The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-20

while cannot 'lay the hattering JUNCTION to my
and faithful servant yet have endeavored to do
the best that could under the circumstances that
surrounded me.
1t will remain as a source Of permanent regret
that have been unable by reason Of sad bereave-
ment and from prolonged and serious indisposition
in my family, to visit personally all of the Subordi
nate Lodges and testify, by words spoken, my sin
cere and lively interest and anxiety in the welfare
OF each and every one Of them. The unaffected
cordially that has greeted me in the visits have
fortunately been enabled to make, has greatly In
spired me with gratitude for the past and renewed
hope for the future of our Order. There seemed to
exist among the brethren Of these Lodges unity
Of effort and harmony of action which, If they rep
resent the spirit abroad in our Order, foreshadow
future filled with important achievements; and
truly the theme Of the aims and objects Of noble
Order Is well worthy the tongue Of Tully. And yet
the objects which animate of sufficient merit
to inspire US to zeal and unfaggtng industry with
out the impulse Of oratorical effort or the impetus
caught from the music Of honeyed phrase All that
comes from heaven-born philanthropy; all that
comes from the desire of benefit to suffering fellow
creatures all that springs from the humane desire
to stretch out hand of succor and support to the
friendless and the feeble all that Ia contained in
the motive to relieve human suffering and elevate
mankind to one common plane OF enlightenment
and emancipation from ignorance and prejudice, Is
engrafted and implanted in the principles of Odd
Fellowship. These, my brethren, are the founda-
ton stones on which Its superb superstructure
rests; and whether they were laid In the darkness
and mists of hoary antiquity, or In the benedcent
light of later civilization, they are at grand
and imperishable
From this pleasant and harmonious Convooation,
let 60 forth to labor united ZEAL and let the
strength we have imbibed from these hours spent
in fraerna and happy contact be utilized In greater
strivings after advancement and earnest progress.
If be behind let not cavil over them
seek in petty contentious escape the responsible
ty. II bitterness and heart burnings have arisen,
let the soft mantle of oblivion shut them out for
ever, and then, with eyes fixed with honest intent
the sinking mark Of lofty destiny, let US push
with eager steps to Its grand and glorious fulfill
ment. T: j. CRoWDER
" Grand Master.
The following are the officers for the present
year;
W. M. Barnitz, M. W Grand Master, Salem.
Charles Goodrich, R. W. Deputy Grand
Master, Alexandria.
DA. Butcher, r. W. Grand Warden, Bridge
water.
r. Wiley Davis, R. W. Grand Secretary,
Richmond.
]. W. Ferguson, r. W. Grand Treasurer,
Richmond,
J.J. Scherer, R. W. Grand Treasurer, Ma
rion.
J.B. Lee, Grand Marshall, Danville.
G. W. Hollis, Grand Conductor, Wipches-
ter,
A. A. Splitter, Grand Guardian, Richmond
T.B. Evans, Grand Herald.
Marion Colbert, Representative to the Soy
ereign Grand Lodge.
w. G. Straughan was appointed D. d. Grand
Master for the Tenth District, composed of the
Lodges in Staunton, Mt. Sidney, Bridgewater
and Harrisonburg