The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-08

Lodge, over the store room OF G. B. Somer-
Grand Lodge appeared at the door of the
Staunton Lodge, escorted by the committee OF
arrangements, were admitted and welcomed
in brief and eloquent address by Heber ker,
Dictator OF the Stanton Lodge.
Mr. Ker said The pleasant duty has been
assigned me OF welcoming you to our noun
tain CITY, i'll this your 9th annual meeting.
With hearts warm and loyal to our common
cause we bid you welcome. l see before Inc
| representative men from every section OF The
! Old Observation-Disclosures Piedmont, South
side, Northern Va, .he Southwest, and the
I'D Vaey-all are here represented by Their
| loyal SOUS. Diversified as are these grand
divisions of our co mon mother, yet are we
united, politically and socially IN the great
purpose OF building up our mutual interest IN
| advancing our grand Old Common wealth IN
| the iamiI, OF States, and III securing 10 our
post, ruy the blessings Of peace and good gov
eIDment. But high and holy as are these 90
| jects they do not Touch US So nearly as those
1 which summon us To council and consultation
I at this time. We come together tonight
| knowing no geographical lines, to advance no
! political or personal end with no ambitions to
gtatity, no schemes to promote we meet 10
night, my bretnrtD to consult as 10 the pro-
| motion vi the interest OF tho e nearest and
| dearest to us-the interest oil those, who, When
we shall he called hence TO the Grand Lodge
above saal be LETT to the protecting Gale oil
! our noble order. In view OF this fact, how
| .reat import lance attaches to what shall DE
! done in the Grand Lodge meeting. we work
uncer The dignitied lille OF Acknowledgements
| OF HouoI--a litie made noble and distinguished
| 0y IA long line of heroic deeds aud which has
come Gown To us win IA halo OF glory. Our
! mission, my brethren is no less grand and
noble Than That which gave courage 10 the
| stout hearts OF the Knights of old, and sus-
| taincd them in their perious undertakings.
We come not with glittering spear and waving
! plume in coats OF mail To meet with foes III
| deadly conflict but we meet as friends and
[ brethren ON mission OF love and mercy,
/ with hearts true and warm to each other, to
! help the weak and distressed, and to heal and
comfort them by peaceful Ways and means.
| Was there ever II nober mission than this p
40 vain glory 10 be sought; no pomp and cir
cumstance OF war 10 lure Us on to great deeds !;
| 40 selfish or personal ends 10 attain; but LII
! loving devotion 10 pioVice Tor those who can
not take care of thtuIselyes--a work of love,
| nuuoreu bf men and blessed of heayen. How
| uest Ia. attain this end IS the object OF your
meeting here. You will doubtless hear Iron
the subordinate Lodges all Line difficulties ard
| hlndrances that lie Ia The way OF their src-
cesslul work you viii hear many suggestions
OF improvenI, nls, and you will find much
along inc way TO disc jurage You. Agaln,you
will near OF The great beneuts bestowed by
The quiet operations OF the beneficial element
OF our order. Need warn you not to be de-
pressed oy the one, nor unduly elated by the
| other, Due to keep steadily In view and press
! ON with unabaled ardor 10 the accomplish
ment vi the grand and noble end for which
" e are bound IN raternal relations.
