Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-16
.-', "'.. For the Standard
Presentation of a Medal to Bro. VIVA. T. Balm.

December, 1864, medal was presented to Bro.
WIZ T. BAN, Grand Secretary, on behalf Of the
Grand Lodge, by, Bro. ALBERT G. AAoEEY, drand
Secretary Of South Carolina. Bro. Balm having aP-
preached the Pedestal Of the East was addressed as
follows by Bro. Mackey -
Ny DEAR RRoTHER: LIN Masonic experience,
not it is true as long as yours and yet snmcentiy
long to have afforded me many pleasing rem'nis-
cences, know Of which will, in future years,
be more grateful to my memory than the transac,
ton in which, by the kind Partially OF your Hrand
Lodge, have this evening been made an actor
Holding in my own jurisdiction aq Official Positon
similar to that which for many years you have SO
faithfully exercised in yours / almost leel that
am, in some Sort the participation IN tho honor
which is now bestowed upon you. 1t seems aPPro,
pirate that the Grand Secretary Of one State should
be selected as the agent to express the sentiments
Of respect entertained by his tEethren Tor the Urano
Secretary of another, and sister jurisdiction L,
at least am able to appreciate the nature OF the Ia
bors which, in your official CHARACTER deVOVe upon
you-the industry and energy which are required
for the faithful discharge Of those labors-snd the
conduct which you must have pursued to have gam
ed that respect and esteem, the evidence OF winch
is this evening demonstrated
Yours my brother must have been happy life
For nearly quarter Of a century, the Masens OF
North. Carolina have come up together at stated
periods to their VOWS around our sacred al
tar-to legisate for the government of the order in
their native jurSdiction-and to adopt those mea-
sures which should be conducive to the prosperity
and healthy extension Of our beloved institution
And at each anniversary they have brought with
them the renewal Of their respect and esteem for
you as their Grand Secretary, and by repeated,
unanimous elections have testified their personal
affection for you man and their grateful sense
of your fidelity as an officer. This long continued
demonstration of their confidence is something Of
which you may we'll be proud.
When the Industrious architect of the metropoli-
tan cathedral Of England, had been gathered to his
last resting place. splendid obelISk stately urn
clrd to point out the situation Of his grave
but buried in the very centre of St Pauls that gor
geous pie which his skill aal genius had erected,
PLAIN marble slab alone indicated his tomb, but
On It's suIacewaS inscribed these memorable words,
"lf yOa would behold his monument, look around
you"
So you, too, need no written certificate of your
character or of your services. Should any stranger,
unarquainted with the industry, energy and fidelity
with which, for so long period, you have dis
charged The duties Of your responsible and laborious
Office, ask for some evidence Of your worth you too
might refer to the respect and esteem which your
purity Of life has won, and pointing to these breth
rem who now, with warm hearts and kindly glances
are gazing on your venerable form, might proudly
say, 1t you want the testimony CT my integrity
and my usefulness, look around YOU"
The uedol which the Grand Lodge Of North Caro-
lima has ordered to be- presented you contains this
significant legend: We love those who love US
we honor those who have honOred u.s." Yes, veneer
able Brother for more than a quarter OF q century,
you have demonstrated by all your words and &C
tons, warm attachment to our sacred institution
and unring devotion to iS welfare. And now the
sons of those whom you first met in our hallow
ed courts come up here this evening to return with
grateful feelings, portion of that love which you
lavshed their sires. And the Grand Lodge
whom you have honOred by the long and faithful
1iccharUa Of the Ofpac 10
gift, praclams by this act in which we are en-
gagged how highly it honors and esteems the honest
man, the upright Mason and the faithful officer
The bread cast upon the waters, after many days
has returned.
In the name and in behalf of the Grand Lodge of
North Carolina and the craft which it represents
present you this medal an offering of affection
May you long wear it with health and intellect and
usefulness uninpaired and when in the expressive
symbolism of Order you shall in the pilgrimage
of life have passed the Southern and the Western
gates, uncOnquered by the temptations which are
there, you shall at length have reached the Eastern
gGte and there been compelled to yield the in
exorable foe of our race may death find you like
"the acidoao's son." not unpiepared for the great
change which will await you. But may YOUR dis
embodied spirit, called By the Omnifc H0rd of the
Grand Master Of the universe, from the grave to
which weeping brethren shall have consigned you,
be permitted to unite with the true and faithful
ments ofthc Celestial Lodge.
To which the Grand Secretary replied as follows :
| Ny DEAR BROTHER MAckEY:-I should certainly
be guilty Of act of objectionable ingratituie il
were to refrain from expressing the feelings of my
heart in accepting this beautiful and valued token
of the friendship and fraternal regard which nv
I brethren Of the Grand Lodge of my beloved State
| have shown towards me.
| To say that am thankful only, would be but q
poor return for this unmisakeable evidence of their
| kind and generous feelings. Yes, my brother,
i can truly say that the gratitude feel will be cher.
ished in my bosom to the latest period of my life,
] to remind me Of the many and multiplied favors
! and acts Of kindness received at their hands. If
| to say that have committed no errors in dis
charging the duties of my Office might Justly be
accused of vanity and presumption, but hatter
myself with tine pleasing reflection that my broth.
will ascrbe those errors to the mperlectons OF
| my nature, and not from any disposition on NV
part to shrink from the performance OF those duties
connected With toe Office Of Grand Secretary.
| For more tan forty years | have had the honor
| of connection with the Masonic Fraternity and
! during that long period of time, have endeavored
to promote its interest and to act the part of
! full and acceptable member; and here | hope, Imay
| be INDUCED in submitting few brief remarks on
| some of the excellent tenels of our Order.
| Masonry may with much propriety be regarded
moral institution, having among other objecIs
a calm and dspassionate inqsfry into the origin oil
man, his destiny earth and his future state that
it may be ascerailed as far practicable, what he
| owes to his Creator, to society and himself
| Man was not placed on earth to live for himself
| alone.
| The Author of existence has imposed imperative
duties upon US, and we are not obeying the moral
| law if we fail to discharge those duties faithfully
! under all circumstances of life.
| The cold hearted msanthrope may presumptuous
y enquire what essential duties made obligato
| Ty on US to discharge? .-
Christianity will readily answer the question by
loudly calling upon US TO- feed the hungry, clothe
the naked, and to infuSe comfort and consolation
into the hearts of the afflicted and distressed; and
Masonry at all times prompts US to act the Samari