The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-27

ripping brooks, and genial, generous, low.
Ing households, will appear much brighter
and more beautiful. Our order makes IL
our solemn duty to aid "innocent virgins.
distressed widows, and helpless orphans. :"
In one State alone QIndiana) our fraternity
has distributed among the widows and or.
phans Of deceased Masons s2,000,000.
In our own Masonic Temple there are
two beautiful paintings upon the walls.
Both are fulI.sized female figures. One
represents the genius Of Masonry the other
IL the Goddess OF Secrecy. Why Is that
figure placed there? To warn the brethren
not to expose our secrets. Why select the
figure OF woman? Because true woman
can keep secret. Why not admit her then
as member! First, the rules OF the order
will not admit OF IL; second, II women
were admitted 1t would give cause for scan
dal. There IS no institution that respects
and honors woman more than Freemasonry
does.
THE C0MMANDERIEs.
In response to the sixth toast Sir Knight
Isaacs said
In a body like this, Eminent Sir. there is
generally no necessity for an apology; but
IL is no less due to you than myself that it
should he known that my mind has for seve-
raj weeks been full, and for the past seye-
raj days my mind, ny hands, my arms, and
my heart have been too full for any personal
consideration or preparation. The senti.
meDt that has just been drank opens wide
field for comment, and under any and all
circumstances should have been entrusted
to mind Of more vigor, versatility, and
comprehension than claim 10 possess. De
M0lay, 81. Johns, Richmond, st. Andrew, n
solid square, cemented by true knIghtly
love, the strongest and purest at.
tributes Of the human heart. There
is only one solid square under the cano-
py Of Heaven OF equal strength, solidity,
and endurance-that is, Mother, wife,
daughter, sister," This IL, Eminent Sir,
remarkable country Of ours. Even while
looked at through the reflective light OF the
Yankee Mirror" while the President OF
the United States does not preside over the
same extent OF territory nor rule the desti-
nies OF as many people as her Majesty the
Queen OF England. yet | verify believe he
can 6nd within his dominions as great a
variety OF climate, az great variety OF pro.
duets, aud as heterogeneous mass OF people.
The trees which are not indigenous TO the
other, il OF any value are cultivated az an
exotic in the other. Why, sir, the banyan
tree Is indigenous TO a portion Of her
Majesty's dominion, and it has been sue
cessfully cultivated as an exotic in this.
In the year Of 1853 a small band OF pilgrims
planted its seed in the soil OF the
States OF Rhode Island aud Massachusetts,,
and ii at once sprang into active, young. and
vigorous life. Its boughs were planted in
the soil OF tue Old Dominion in 1859, and
like its parent plant, was vigorous from its
youth. IL Is true, alas, too trne, that its
spread for few years was STAYED, but wa
tered by our knightly tears, its life was pre-
served. In the year Of 1875 another band OF
pilgrims restored its vitality, and now, in
1881, its tendrlIs are dropped in our soil,
throwing its cooling, genial shade and
spreading its benefcent influences over the
vast extent OF this country, and in its life
giving bowers OF love all who are worthy
may recline in safety and without fear of
the assaults of section or sectarian, for they
can never penetrate or break while pro-
tected and defended by The knightIy
swords OF De MOlay, st. Johns, Richmond,
and st. Andrew, forming this solid square
OF fraterna love and affection in which see.
tionalism or sectarians can never live.
FROM TIRE ABSENT ONES.
The following telegrams and letters were
read from absent Knights
BosrON, MASS, May "a, 1881.
Commander +. q. WQtJridge, De Noiay
COmmdndery:
Congratulations to De MOIay and St..
Johns in your pleasant festivities. Re.
member lis in knightly courtesy, and bro
therly love to all our fraters, and especially
to Richmond Cemmindery.
w. II. KENT,
Grand Commander.