The Louisiana Democrat., 1879-12-31

land tho cOldDess of your associates
land the gloomy doubts that made
your heart beat within your bosom,
| hut let me, who bears spark OF love
for your sex, congratulate you upon
the laudabIe object accomplished.
Aud now, brothers. We are brought
face to face to tender to these ladies
our heartfelt thanks. The daylight
shining and their work flushed, and
they are now about to be ended with
success and crowned with thankful
praises. May God, who loves cheer
fnl giyer, remember you. Mary sig
nifes love and meekness. Mary Is a
name long to be remembered by us,
even from the birth Of our Savior over
1900 years ago. Sarah signifies Prin-
cess, and is q name remembered from
the time Of Abram, over 23ll B. c.
Brothers, shall we ever forget these
two names. No! Ny friends you
even cannot forget them. We live in
a christian era more enlightened than
any other generation known to the
world. Brothers, we must utter bet-
ter words in the future than in the
pass. Our tongues must proclaim WI
ser counsel, or we will daunt-we will
mock the purpose of tonight. That
we have been neglectful, we do not
deny; that we have done acts unbe-
coming our dignity, we do not dis
pute. Brothers, to these two young
ladies, Miss Mary f. A. De Lacy and
Miss Saral, c. Mayo, sou owe a debt
that you will not be able to pay
They have taken the lead in this great
and triumphal undertaking. Also to
the friends who aided them in the
great achievement, we owe debt OF
gratitude.
Ladies, Bros. w. L. Amber, the
President, John Mayo and myself, a
committee of three for the purpose of
receiving the Banner, do here, in the
presence of this Company, accept your
presentation on behalf of the Grove.
AS gaze upon it, made of the purest
anchored material known of its costly
kind, with its ricl, border of gold, in
the center [ read "Love, Truth and
Friendship" These are some of the
attributes of Gods word. Love is
why the plan of salvation was
laid-fpr the Bible tells us "God is
Love-" Let US say like the Psalmist,
Remember US in our love-"
AS sure as we this gift receive,
hope we never will our love deceive.
! Truth is lever to raise our souls.
Let us be truthful to our trust, to onr
God and to the obligations of our fam
| lilies and the Rapides Groves oath aud
laws. We will be better men and we
will not bring reproach upon this
presentation. God is the God of
Truth and cannot lie. We are in
friendship to all. Administer to your
wants, Brothers, this Love, Truthful
ness and Friendship. Lay aside all
malice, guile hypocrisy and envy, and
evil speaking, if there he any. Honor
all men, and above honor the Lord
Love the Brotherhood. Bear in mind
the three great sacreds of cur Order.
The first is Faith, the second Hope.
and the third Charity. Of the three
Charity is the most sacred to keep, on
which hangs all the law. Should mis-
fortune assail you, should friends for
sake you, you have One who will pro
vice. These correct our manners and
enlighten our understanding. Weld
them to your stubborn hearts, for they
are calculat, 4 to raise lis higher than
the troubles of the world. They teach
us, when guided by them, to lead mo-
raj lives, modify our cnnduct-aud by
) these means we will not bring a re
proach upon the worthy presentation
"f the ladies'. Let US look on tina
beautiful Blnner, white as cloud in
the Heavens, pure as the puresi beam
: tiful, as tie most mautifulest, that
Banner will hereafter he accompanied
with two rods pointing upwa,ds. On
their ends are gold. When we are NJ,
as high as God has allotted, we will
walk upon it, suc! precious METAL
We look up aud gaze upon it now.
then we will look down and say,
now behold it under my feet" They
point us to richer things above. There
is our guide upon that beautiful board,
: Gods holy book. Divine precious
promises tl,ou are ours. Be guided by
it, square yourselves by it.. Around
our neck We wear u true collar, and
the white apron represents pnreness,
meekness AID humbleness. Here arc
We representing Godliness. Ladies,
your kindness will never be erased
from our memory Though death may
separate us, though waters may he
between us, though envy may rage
but as long as this audience lives, and
they will tell their children, you will
never be forgotten. 'As for us, VIC
cannot. We shall not forget you, only
, when our tongue be chilled in death, =
but Others will carry that Banner, and
should it be Gods command for dealt
to summons you to the Grove, may
! yonr sonls be ready to take its figh,
to it's Maker in peace, that Banner
will moan even if it shall be a distance
from you. Brothers, is there ore here
toenisht who can be so forgetful as tt
let your heary sleep in the remember.
!, ances of those two young Indies, if 81
your heart is lnayish. The sopDel
you seek pardon the better it will b.
!. for you. Let as drop q tear or two fo,
l the honor and the compliments paid t,
us on this occasion. Let us learn tt
!. be more intelligent in the progress 0
life. Ladies, accept onr gratefn
thanks for your grand and laudabl'
! presentation in presenting us, tlit
members of the Rapides Grove B. A
No. | this Banner, which is sublime il
its pureness of white. MIR. Presiden
take it, and remember we'll the pre-
senters and this day as well.
The stars Of Heaven are not more true
THAN this nnchanminn hnart to Nni1