Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-24
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heather gols, no sacrifices will be offered up for
the success of veteran legions over helpless and
inOffensive barbarians, but from them viii enla-
nate those noble Influences which are working
their way silently, but successfully. and which
are elevating mankind, higher and higher, and
nearer and nearer, 10 that moral standard which
was intended by the Creator himself IN this
respect. this temple will yield no precedence TO
the Church OF God itself.
Our mission. a. well a. yours, is n noble one.
Our objects are the same, the only difference
being the different means adopted TO aeain the
end. We are struggling Go alleviate suffering,
70 elevate the destiny of man, and 20 establish
that common brotherhood intended 10y thc
Great Author OF our being. We wsaT 'o l;og.l-
stained chsIplets sIratched frpuf cory battle
fieltl- but We hear tl, I.u> of our ITas~, ;n the
thanksgiving of widows and orphans, fud
the reward OF our aclIicy cmcHts in. the dried-up
tears of distress and fountains OF >OTr0w, and We
win our laurelS around the beds OF disease ami
death,
''when the blessed seals which close the posti-
lence are broke,
And crowded cities wall its stroke
For thousands Of wears the ancient order OF
FreemaSOnry has been an institution ON tue
earth. practicing the same precepts, holding the
same traditions and the same great principles
we now profess. For centuries, while Europe
was blinded by the darkness of the Middle Ages,
il was the receptacle OF all that was good and
pure upon earth, the last refuge Of the arts AMI
sciences, and bore within its bosom the seeds Of
religion and the verv genius OF civilization it
self. Odd Fellowship sprang from the same
wants and the same noble instincts Of humanity
that brought Masonry into existence. We are
the offspring Of common parent. YOu are our
Younger sister, and have al the vitality and
VigOr that belongs TO youth.
and take pleasure to-day in eOngratulating
yOu upOn the astonishing evidences Of your pros
perity, local as well as general, here as well as
everywhere. Claiming your nativity upon the
soil OF America, and within the limits Of the
nineteenth century, You have already increased
10 a membership Of six hundred thousand, and
have taken an enviable position among the or
ders Of the earth. Like the grain Of mustard
seed, sOwn in the ground, you have grOwu 20 a
giant tree, scattering your branches far and
wide. and under their protecting shadows the
weary and unfortunate Of earth are taking ~
fuge Europe as well as America, is feeling
the influence Of your example and your char
ities.
Nav God speed YOU in the fulfllment of your
mission, is the prayer that pulsates In every
Masonic heart that hears me to-day. May He
baptize with His richest blessings, especially
this building, of which you have just laid the
CONVERSIONS. May your banners advance-and
they will advance, l am satlSfied-as long as
Christianity needs a champion, or poor aOwn-
trOdden humanity friend.
ADDRESS FOR THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Can't. f. r. BErrus made an address on
behalf Of the KNIGHTS Of Pythias. He said:
This occasion illustrates that principle is indie
structible. ard never dies.
The storm may come, marking its pathway
through forest and field, and Law low the handi-
WORK Of man. The fre-iiend NAV be kiutHed by
incendiarv or accident, and with angry fash
lean from house to house, bhghting, ScarTi.g
and consuming everything fortune may have
cast in its wake The glittering sword may be
unsheathed, and with its pierce, and cut. to
right and left the human race may be slain
rivers made 10 flow with mortal gore. All hut
man invention must fad, for humanity must die.
But principle, TO which all should be dey0tees,
is ever the same unch&nged-unchangea be-
cause it Is eternal.
1t is to ever-existing principle we manifest our
admiration and devotion this day
Our friends and cO-labOrers in the high and
exhalted missions ef friendship and charity,
have not invited our lodges of MasOn5 and
Pvthian Knights merely to look upon the place
ment of cement and stone. Their own solemn
but joyous array means more than idle, curious
indulgence, and this assembly Of Odd Fellows,
MasOns and Pythian knighthOOd, sOlemnly pro-
test their tribute to moral principle in the yery
presence and performance Of this ceremonial
rite.
This Is an auspieiOus occasion for all Of us.
The erection Of this monument, the cornerstone |
of which has Just been laid, II the earnest Of an
enterprise, the fruit of which viii be enjoyed a.
a blessing benefit throughout the community,
and the structure will designate one fountain |
head from which will flow streams OF virtuOus
1t ought to be an object and question with |
every man, be he of one or another order, or OF |
none at all, whether or not he avails himself of |
the advantageous relations he bears to his sOcie-
ty. There are ties which bind man To man like /
links OF steel. and the very tenets OF such mu-
tual obligation contain depths for study and re-
search the most profound When we band to-
gether for purposes of benevOlence and charity. /
the pleasing contact should be an imperial pro-
mise, leading to the development OF a knOwl-
edge Of our higher and nObler capacities and /
purposes, and each individual should strive for Il
himself and friend as Il IL was possible 70 attain
that elevation, the virtue Of which might have
caused 10 be prefermitted that divine lament: Il
"It repented Goi that he had made man.
Odd Fellows, when completed, i trust that Il
your lodge hall viii be your place Of love and
labor wherein neither strife nor anger viii enter
to mar your pleasure or defeat your aims.
As the representative Of Bayard Lodge. No. 4,
Knights of Pythias. fully authorized to do. /
greet and cordially congratulate YOU
upon the attainment of your success this day, /
and wish you all happiness and prosperity.
Address FOR THE ODD FELLOWS.
Capt. b. J.. Ridley, p c., the orator Of
the Odd Fellows, then delivered the fol-
lowing address:
Brethren Of hts Rsspecfire FratsrHifies, Ladies
and GsnfIenis7l-The euterrrise that we to-day |
here inaugurate, by laying the cornerstone Of
our temple, is in conformity to duty imposed |
upon US by time-hOn0red custom. Our first |
account, n feNealed IN scripture, OF sOlemiiiz-
ing this rite, dates back beyond the limits Of /
prOfane and sacred history 70 Him who laid the |
Of the earth. and fastened the cor
ner-stone thereof. In the history of Odd Fell
iOwship we have Welded TO this time-hOnOrCd |
custom rs we bow 10 fate. and celebrate the Oc-
csision in consoIIance with usage, as symbolic Of
The cause for which the building Is designed and
lI token Of the sIcrrd principles 10 which the /
structure Il 70 be cOnsecrated. The three grand Il
ieas that the layingOT this cOTner-stDnc has con
yryed. are Support, CmsEf and OTHaHfsnt As
these bind together in harmony the component
parts OF the superStFucture. 80 may the links OF
pdd FellowshiI.-FTicndship, Truth and LOVE-
ever support. ment ard ornament the 1
Of our social fabric. uniting an man
kind in one fraternal brotherhood. Overethere
A temple Is being erected 10 be cOnsecrated to
the holy principles of MasOnry-just opposite