The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1891-07-02

she disposal o. bis bfeshern on suc|
occasions.
There Was confusion il The temple
when II became knowE that Brotffe
Meade was no longer at his aceustume'
station, as d trustee and member OF III
building COMMITTEES Of the beautifn
structure which Is now assuming sncl
| splendid shape and proportions 1T TIL
corner Of Fifth and Main.
The first practical steps towards be.
ginning the work OF construction Wers
taken By Brother Meade, and, by com,
mon consent In almost every instance
his views and ideas were concurred Ii
without question. A few short months
before his deccase, no one would have
been ra, b enough to predict that he
| would be the Erst OF that devoted body
OF craftmen, engaged III this greal
work. to lay aside his working tools
and pass from labor to refreshment. =
On Friday, October Ia, 1890, he sat In
the councils of the board and of the
building committee. The rayages OF
disease, while sufficiently apparent to
cause apprehension among his breth-
rem, did not prepare them for the disso-
luton that occurred within twenty four
hours thereafter.
While compelled by falling strength,
which was thought to be only temporary,
to lay aside bis own profitable business,
this jealous Mason was active to the
last in attending 10 the business of the
temple.
The designs apon his trestle board
had lost none of their accuracy. The
mind was lear, the judgment sound,
a., ufu lry l.af ntrrr .sr.<<
physical strength would ere long re-
store to full usefulness so important a
factor in great undertaking.
But the Supreme Grand Master, had,
in His infinite wisdom, ordered other
wise, and at the next meeting there was
vacant chair s'The will of the Lordr
having been accomplished, we could
only make the reverent Masonic re-
Spouse, $50 mote 1t be-
The sad event was informally and
fraternally discussed. and unanimous
sorrow expressed. Upon a mourn
record book containing the proceedings
College, appe ars the following inscrip-
ton:
''This page is set apart by order OF
the board, as a memorial page, upon
which the secretary, by unanimous vote.
was directed to record an expression OF
the true and sincere sorrow felt by every
member Of the board at the death Of
our late brother and associate,
GEO. II. MEADE,
who departed this life on SATURDAY.. Oc-
tober Is, 1890, and who for many years
had served with perfect fidelity as one
OF the Trustees OF st. Johns College,
and as faithful and trusted treasurer
OF the board. More recently he was APP
pointed as member Of the building
committee for the Masonic Temple, and
his wisdom, skill, and experience was
placed freely at the disposal OF the
board and committee In the important
preliminaries connected with the adop-
ton OF plans OF the proposed temple.
To such an extent was this SO that it
Is the unanimous sentiment his sur
vivors that no other connected with
this important work will be able to ade-
qlately fill his place; and while recog-
nizing the wisdom of the Great Archi-
tect OF the Universe In this mournful
dispensation, we cannot but cot tenn
plate with deep sorrow the abrupt end
ing Of such useful life.''
Only few weeks later the annual
communication of The Grand Lodge OF
Arkansas was held, and the committee
on memorials of the dead presented the
following report and resolutions. which
became the action of the Grand Lodge
by unanimous vote:
'.Your special committee, to which
was referred that portion Of the M. w.
Grand Masters address relating to the
decease of our late X w. Grand Treas
urer, fraternally report:
whereas, 1t has pleased the Grand
Architect OF the Universe to remove by
hand of death our late worthy and es-
teemed grand treasurer, Brother George
H. Meade, who died in the city OF Lit
tie Rock on October Is, 1890, and who
had for many years faithfully performed
the duties of his important office, and
In whose honesty and fidelity our an
Gent and honorable fraternity reposed
the most implicit confidence; and,
whereas, Our late Brother Meade
was, at all times, diligent and faithful in
the discharge Of his duties as Mason,
as well as citizen, and an active mem
Der Of our business community, and one
whose loss is deeply deplored in all the
avenues of life In which he was known;
therefore,
Resolved, That In the unexpected
dispensation Of Divine Providence which
has called our late esteemed brother
from labor to refreshment, this Grand
Lodge, as well as the friends and asso-
ciates Of Brother Meade, have suffered q
sad bereavement;
Resolved, That as tribute to the
memory Of our deceased brother, q me-
mortal page in the printed proceedings
Ct the present communicable OF this
Grand Lodge be set apart and suitably
inscribed by the grand secretary"
One who judges Free Masonry
merely from an observation OF the
pomp and circumstances which are but
the adjuncts to its ceremonials, forms
but crude conception indeed of the
true purpose of public honors accorded
to the memory of deceased worthy
brother.
We owe 1t to ourselves, as opponents
of the sublime principles OF an ancient
and honorable fraternity, no less than
as protest against the cold, unfeeling,
forgetfulness which too often charac-
terizes the outside world in permitting
the memory Of good men to pass away
like the mist of summer morning,
v hich ere the noon-tide is remembered
no more.
We do not hope to immortAlize the
meliory Of our dead by any Impression
made upon the minds and the hearts OF
the living.
AS Masons, we are early taught to
contemplate the brevity Of human life,
and the fleeting nature of the greatest
achievements of mere human prowess.
At best, few short years will suf-
flee TO obliterate all traces by which
the world at large might be reminded
that those OF us who mingle to-day 10