Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-15

Total ...........s....s.....-.-....
Thus making the magnificent sum OF
forty-one thousand dollars, obtained from
thirty EIGHT lodges, toward the endot0-
neent of an institution that is to continue
until time shall be no more-an institu-
ton consisting of school houses, church
and cottage houses, located on large farms
in each division of the State, for the care
and support of our superannuated and de-
crepid brethren; for the care, support
and education of the children of our
brethren that are unable to do so them
selves, and last, though not least, separate
'tHomen for the widows and orphans OF
our deceased brethren, where they can
live under their own vine and fig tree,
supplied with food and raiment, thechild-
rem educated physically, intellectually and
morally, their social relations In life sus-
tanned by the brotherhood, thus fully pre-
pared for the battle of life and usefulness,
an honor TO their parents, to the
fraternity and the State. Messrs Editors,
you must pardon the length of this COM
municatioD, for must say something OF
Dresden, Weakley county. My appoint
ment to meet the Lodge at Dresden was
June %, the gals day of the Order is the
oath. The importance of the "Homc"
for future usefulness was considered by
the good brethren then of such magnitude
as to call off their gala day to the 25th,
and celebrate the festival of st. John the
Baptist with more credit to themselves
and honor to that patron Saint, than they
had ever done before, by taking their first
step toward the endowment of the great
est Masonic enterprise of this or any
other age. Accordingly they invited
their brethren and the public of their
county to be present on the occasion.
They assembled in large numbers with
basket dinners, sufficient for the multi
tude. The Masons, as Lodge
and Chapter, formed in procession
which was beautifully adorned by adding
to their column the scholars of the Sun
day School, under the supervision of their
Superintendent, Bro. Charles NJ. Ewing,
ESQ.,, (formerly of Nashville.) The pro-
cession, thus "beautified and adorned, I"
preceded by ..the brass band of Dresden,
moved to the ''Fair Ground" The open
ing ceremony was singing by the choir,
composed of the Sabbath School, under
the leadership Of Judge w. r. Ross the
little songsters presenting beautiful and
attractive appearance. Singing was fol-
lowed with an address by young gentle
man of the 'Dresden Bar" Truly
sorry l have forgotten his name.) His
address was chaste, beautiful, eloquent
and well delivered.
Bro. John Frizzell, Grand Secretary of
the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, one of
Tennessee's best men and Masons, was
there by invitation to deliver the festival
address. How shall 1 characterize
itl To say he performed that duty Uery
a0el, would be tame. will say it was a
most excellent address, and received the
marked attention of all who could get
within range of the speakers voice.
l then presented the plan and design of
the 'EMasonic Orphans Home" which
was responded to gloriously by donating
to the 'Endowment Fund" the sum of
Sc, 800, the utmost "hdrD1o'ay pre-
UaiLing.n l must here add, that in so
large and promiscuous an assembly, did
not see throughout the entire day any one
intoxicated, or even hear the voice of any
that would indicate that drop of spirits
had been used, nor did l see any one the
cntire day "taste, touch, or handle it. |"
Here let me give three cheers for Dres-
den. One more compliment to Weakley
county, that such is their noble
sentiment for the widows and orphans
that every Lodge in the county that re-
ceived my notice made annual appropria-
tions for ten years, and every one of them
We'd with each other in hospitality to the
agent. The fifteen days traversing the
county was made without expense, except
thirty-flve cents paid to the Paducah Rail-
road. | must here return thanks to the
brethren with whom it has been my good
fortune to meet in my trips, for their gen.
orally kind hospitality extended to me as
agent. l must also return thanks to the
Superintendents of the Edgefeld and Ken
lucky, Mississippi Central, Nashville and
Northwestern, Louisville and Nashville,
and Alfred Fink, ESQ.,, for Memphis and
Ohio Railroads, for free tickets whilst in
the interests of the Home; also the Su-
perintendents of the Nashville, Hopkins
vile and Henderson, Memphis, Clarks-
vile and Louisville, and Mobile and Ohio
Railroads, for half fare tickets,
thus showing the appreciative opinion
those intelligent gentlemen have of our
institution that has for its object the
moral and intellectual elevation of the
innocent and helpless. l find your in
valuable newspaper in circulation every
where | have been.
The prospects for corn crop was never
better. Wheat crop fair. The planters
inform me the long cold spell in June will
diminish the yield of cotton one-third.
Our West Tennessee farmers are becom-
ing aroused to the growing of clover
for hay and as fertilizer.
T. A. THOMAS.