The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-04-30

q. NJ. BARCLAY REYNOLDS,
ON THE EVENING OF
APRIL 18th, 1886.
BROTHER REYNOLDS:
Having been appointed to communal
cate to you the will of the members Of this
Lodge concerning your self, | would say in
the first place, that your brothers regret
your desire to retire from the office you
have SO long held and honored in their
midst. For the last twenty FIVE years, you
have filled and discharged the duties Of
Deputy District Grand Master, and in the
Judgment of your brethren, you have in
your official relation to them, faithfully
administered the affairs of your cffice, and
not only so. but you have gone in and out
before them, keeping in view and practicing
those great pliaciples which all calculate
to make men social and humane; and
which crown the life of every true Odd
Fellow with those Immortal virtues o.
Friendship, Love and Truth. Hence in
view Of your long term of service, and your
qualifications, for the position, the Lodge
very naturally feels very sorry to part with
you in your official relation to it. But in
asmuch as you decline to serve longer, and
having filled up the full measure,of quart.
er Of century in this responsible position,
your brethren have felt it to be their duty
to extend to you some token of their es
TEEN for YOU as one of the eldest members
Of the Lodge and for your practical term of
service as an officer.
The selection of a fit emblem to represent
themystc lie that bends the hearts of the
members TO you as Il brother and faithful
official required some sthought, and occas
ioned some friendly discussion; bat after
lue delberation it was decided to present
you with cane, which may prove beyond
gentle reminder, not only of the 25th
anniversary of your official relation to the
Lodge, hut also as an evidence of how this
fraternity appreciates your past service ;,
and as you are advancing in years, and
the evident signs that the mortal man has
passed the Zenith of lite and is well down
the sun set side, we trust that this cane
may prove support to your person as you
go forth in the discharge of other duties in
cumberant upon you in the evening of life;
and as the Patriarch Jacob while leaning on
his staff, blest his sons, so may you leaning
on the shaft of Gods promises, of which
this cane may serve as "a symbol, continue
to help your brethren of the Lodge with
your presence and wise counsel. And when
YOU pass down into the valley and the shad-
ow of death, may His rod and His staff
comfort you. And now in the name of
Excelsior Lodge" No ). o. o. F. of
Md. present you with this cane. Please
accept i, as an outward sign of inward graf.
itude to one who has SO ong discharged the
duties of his office with credit to himself
and to the entire satisfaction of the Lodge.
To which D. D. G. NJ. Reynolds re-
sponded as follows:
BRETHREN
1 have been so completely taken
by surprise by this mark Of your re
spect, that 1 fail to find words appro-
priately to express my appreciation of
the uniform kindness and courtesy
have ever received from the members
of this lodge. feel that l have not
fully merited the complimentary re-
marks of my brother in making this
presentation in your behalf, by the dis
charge of my duties as member, or in
the official position have 40 long been
honored with. / can, therefore, at the
present time assure you that this token
of your regard and the meeting here
with SO many Of those with whom l
have so often met with in the lodge
room, in the years long gone by, as
also with the younger members, has
made an impression that l can never
fail to remember without sincere graft
ficarion and renewed sense Of my du-
ties as member of our order in aiding
to fulfill the noble purposes for which
this lodge was instituted.