The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-06-21
VERMONT mASONS.

VERMONT mASONS.
Last week the several Grand Bodies Of
Masonry met in annual communication
at Burlington. With very few excep.
tions the old boards OF Grand Officers
were reelected, To Bennington County
comesIbut two of these officers: John II.
Whipple of Manchester g inter-, Grand
Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge. and
Nj. b Morgan. of Bennington, Grand
Marshal of the Grand Council The
Commandery here lost its representation
upon the board of the Grand Com
maDdery Officers. The principal inter-
est centers in the Grand LOdge--the
foundation of the whole. Grand Master
Halls annual address was a fine pro-
duction. Among its opening sentences
was this sentiment:
Brethren from the shores of the river
and lake, from the borders of the old
Bay State, and the Dominion. from
every hill and vale, hamlet and town
between, give you cordial welcome to
our 95th annual communication"
Brother Hall referred to the laying Of
the corner stone of the Bennington Bat
tie Monument last year, paid the fra
ternity here high compliment for the
part they took in it and recommended
that an historical tablet he placed in the
structure. This RECOMMENDATION was
adopted during the session and Grand
Master Hall was made the committee on
historic tablet.
"a MASONIC TEMPLE.
"FOr more than score of years the
various Masonic Grand Bodies have been
meeting in this city annually, holding
their meetings in Masonic or other halls
as would best suit their convenience.
Had joint effort been made by the
Grand Bodies and the Brethren of Bur
lington we might long since have owned
a comfortable building that would have
been creditable to all interested, afford
ing better accommodations and yielding
a good revenue.
THE library of the Grand Lodge is in
creasing rapidly, but we have no safe
place to keep our books.
Our jewels and other property are
cared for by the stewards the best they
can, but it is scattered about liable TO
loss or damage almost any day,
Il am confident that there is public
spirit enough in the Masons Ct Vermont
and our good Brethren of Burlington, to
take hold of this matter and devise
plan that shall not be burdensome but
shall result in this long needed home.
On this part of the Grand Masters
speech the Rutland Herald of Monday,
has word to say as follows: This pro-
ject has been agitated several times, but
does not meet with favor among the
Brethren at Burlington; as they think
Rutland is the best and most central To-
cation for such a building 1t is said
that there is money enough IN the Rut-
land Lodges alone to erect Masonic
Temple worth $40 900; and it is certain
that the Lodges in Bennington. Rutland
and Addison counties are strongly in
favor of building a temple in Rutland
A few wish it located at Windsor, and
some at st, Adams: but there is not any
prospect that one will ever be built in
those towns. OF course, it will not be
long before the Masous will need a tenn
pie of some kind. for now all the Jewels
and paraphernalia are stored wherever
the stewards can find place to pu:
them. The Grand Lodge owns a fine
library, which is stored in Burlington.
There is no doubt that Rutland is the
place for a Masonic Temple; and It
seems that 1t Is only necessary for the |
Rutland Masons TO start the ball roll
ng"
The Herald assumes considerable as to |
Bennington, but if Burlington is luke |
warm, why then if its rival city will |
provide the 'sinews of war" we say:
90 ahead.
Tho ,.r,rttin, Of Dr,tl,ar I'LL =.
fine We copy part: THE success of |
he Masonic institution in its onward |
march, does not depend upon its age, |
he ndmt er Of its votaries, costly halls, |
elegant paraphernalia and splendid |
ritual, however valuable these may be |
as accessories, for true Masonry is not |
simply thing to please the senses, its |
shrine is in the heart, and the principles |
must find their way to the inner sense |
ia order that they may become a part # |
ourselves and be exemplified in life
when as Alasons we study more and |
live better we shall find that Masonry
will be conceded all that its most en-
,husiastlc admirers ella m for il.
Clean in the journey OF life from the
fields through which you pass, from the
waysides and haltlng places all that is
rue and pure, noble and good; all that
adds to the stature of perfect manhood:
the virtues and shun the vices
then in your lives will be exemphfied
The tenels of Masonry.
I'VE should count it privilege to
have part in carrying on this work in an
age of intelligence and usefulness.
Finally, in the beautiful language of
another, eXhort you to take your
place in the onward march of history.
Let the glory of morning rest upon your
ives learn and change; turn and over
urn but always see to it that the sun
shine chases the shadows and that the
transition be ever from bad to good and
rom good to better"
The appointment of Alfred Robinson
% succeed Prof. Howe as d. d. G. NJ, is
/ fitting recognition of valuable services.
HIS preferment gives unbounded salts
faction to the craft of the Second Ma
ionic District.