How like II perennial stream should be the
aspirations OF our order, Flowing with viz
gin purify from It's fountain source, widening
and deepening i'll its onward course, refresh
ing and reVivitying by its gentle touch, and
! at length pouring It's HE giving Influences
into the great ocean Of life To lave its tarthest
shores, sending joy and gladness to those who
! shall be the recipients oi It's messages OF love
| -saCritic S OF those VINO have passed over
the river and rested under the snade of the
trees"
The report of our faithful and laborous
! Grand Reporter Will show that IN the last six
years $i6,772 ~ have been paid Ill SICK ben
etits aud for The same time $206 900 as for
lhe w. u 0. B. f. luis grand total OF 1922,
| ~. 80 has been uisbursed III SIX years 10 the
| SICK and disabled brothers OF our order and "
| The widows and orphans ot our deceased
| brothers within The grand jurisdiction Of the
| State OF Virginia LOOKING at luis great ex-
ulbt of benefits actually conferred may
| we not with confluence and pride point
! 10 the motto Of our order "Spectamur,
| agendo" 1t furnishes a substantial basis
| upon which we may work the increase and
| growth OF the order i'll Va, and presents all
II gument which cannot be successfully re
Euled Ii only remains Tor US To be wise and
dh9ent in the administration OF the tender
trust committed 10 our keeping, TO be true to
| our fraternal relations, kind and afectlOnate
| III our intercourse with each other, and our
! order has Il future, which no words can now
| measure no eye can now see. Again, my
! brethren OF the Grand Lodge, as the repre-
sentative OF otaunlon Lodge. bid you well
come. Welcome 10 our city, welcome to our
homes, welcome to our hearts. Aud may the
| God OF the fatheress and the widow direct
| YOUR eounsels in wisdom and truth that when
! you shall return to your Lodge 10 give an &C
| count OF your stewardship you may receive
| the commentator, well done good and
| faithful servant" We bid you an earnest
| welcome.
| The response was happily mace by Jno.
Wright, Grand Dictator Of the State After a
short recess TO enable the members of our city
Lodge to make the acquaintance of their breth-
rem of the Grand Lodge, the Staunton Lodge
adjourned and the Grand Lodge proceeded to
| business with closed doors.
Last night splendid banquet was given at
the Virginia hotel.
Numerous toasts were offered AMI responded
to, among which were the following:
! Our retiring Grand Dictator-J Wright.
| Grand Lodge OF Va.-Grand Dictator Page.
| Supreme Lodge of the U. S.-Wm Loven-
| stein.
| Our Sister Lodges. Co-workers with US in
the common cause Of humanity Hon HI W
| Tourney.
Our Widows and Orphans-In their smiles
IL our sweet reward-Col Fitzgerald.
| The Press-A medium of good and vehicle
| Of light C Morton.
| The Ladies-R B Berkeley.
Our Grand Reporter. Without a prede-
cessog in the Grand Lodge of Va, may he
never have successor till he is called to fill
the chair of Supreme Reporter-W H Battle.
| The officers and representatives of the
| Grand Lod ge of the State, are as follows
| Oficefs:-
! L G Morton, Past Grand Dictator; J
Wright, Grand Dictator Mann Page, Vice
| Grand Dictator; Joseph E Rollins, Assistant
Grand Dictator H NJ Hope Grand Chaplain
VIM H Bailie, Grand Reporter; M F Hudnall,
Grand Treasurer /; J T kenney, Grand Guide
julius Joel. Grand Guardian Jos L Bowyer,
Grand Sentinel J P Harrison, State Medical
| Examiner I G Morton, E B Branch, Supreme
| Representatives John Maxwell, w E Foster
I Morriss, Grand Trustees VIM Lovenstein,
| J Fl Wright, J P Fitzgerald. Committee on
| Laws; L 5 Edwards, J w Wilson, DR. S
| Lewis, Finance Committee.
Representatives =
Thomas jackson. James Phippen, E
| Fitzwilson, Ro N Northen w c Adams, H G
Miller, Thomas w Bass,J W Beasley, FL L
Rees, D NJ Dunlop W Newton, Joseph W
Weilner, Stephen Hopkins. W w New, T w
Hare, r Berkeley R H Bell, j lanes c Tay-
lor, Vim E Norris. w II Tabb, T Kenney
John A No )re, J G Stowe, Chas Gibbs, Jos D
Proctor, W B Virnelson. ] A Chisholm, DR. /
J Fentress, J A Williams, W B Kendrick, Y
| Wrenn, John A Hasklns, Isaac Hrsh, B D
Blick, w Mays, J w Broughton, G N Hal.
! stead W L Mcleod, W.T. Booth, Walter Syd
nor, r H Duesberry, ] A Fullmer,D A Young
James A Patterson, F T Bates, l. Cooper
Dr. s II Price, NJ Mclean, L ] Hyslope, ]
Landsbcrg, NJ L Watkins, R D Butord, Geo