Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-06-21

pleasant and interesting Guslr, Delng tue PIese~
t.tion by the Grand Lodge to Pas; Grand Mag
ter George VI. Hall, Of an elegant silver tea SER
vice. It Was procured for the Grand Lodge ~
Brinsmsid s. Eiildreth Of this city, and msy be
seen at their stOre.
Grand Secretary. Henry Clark, made the fol-
lowing felicitious presentation address IN behsi
Of the Grand Lodge.
slR CLARK's ADDRESS.
Past Grcu4 Nasier Hall.
Il is one Of the pleasures consequent upon the
conscientious and faithful performance OF dutee
assigned to US in life, that th0se with whom VS.
are associated recognise our lsb0rs sud sppre-
ciate the service performed. Il Is ny pleasing
duty at this hour IN behslf Of the Grand Lodge
Of Vermont, 10 pres9nt TO you their high esteem
and appreciation Of your successful atniniatra-
ton of the Office Of Grand Master Your con
nection with the Grand Lodge Of Vermont con-
menceI during the days Of those honored AMI
beloved names OF Haswell, Tucker and Holee-
beck. and il was your fortune 10 possess their
fullest confidence, and approval When the fell
DESTROYER 80 suddenly, transferred from the scene
Of his lsbors, the lamentel Tucker-whoss fame
Wa, not only nati0nSl but was recognized
throughout the globe, another whose services
have been eminent to the craft-st home Snc
Abrosd-the friend Of your early dkY-the con
fiant Of your manhood years, and the aSsocia;e N
masonic labor for many years-Was called 10 the
Oriental chair, and fttingly were you called
to suttain your life long friend in the pert1r-
m.nce Of his high duties. On his retirement
with great usnirity, you were chosen TO WELD
the rave he had SO h0n0r2bly sid
down, and right msnfully tl4 you
perform the high and responsible duties,
committed 10 your care, with honor 70 yourself
ard the Grand Lodge Of Vermont, sui allow me
to say to you ;hst smong the brightes, pages Of
the Ms,onic hit,ory @: our commonwealth Wien
fully written ald perussd by the craft, the
golden period viii be tie administration OF
Tucker, EngleEby and Hall On your retire
ment from the chair Of Grand Master, the last
connecting Ink between the fathers Of Masonry
in Vermont, Tucker, HssEel, Wilson and
Holenbeck las been broken, ard il is fitting
that this Grand Lodge, which has been the wit
ness By your labort snl derived the benefits aud
good influences flowing there;r5m, should ten Ter
YOU this tesum0asl Of rec sniti0n Gui esteem.
But it il fitting that this expression Of recs-I
should take place in your early home, On the
banks Of this beautiful lake, the scene Of your
esrly friendship TO the home Of vNrm st-c-
tons and to-day an reminded Of the happy
hours OF tle past. and that there are others who
were the companions Of our jog, he Wso wss
your immediate predecessor, and W0Cid not
forget another companion Of those early yeArs,
who never ceased 10 have our love and respect,
and who within the sacrei precincts Of this
Grad Lodge hEs called down in tle perform
Snce Of his sacrei office, the hsneiicti0a
Of Heaven to rest upon us That early
friendship has been cementei by masonic tIes-
within this uysti, circle-s2i God grant ths- il
may last while the sands Of life e5o and dow,
and 81 last we may meet in the Grand Lodge
above 70 receive the benelicri0n Of the Grand
Master Of the universe.
In obedience 10 the unanimous de1lre Of the
Grand Lodge Of Vermont, AN commissioned
70 extend 10 yol the fra;ernG. regard Of this
Grand body, and present you in reco guitiou CT
your distinguished services this service Of silver,
in token of remembrance Ny brother. IS you
bear it to your home, to those you love, ever
remember Il il the true AMI earnest express
zion Of fraternal hearts, acd may il descend IS
sn heirloom, as the recognition Of your brethren
for your Ab0rr in behaf Of cur beloved lnttitC-
ton, and mAy the riches, beneiicG0us Of He.-
ven rest upon you sal yours Is the earnest wish
Of those who honor you this day with this t1s-
snouisl Of regard.
