Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-06-20

noble institution that has proved an
abiding companion during long official
career as an officer of this Grand Lodge.
| have endeavored to serve with that
same fidelity which / learned from their
teachings, to be ever actuated by fer
0e2acy and zeal that characterized all
their deliberations So that in the end
[ might be enabled to present work,
by life devoted.to its service OF which
1.-THE workman needeth not be ashamed. =
| have sought to be faithful to the
confidence which has been from time to
time reposed in me.
| have indeed admonished at times,
and at times / have reproved, but it has
ever been done in the same spirit of
kindness and fraternal love in which
trust my admonitions have been received.
The office of Grand Master of Masons,
even in the limited jurisdiction of YER
mont, was never regarded by me as a
sinecure, or as position that should be
lightly considered. [ found it full of
hard and persistent labor. That the
Grand Lodge of Vermont might sustain
her noble prestige for which she was so
largely indebted to my illustrious prede-
eessors in the Oriental chair, was ever
my aim. and highest ambition; and, if it
can be said to-day that Screen Noun
tain Masonry" is yet in the ascendant,
that the glorious car of Masonic pro-
gress is still rolling on,-and that too in
the good old way that our fathers mark
ed out for us, then | may say, and with
truth, ] am content.
My brethren, | would that these my
parting words, should be words of en-
cOuragement Remember the admoni-
tions that you have received in the past
to do good work and in the future let
us go on shoulder to shoulder like good
soldiers Life is great battlefield, and
with its lying vanities and deceits, it is
necessary, constantly 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, and the
God of the widow and fatherless will
forever bless you and your institution.
Brother r. W. Grand Secretary, the
testimonial which you, in the name of
the Grand Lodge, make here to-day
most cheerfully accept. The feelings
which actuate my heart | cannot eX-
press. You have my thanks for the
kindly manner of your address, and in
my AdII OIiiy soy may NOA
our Father give YOU a long and happy
life, and may your last hours be crown
ed with pleasantness. You and / have
been for a long time associated in the
labors of the Grand Lodge. Let us hope
that our labors have not been in vainin the
past. And finally, my brethren, ''May
He who brings honest labor to good eff
feet" govern you in all your future
transactions in life, so that at the last,
your work being completed, your working
tools gathered up, you may all receive
the reward of faithful craftsmen.
At the close of the proceedings on
Thursday morning, Brother William Fl.
Root, Assistant Grand Secretary of the
Grand Lodge, presented Uzal Peirson of
South Burlington, Cover sixty years a
Mason) and for many years Grand Tyler
of the Grand Lodge, with Past Grand
Tyler's jewel, accompanying it with the
following admirable remarks:
Ny Venerable Brother:
Our Grand Master in intr. ducing this
matter. has well said that ''there are
episodes in the affairs of Grand Lodges
as well as in the affairs of common life,
and none more agreeable has it ever been
my fortune to have part in. When
was first requested to make this presen-
tatiOn, which | do now, of a Jewel of
past Grand Tyler, to one so venerable in
years and Masonry as you, | shrak from
the duty-but remembering that pecu
liarly by the side and support of an hon
Orable ancestor of mine whom MaSons
have delighted to honor, gOu stood firm
and true for many years, | could not say
nay. | read upon the diverse of this
token the inscription that you have been
for sirtg gers a Mason, a period of time
longer than the years of life of the ma
iOrity of the members of this grand
body. You have seen three generations
Of your brothers raised to this honorable
rank. alas how many have you also as
sisted to place in their narrow home
An octogenarian. You are one of the
very few remaining. who connect the
present ace with the age of Washington
-bciDg born in the year of his election
as President You have lived to see,
from a small hamlet by the lake side.
thriving and pOpulous city grow and
spread in whose center we now stand
Y0u have lived almost as long as the
Grand Lodge itself. Gou have lived to
see the patriarchs and fathers of Mason
nv in Vermont 90 down one after an
other to the silent tomb, until now we
may count their honored grey heads
upon the fingers Of either hand. You
have lived to witness the triumphS of
human genius in the steamboat, the rail-
way and the telegraph all the wonder
full engines that spread the circles of
our mystic brotherhood to every part of
the hahitahle globe and, better than all,
You have lived 10 see this Order-found-
cd as it is on the immutahle foundations
Of truth-stand on the field of victory,
triumphant over al lis foes My broth
cr, the insignia of honorable standing in
this grand body which YOU non wear, tells
more eloQuently than | can how good
man and Mason You have been. Re
ceive this token with which I now with
unusual pleasure decorate your breast,
and accept it, freighted rs it is with the
uneelfsh love of your brethren.
The aged Grand Tyler returned his
thanks briefly, and was evidently deeply
affected by this token of the continued
respect and friendship OF his brethren of
the Grand Lodge.
University oe vermont.