Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-25

| hand In every good word and work. The histor,
end 81 as
ity, and now when to be Freemason is no longe
cause for suspicion and avoidance, but an homo
your summons and heartily bid you enter.
Nor prince, nor king, nor earth's greatest po
tentate could thus be permitted to cross tina
threshold save by the well-known brothers sign
no man so poor or forsaken but when properly In
trusted with it is not welcome.
OF LASTING SIGNIFICANCE.
Some Of those present here are just beginning
their Masonic career. To them each word and &C
Of those in authority carries special import. And
some have recently been laid to rest whe fondly
anticipated this event.
Brothers Harper and Shidle almost reached thil
goodly land, but now only permitted as the
prophet of old to catch glimpse from the light'
sepulture.
These with long list of other illustrious dead,
make up the record Of the past.
.,, They were bright and shining lights y and
Shdler, and Hailman, and Cotton, and Shidle,
father and son, with many others are still potent
to call up their well known forms and bring tt
our minds host of tender recollections. They
were master workmen who bore full well the
burdens OF the day. and after useful lives citi-
zens and Freemasons have left noble record for
Others of these who hear me speak tonight are
fast nearing life's close "Already in fhe west
ern skies the signs bid them prepare.
ITO lay aside their working tools and part
Our dear brethren TindIe, and Pollock and
Herdman and Fox still linger while the temple;
mot made with hands, eternal in the heavens
grows clearer TO the sight. Its walls are built OF
Jasper and the bright shining light discloses the
home OF the supreme architect; Now and then
straining eyes catch glimpse OF the gories to be
revealed hereafter: .'Lifk up your heads. oh, ye
The faithful craftsmen who have toiled through
the heat and burden Of the day seek entrance tC
their eternal home. Strains of soft music fall on
weary workmen listening for the Masters call,
hear at last the welcome summons, ENTER thou
May you and all OF us be thus honored at last
and secure an abundant entrance to the Grand
Lodge above.
GEORGE T. oLIvER'S SHEECH.
worshipful Master and Brethren:
1t is tradition of our fraternity upon which
have often dwelt with pleasure, that the Masons
oil old were accustomed to meet upon the SUBMITS
of lofty hills, or in the recesses of deep valleys.
and there secure from observation and Interrupt
tion, with the blue arch of heaven for their only
covering they practiced the solemn rites of the
fraternity and discussed matters relating to the
welfare of the craft. AT. a later period when
speculative, the meetings were held at
the house Of some one Of the brethren,
or more frequently in an upper room of public
house. The assemblage Of the brethren on the
hills, or in the valleys was suited to the primitive
age IN which the custom prevailed. and the rem
ueZvous at tavern, with the wittiest brother for
master and mine host for tyler was in harmony
with the spirit Of the times 200 years ago but with
the advance of the world in enlightenment and
wealth, Masons demanded for themselves perma-
nent homes. sacred to their own uses and adapted
to the study and development of those sublime
precepus which form the very groundwork of the
Masonic system and are the source of its marvel
Ous vitality.
'Freemasonry has always looked backward and
never forward. In times when the masses of
Christendom were enwrapped in the densest ig-
norance and superstition, its lodges were open to
the discussion of liberal ideas and were the CEN
tiers from which was disseminated much that
tended to the intellectual enfranchisement Of
mankind. Kings have in vain sought to use 1t as
an instrument Of tyranny and oppression, and re-
dictionary pontifs have frat endeavored to control
ing in this have hurled against Il broadsides @ @
OF anathemas, and forbidden their followers
to participate in It's councils. AS far as written
lodge in eyery W sna as besS INC
home of liberal thought and generous sentiment
The greatest soldiers and most eminent citizens
have not scrupled to enroll themselves among its
members. and the most profound scholars have
testified their devotion to its principles. 1t has
withstood the wrath of despots and the bulls Of
cussion was denied to an enslayed people, and
the persecution of fanatics in our own
America, where all the arts of the
''It has been the pleasant task of the Board Of
home for this fraternity in the city Of Pttsburg.
In beauty of design and in excellence of finish, we
hold it not unworthy Of the fraternity Itself or of
the great community In which we live. But as we
stand here tonight
TO RENDER AN ACCOUNT
of our stewardship the pride we naturally feel in
contemplating our finished work is tlnged with
regret at the absence of our President now for
many months stretched on a bed of sick
ness and pain. and is marred by SORROW
almost unutterable, as we look upon the vacant
chair which will never again be filled by a form
beloved by us all. Our ranks, for years un-
broken. have been invaded by the invincible war
rior, and this time he has chosen drone for his
victim, but the busiest worker in the hive of Ma
sonic labor. 1t is no reflection on the many good
men who are left us 10 say that Treemasonry in
this district could have suffered no loss which
would be more keenly felt or more regretted than
that of the brother whose form but few days ago
we laid to rest under the soil Of this city, which
was the, place of his birth and the home of
his manhood. Not slothful in business he was
indeed fervent in Masonic spirit. Facile princeps
In all the work of our fraternity, genial and
kindly in disposition, of exceptional purity in
life, to Freemasons be has left matches rec
ord, to his family he has left stainless name.
Peace to his ashes and rest to his soul.
'aAnd now, Worshipful Master, 10 YOU to the
brethren here assembled, and to all Masonic
bodies who In time to come may choose 1t for
Their place f,s Sf meeting @ this house
service OF our fraternity, as Freemasonry itself
has endured for unknown centuries, so may this
house remain for centuries to come the place
hands in friendly greeting. As it rears its noble
front toward the skies let its graceful outlines and
fine proportions, combined with its solid parts, be
typical Of the many graces with which the think
ing Mason can adorn his character, without rob-
bing it of any of those stronger elements whicn
make the real man. As it rests upon founda-
guarantee Of safety, SO let us remember
that the only safety of our fraternity ITSELF and
its only assurance of continued prosperity lies in
the sure foundation of q faith in Almighty God
and long # rests upon this foundation it can
be said of Freemasonry, as the master Of old said
scended and the and the w;nsa Se@ Se
and beat upon that house, and II fell not; for ii
was founded upon rock.'"
GEORGE W. GuTHRIE's SPEECH.
woRsHIPFUL MAsTER-The Masonic brethren
residing In the city of Pittsburg have requested
me, with your permission, to congratulate the
Masonic Fund Society on the completion of their
work, and extend to them our hearty thanks for
the beautiful home they have provided for us.
We are taught that one Of the objects of Free
masonry is to establish in our own minds an asso-
citation between immortal truths which il teaches
TO its disciples and the objects with which we are
constantly surrounded, SO that our occupation
will constantly recall them to our thoughts.
1t was. therefore, the duty Of the trustees to
build a hall which would be not merely convent
ent place Of meeting, but one which would in
some way remind us Of those solemn truths as we
passed 1t from day to day or entered 1t to re-
sort to our lodge rooms.
This no light task which was required of
them, but when we look upon the building which
has this day been dedicated. we gladly acknoml-
edge that they have fully met their responsible
ties. Its springing arches and lofty walls tower
ing toward heaven from the midst OF the busy
streets should admonish to lift our thoughts
above the sordid cares and bitter strife of daily