The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-06-02
masenlc Oraer IN Iaaiana.


The presentation Of splendid service Of
silver plate. which cost over $4,000 10 Mr.
WIN. Sheets, Of Indisnspolis, BY the Grand
Lodge of Free and accepted masons, came of
last Tuesday afternoon at the Capital. This
present was intended as = compliment to Mr. /.
Sheets, for his services as commissioner in
experimenting the erection and management
of the Grand Lodge Hall, and for other
services for the good Of the order.
In repIy. to the Grand Masters address. Mr..
Sheets made the following illusions to the
financial prospects and objects of the orde.
in Indiana:
The Grand Master has allude to the in.
creased revenues and maens OF the Grand
Lodge-he would dwell on that point for .
moment. The revenues Of the Lodge when
the Hall was begun, did not exceed $500;
now they were $4,000. In thirty years that
the Ledge had existed in this State, it had
only accumulated one thousand dollars Now
il owns $4,000 Of stock in the Hall, and
$4,000 OF real estate, in all $4,000. And
with their increased means, and still to in
crease more and more, . great institution
could be established and supported. The
revenue of the Lodge in six years would sup.
ply means to build college costing sac, 00e
with regular income Of $4,000 per annum
to support Faculty.
This he said, was no visionary project
The revenues now were about $1,000 per
annum, and in two years they would amount
to $4,000. With the means thus afforded the
Lodge could redeem all the stock, own the
building entirely, and be worth $4,000 BY
1857. Then with $4,000 per annum. BY
1860 they would have fund of $4,000 to
build college, and $1,000 q year to keep it
up. And what college, he asked in the
State has so large q revenue 40 $4,000 .
years in cash?
He then alluded to the plan to redeem the
stock, part Of which was owned by persons
not members OF the Order, part BY members
of the Order. and a remaining portion BY
Lodges throughout the State. The Stock,
he thought Of those out of the Order, should
be first taken up, then that OF individual
members. and last that Of the Lodges. Zap.
plause.
The object of the college, for which he had
been working ever since he had conceived
the idea of creating such hall, was the es-
Enlistment of an Institution, in which the
children and orphans of destitute Masons,
might be educated free of charge, at least for
tuition. And he wanted it to be Q Chris.
tian Institution. He would have no connec-
ton with any institution that banished the
Bible from schools and colleges. Zap
plause.
He dwelt at some length on this point, end
after noticing some of the Masonic emblems
engraved on the large salver, he alluded very
touchingly 10 the death OF all his associates in
this enterprise-Morris, Whitcomb and Dem.
ing. He was the last surviving Past Grand
Master of the order in the state, and the
only member of the Building Committee
living. In conclusion he again returned
thanks for the present, and said they should
be handed down to his latest posterity.
His remarks were attentively listened to,
and portions Of them produced marked ef-
feet. 1t was altogether an able and interest
address. and needed none Of the apologies he
he made for it. After benediction the audi
ence was dismissed.