Past Grand Master Ral feeiiugiy responded as
follows:
DR. HALLS Response
Right UortiigfH Broiter and Bls.-~ee o(hs
GRAD Losys Or Tsrm0Ht
There are times when the emotions q the hu-
man heArt csn bert be expressed by 81 sppro-
pirate sience-times like the present when IL
would seem that words would but fee5ly express
the feelings that sctuste the heart, ald were it
not from the TACT that custom, which governs 50
largely in the .tfsirs Of men, renders it expeient
that some remarks should be made for fsv0rs be-
slowed in 50 kindly s way, I would prefer to re-
main silent, yet not uHyr1tsful The historian
Hume, has somewhere said that " s man cannot
speak long Of himself without vanity, ard l an
sdmonishei by this tTite saying of the grezt
philosopher that brevity should constitute st
least one virtue, although 1t may be : negative
one, in ny response to your kind aud fraiernal
address. By sn association with the Grand
Lodge Of Vermont during the past twenty-five
years, and having held, through its favor, all OF
the Offices from thst Of the Junior Grand Deacon
up to and including thst Of ITS Most Worshipful
Grand Master, am led to feel that have a
home here in this its most sacred retreat. &c :
continuing city, sni an abiding p,ace - in the
affections Of those associates with ne in the in
portSnt work Of reform and virtue go peculiarly
the work Of our venerable Institution. But
when look around me upon all thsse faces OF my
brothers, 50 full in their expression Of the love
and charity felt for humanity l am simouishei
Of the gresi change that time, the crest levs.er
has made in our ranks.
One quarter Of a century sgo when | srs,
became associated with this odge,a mere boy A. il
we're, the Grand Lodge was almost composed Of
those veuerAted and gray haired aires Of a past
generation, alas DOW 20 few among Us. They
we're the descendants Of former generation Of
heroes, who had but recently come forth from
the fiery prosecutions to which they bad been
subjected through the years Of intolerance aud
superstition. Their banners had indeed been
trailed in the dust. but yet, Ike good soldiers.
they had not lost them, and when look around
ne to-day, alas l see them 10 more. One By
one they have passed away from smong Us. They
have nearly sill gene 10 the Better Country as
we trust. Like the tree in nature, full with
fruit, they bore their blushing honors thick up
on them. and like It's leaves they have fallen 10
enrich our mother earth. They lived indeed to
see their places filed with oshers, and Of the
riIing generation. and finding their wor, done,
their working tools placed in the hands Of
younger, and, it may be, more skilsull work
men, they were resdy 10 exclSim With ore Of old,
"Now lettest thou thy servent depart ia peace
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
1t WAS while associated with sch as these.
My Brethren, tina. frat learned that sscrei
love and venerston for our noble institution that
has proved an abiding companion during long
official career 81 an oih,er Of this Grand
Lodge.
nave endeavo.ei to serve with that same f.
deity which learned from their teachings. to
be ever Hctua;ed by q ferreHcy and zeal
that characterized all their deliberations. So
that in the end might be enabled 20 present 4
work, by E life devoted to its service of which
" the workman needeth not 10 be ashamed
have sought to be faithful 10 the confidence
which has been from time to time reposel in NE
have indeed hdmonished st times, and at
times | have reproved but it has even been done
in the zane spirit Of kindness and fratern=l love
in which trust my admonitions have been re-
ceived.
The office of Grand Master Of MEsoas even in
the limited Jurisdiction Of Vermont, was never
regarded by me as ,inecure, or a. position
that should be lightly considered. found it full
of hard and persistent labor. That the Grand
Lodge Of Vermont might sustain her noble pres
tige for which she was 30 largely indebted to
my illustrous predecessors in the Oriental chair,
was ever my aim. and highest smbition ; and,
if it can be said to-day that "a Green Mountain
Masonry is yet in the ascendant that the glo-
rious car Of Masonic progress il .till rolling on.
and that too, in the good old way that our
fathers marked out for us. then may say, and
with truth, am content.
Ny brethren, l would that these my parting
words, should be words of encouragement. Re
member the sdmonitions that you have received
in the past TO do good work snd in the future
let Us go on shoulder to shoulder ike good SOL
diers. Life ia great battlefield, and with its
lying vanities and deceits, it is necessary.
contantly to be engaged. Let US shun
the demon ignorance and seek ever
for truth, the great aim and end Of masonry.
Go on, then, feeding the hungry, clothing the
naked, aud the God of the widow and fstherless
will forever bless you and your institution.
Brother r. W. Grand Secretary, the testimonial
which you, in the name Of the Grand Lodge,