Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-31
THE GRAND MASTER.
RECEPTION TO THE GRAND MASTER OF MAsoNs
AN ENJOYABLE OCCASION.

AN ENJOYABLE OCCASION.
The spacious Lodge room OF the Masons ID
this city was well filled with the venerable ana
the middle-a aged and the young of the Masonic
fraternity Friday evening, the 9th instant, 10
participate in an occasion OF the highest inter-
est to the Order. Nearly one hundred were
present. Among them were Mr.. George w.
Fuller. who is IN the S9th year OF his age, ano
was made Mason In the Staunton Lodge %
years ago. There were also Messrs. A. M. Simp
son and g. A. Armentrout,v venerable members
of the lodge.
RECEPTION OF THE GRAND MASTER.
The occasion was the reception OF the Grand
Master OF the Grand Lodge of Virginia-Mr.
Howard Wayt. After the ceremonies prescrib-
ed by the ritual in that particular were ended,
Rev, James Nelson, DID,, on behalf of the
Lodge, delivered the address as follows:
THE ADDRESS.
| MOST WoRsHIPgUL: A most pleasant and
agreeable duty devolves upon me this evening.
am asked to speak in behalf OF our Lodge
some words of welcome to you, as Grand Mas
Ter of Masons in Virginia. We congratulate
you that you have been chosen oy the sunrages
honor not unworthy of a man ofthe h1gnes'
rank and the most distinguished ao1i1tles
Our Order is an ancient 0ne-"m9re ancien;
than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle; more
honorable than the Star and Carter. lts MS
tory is not one OF strife, conflict and blood but
of peace, and charity, and good will among
and suffering. and sorrow Is TO visit the fatner-
less and widows in their aff1ictton. to rescue
the perishing, to bind up the broken-hearted
aud to give, as far as human ministries can.
The oil Of joy for mourning and the garments
of praise Tor the spirit OF heaviness BEFORE a
mission so noble and sublime, all mere earthly
honors grow dim and gloi les fade away. True,
as beautiful, are the words OF Englands poet
laureate:
tHowe'er 1t be- it seems to me
Ills only noble to be good;
Kind hearts are more than coronets.
Aud simple faith, than Norman blood"
In the discharge OF the duties of your high
and example to animate and inspire the Graft
to the performance of all the obligations that
rest upon us as Free and Accepted Masons.
Then, you are called upon to preside over our
Order in Virginia at an suspicious ana mo,
mentous period in the history of our beloved
State-''f1rst in peace. first in war;" and now
fast becoming first in industrial progress ana
material prosperity.
Plato said 81 rejoice that was born man,
Greek. and an Athenian and 1natd I'VE eto, IN
that we are Americans, and V1rg1n1ans, and
Masons, and that we are living IN the Closing
decade Of the nineteenth century, whose rel1g
ious light is filling the earth with its glory and
coloring the sky with Its crimson and gold
"We are living. we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time,
In an age on ages telling,
To be living, is sublime"
Nav YOU be as lone OF the men of Issacher.
who had understanding OF the times 10 Know
what Israel ought to do" and may you De SO
guided by Divine wisdom in the administra-
ton of your Office as to prove that you nave
"come to the Kingdom for such time as th1s
as9 s honor an
age in life than any OF your honored predeces
sors. We felicitate ourselves and greatly re
ioice also that this high office is hlled for
the seventh time by one OF our own number,
who Is yet in the midst of his days and the
vigor of manhood.
And permit u.s. in conclusion, to express
our sincere prayers. that when your day OF
toll ends. and the Great Taskmaster calls the
Craft to rest and refreshment that you may
then become living stone lin that house NOT
made with hands, eternal in the heavens" OF
which King Solomon's temple was beautlful
and eloquent symbol In stone. AND now we,
as a happy, united and rejoicing Lodge, give
you the right hands of Masonic fellowshlp-ln
toll, in hope in love, and as expressive, TOO, OF
our heartiest con CALCULATIONS and our glaooest
welcome.
THE RESPONSE
The Grand Master delivered response in
the finest taste aud highly interesting in the
history of Masonry here and the distinguished
service and positions occupied by citizens OF
this city in the progress of Masonry in Virgin
la and the country,
The Staunton Lodge was Instituted October,
1855, The charter is dated the 9th of that
month, and signed by Edmund Randolph. the
Grand Master, who was an eminent statesman
and a member of General Washingtou's Cabi-
net.
Staunton occupies leading place in Mason>
ic history By virtue of the prominent and
talented citizens whom the fraternity In Its
still existing organization had called to pre-
side over It's interests. To this high position
there was first called David W. Patteson in
1925; Levi L. Stevenson in 1885, ]. Worthington
Smith in 1913; James Points in l84S; ard Col.
VIM, II. Hartman in 1868. whose term of service
had not expired when he was killed on the
fl ED of battle in March. 1865.
The above is a brief reference to the response
of Grand Master Wayt. who is the sixth CT the
members Of the Staunton lodge that lave been
called to the head of the T. aternity.
There were present in addition to Rev. DR..
Nelson, Rev. J. H. Waugh and Rev. W. @.
Huliihen.
The ceremonies over in the lodge room, the
craft were called from labor to refreshment.
where the banqnest was spread and enjoyed in
the style usual with the fraternity. In that
feature of the social hour of the brotherhood.
The occasion was one that will be long re-
membered, cementing the ties and nusturing
the spirit in which ali good masons accept the
mission of usefulness, SO beautifully portrayed
as the characteristics of Masonry in DIR. Nell
sons address.