The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-13

Wet on the charge, and suspended the com
panfon for one year. am not prepared 10 say
charge nor the evidence. separate bodies, under
INDEPENDENT systems of laws and varying otli-
cations, though composed OF the same members,
should be the custodians OF their own good
name.
But II one must answer for q single misstep
in each OF the six or more different bodies, IN
order TO maintain his Masonic standing, then
indeed may life be made a burden, impaired
with which captivity were luxury. This com
panion has already stood trial, am informed,
In three separate bodies: and II ne is pursued
still further he WILL learn tnat truiy the way OF
the transgressor is hard.
have approved the bylaws OF Spokane No .,
Port Townsend q. D., Tacoma No. 4, and Sno-
homish L. d., subject 70 your concurrence
From the hurried examination given am
disposed to commend the completeness of the
work in these bylaws. Inc IePcr. OF the com
prepare and submit for your approval a uniform
code OF bylaws which we may recommend for
adoption by the suooroinate chapters, win
greatly simplify the duty and lessen the labor
OF preparing by -laws in the future.
GENERAL GRAND CHATTER.
The twenty-eighth regular triennial convoca-
ton of the General Grand Chapter OF the United
States will be held in the city OF Minneapolis,
Mimi, in July next, and l would earnestly
recommend that our Grand Chapter take steps
at this conyocation TO be represented in this
meeting Oh our august pdItus Douy.
GRAND ORATOR.
took the liberty at the beginning of nv term.
to appoint Companion Porter TO deliver an an
nual address to US on this occasion and for that
purpose named him grand orator: As no such
Office now exists, am in favor of creating it,
under section 4, article OF our court, and COM
mend the subject to your favorable considers
ton. An address each year, carefully prepared
by one specially adapted TO such work, can but
add interest to our annual convocations and
establishment to the literature of the craft /
would ask also, that the address of our grand
orator be published with our proceedings.
am not satisfied with this hasty report II
will be found entirely barren of statistics, by
reason of the failure OF our grand secretary to
supply in advance the necessary data from the
annual returns furnished him by the subordi-
nate chapters. For this information ! must re-
fer you to his annual report, where 1t will doubt
less be found in condensed form and requires no
As may be observed, have explored the
realms OF imagination and elaborated such facts
only as have come under my own observation
CONCLUSION.
/ desire to thank the grand officers associated
with me for the courtesy and kindness with
which they have supported me- To each
member of this grand body I
tender, my heartfelt thanks for the
favor shown in bestowing this high honor upon
me. Fully aware OF the responsibility of the
the position, and mistrusting my own
strength, 1 assumed the duties, relying
upon Divine help and the strength born of your
confidence. Wherever have disappointed your
expectations must trust your Masonic charity
TO cover and conceal the poor human frailty as
an error of the head only.
Since first stood in the northeast corner OF a
lodge as an entered apprentice, l have travelled
for thirty years the high hills of difficulty and
the pleasant valleys OF prosperity until my
highest aspirations have now been crowned by
the sunshine of your favor; and now resign to
you this emblem OF authority, content to as
sumo my duties in the humber ranks of the
craft. The work of the annual convocatiofl is
before you, and await your pleasure.
w. V. RINEHART, Grand High Priest
The address of the grand high priest was re-
ferred to the usual committees, to be segregated
and officially acted upon.
In the afternoon the grand orator, ~ s. Porter,
of Olympia, delivered his annual address, which
was pronounced to be a very eloquent one. 1t
was as follows:
Companions. Were it not for the expressed
wish OF our most excellent grand high priest,
who is DESTROYS of calling into existence the Office
of grand orator OF this grand body, that should
be its first incumbent, had not attempted this
task for which SO many of my companions here
hests of those in whose hands we place the en-
blem of authority is the duty and should be the
pleasure of all Masons.
To learn, to attain knowledge, to be wise, is a
necessity for every truly noble SOUL to teach, to
communicate that knowledge, to share that wis
dom with others and not churlshly TO lock up
his exchequer, and place sentinel at the door
to drive away the needy, is equally an impulse
OF noble nature, the worthiest work OF man;
for all mankind are brethren, linked together
by the indissoluble ties OF the heirship of God.
In the groves, which were Gods first temples,
where he could commune with kindred spirits,
man worshipped. And ere he learned to hew
the shaft or lay the architrave, his pure devo-
lions and kindly deeds assembled, like sweet in
cense, to be blessed and returned again to earth
to gladden. the hearts of the needy, as the
mamma fed the travellers through the wilder
ness. The ground on which they trod was holy
faith beheld the star in the East?
There is an element of good in all mems law
ful pursuits and a divine spirit breathing in all
their lawful affections emanating from the
source of all wisdom, the fountain of all good,
the progenitor of all that is lovely, whose very
name is Love. This it was that inspired our
Grand Masters to build the holy house and gave
them wisdom, wealth and skill to erect q build
ing the equal of which the world has never
seen. 1t was indeed temple built for
might enter into their closets, shut the doors,
and there pour out their souls to their Father,
who seeth in secret. The groves, the hills, the
wales, and all the fiowery spots OF earth were,
by the blessing of Him who doeth all things
well, made inviting to all. And yet, while
..'Tis heaven alone that is given away,
lis only God can be had for the asking"
Aims, to reach the tenderest sympathies of the
recipient, must be given without even the
knowledge OF any save the hand that bestows
them. The wise proclaim not their wisdom
from the house-tops; the good bestow not their
gifts TO be seen OF men; the pure in heart pray
not upon the street corners, to be heard by the
raDole and as zach ounce OF dross has cost its
ounce of gold" so each selfish neighbor paired
off with his virtuous friend.
1t were wise that all men were not created
wise. The most profound analysis of things
mundane, the highest conception of things
ETHEREAL have been reached through the medium
of comparison and contrast. The rarest gems
are buried beneath rubbish. The purest gold is
commingled with dross and the brightest truths
are often hidden by the overshadowing, opaque
and multifarious forms of falsehood and error.
10 seek out and uncover precious stones and
raise them from their lowly beds where for CEN
turies they have lain obscure. has been the pro-
tracted labor of men, 10, these many genera
lions. To tear from truth the surrounding
husks or superstition that its brightness may
shine forth to the disparagement of falsehood
and for the correction of error, has been the
highest aim of the Hottest manhood since
reason first directed his upward course.
The labor of the diamond seekers and
pearldIyers are rewarded by the glitteripg
treasures secured thereby and the wealth
they command in the markets of the world !:
but the seekers after truth have been generous
donors and the world has been the recipient of
their stores of lasting, spiritual wealth without
money and without price; but their reward wa IS
often the prison, the fagot and the cross. The
world had not aroused from her lethargic sleep
ana the people were content with ipdoient ease
ana luxury. But listlessness and renosa vrora