestly followed up until every loaf of bread and pound of beef was off- Some of the helpless ones , ive are informed , were robbed of their tickets by some
of the spectators , who enjoyed that which was intended for the more destitute . After this the brethren returned to the lodge and adjourned for some time . The influx of visitors of all classes was very great , but notwithstanding the presence of over 6 , 000 to 7 , 000 persons on the streets at any one time during the day , every room up and down stairs of the court-house
, windows and housetops were packed . The utmost order prevailed ; particularly among the brethren ivhose appearance on the march was admired by every beholder . Bro . Gregory who had the post of Master of Ceremonies had no easy task , but with unequalled zeal he sustained his position throughout the trying proceedings of the day .
Four o ' clock precisely was the appointed hour for opening the lodge rooms for the inspection of the ladies , and over twenty times was that building filled to overflowing with tbe respectability , beauty , and fashion of this and the sister towns . Here tho Stewards proved that " they are true aud sincere , and just to the fair , "every attention was shewn them by these officers . All
left the room expressing the high pleasure they felt at the appearance of the banqiietting room , which was laid out at that hour , for the reception of one hundred and fifty members of the Craft and their friends .
At five o ' clock precisely the brethren again assembled at the lodge and proceeded in solemn form to the Court House , when after being received by a respectabls audience , the Worshipful Past Master , M . A . Nunes , was introduced by the Worshipful Z- Meunell , Past Master , as the lecturer appointed bj- the brethren to descant on the sublime mysteries , which that Worshipful brother did to the admiration of all present ; and justice cannot possibly bo done to the efforts put forth by that worthy