The Van Buren press., 1877-10-30
Grand Master McGuire's Address.

The following extract from the adj
dress Of DR.. NJ NJ. Mcclure, the rotir.
ing Grand Master Of the Masonic Lodge
which recently assembled at Little Rock,
which is so appropriate and applicable
to our situation, that we offer no excuse
for finding room for it in our paper
The extract commences with an alusion
to the disastrous Russian-Turkish war,
aud happy comparison Of our own
peaceful condition as nation with the
beligerent attitude of the European
world as follows:
For the leaders, on either side of the
conflict, we may feel but little sympa
thy but for the non combatants and in
noccnts on both sides, we feel. This war
RACES; how long it may last we know
not. Other parts of the old world are
threatened by the rockings Of political
connections, but we have not time to
speak at greater length on this subject.
Let us thank the great Ruler of worlds
that the clouds which ohscured our hor-
lzon, when last we met, have all been
banished, and the low, muttcring thun-
dors that rcverberated along our skies
have all been hushed. Order has come
out of confusion, and symmetry has
sprung from chaos. Good homo -9nvnrn-
mcnts have been restored in every State
and our sister States of the South, that
sat in sacllcloth, aud wcpt, because the
foot Of the oppressor was grinding on
their necks, have been liberated from
their shachlcs have put on the robes of
prosperity, and joy lights up the smiling
countenances of their people. Peace and
happiness reign supreme, and, to make
our cup to run over with good things,
the Great Giver Of all good has not only
blessed us with plenty, but abundance
has been showered upon us. Cornuco-
pia-the famed horn of plenty-has lite
rally poured out his treasures the land
has brought forth its increase, and the
toll Of the husbandman has been liberal
ly rewarded. The crops were, perhaps,
never equalcd, and, we feel sure, never
surpassed in our State ; and when we
add to this, that good health prevails, as
a rule, throughout oar borders, we should
exclaim. in the fulness of our hearts,
What shall we render unto the Lord
for all his benefits 7" Our hearts should
go out in thanksgiving to the Lord of
the harvest, and influence lis to withhold
not our hand, in dividing our abundance
with the less fortunate aud the more
needy of earth.
We thank Heaven for favored land
and for our loved State, where, under
good government, we peacefully enjoy
the blessings God has given rs, and wor-
ship Him, according to the dictates OF
: our own conscience. No tanaticism eur.
ses our country no political despot
, shacllles our limbs or tetters our free
: thought and free speech every man
thinks and acts for himself on all great
, questions of church and State, and gives
utterances to his views; all men arc alike
, protected in person and property, and
, each pursues his own sweet will in the
gaining of happiness or the requirement
of wealth. With such state Of affairs
we, ms Masons, join our voices with the
cordial invitations now going out from
our State to the people of more dcnsciy
populated sections, and say to the home
seeker, come to Arkansas and be wei
, come, live happy with us and grow rich
, by honest industry; come and join il
!. with us in our Masonic labors, help us tc
build up our grand enterprises, and make
: our State rs famous for it's moral and in
, tellectual advancement, and its refining
, society influences in the future, as it wa,
reported years ago (otton uniustly) fol
. wickcdncss and the supremacy of the ba
ser passions.