The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-08
SPEECHES At THE BANQUET.
Speeches Made by j. p, Allen, W. :. Corhetl
and H L. Gordon at the b. p.
Banquet.

The following speeches among the many
other goyd ones were delivered at the Red
Cross banquet given Friday evening by
Mt. Olivet Commandry, Knights Templars.
All The speeches delivered on that occasion
were equally good and the following are
printed as representative of all that was
said on the subject Of Masonry and
Knighthood.
Templar Responsibility-W.S s. CoIBETT.
Were it possible for rs to entertain
guest this evening who knew othing of
our order, our Christian civilization, or
the Christian religion; who knew not OF
God and immortality, and he were TO ask
me the object of our order, what il had
done and what it expected 10 do for man
kind, | would point him scene that tran
splred more than eighteen centuries ago
70 Gethsemane, to the Cross Of Calvary, 70
Bethany-which made it necessary and
possible for US TO De what we are today. |
would tell him that we were mortal;
that cur souls had an immortality;
lat when life Is fed md raughs but dust remains
hat when the heart rests more to throb again;
That when the agonies OF death have passed,
Our sou 5 have an eternal rest at last.
That when life done death chiIls the Sun.
And tremOr Ger the conscious being run;
And seeks to find that Ion g-sought Paradise.
Angels viii lead the soaring sous glad sht
hight" 80 WIN
l would point to our banner and tell him
that sacred emblem, the Cross, around
which clusters all the teachings Of knlg gifts
Templar, was the banner that led US to
victory ! would tell him that all men
were our brethren; that our swords, as
were those OF the defenders of the Holy
Sepulchre, vowed 70 defend the
Christian religion; explaining that while
our swords were not intended as imple-
ments Of warfare, yet they mad an emblem-
atical significance, and that, having con-
quered our enemies, we shodld extend
them mercy, that mercy which like the
gentle dew comes from heaven.
All things earthly decay. We build
massive structures and erect monuments
of marble, brass, and iron, upon what we
deem eternal rock; the next century asks
where the fabric stood. But our order has
stood the test of centuries, for we are
founded upon eternal truth.
As long as mans inhumanity to man
exists we will have an opportunity to
succor the needy, help the destitute, and
pour the oil Of peace upon the restless
waters of life He alone can have true
life that liveth for his fellow men, Within
ourselves we hold the power TO dry the
orphans tears, to cheer the lonely and
help the sinful to a purer life.
We often hear IL said that the age OF
chivalry is past, but the chlvalry OF one
age is different from that of another. The
field for kuightly feats was never broader
than today. Thousands are struggling IL
the stream Of life: the perishing were
never more numerous than now, and the
true knight has ample opportunity to win
undying luster day by day.
When the steamer Atlantic went against
the rocks, there was numerous throng
upon the shore. among them true
Knight Old seamen were daunted by th5
fury OF the sea; there seemed no prospect
of life to him whoywould dare to brave the
surges, but this gallant knight pushed
into the angry waves, reached the wrrcs
unclasped a man that was bound to the
rigging and brought him TO shore. ST
Knights, YOU hearts beat faster as yoI
witness that scene, but l tell you, men arr
/ being wrecked all about Us. What ar
| you doing for their rescue' If YOU
/ thoughts never 90 out to your fellow meI
and you are doug nothing to uplift falleE
man, you are not true to your solemn vows
We are hospitable order; l1berty-lov
! ing order We love our country. | lool
/ into the faces Of many here this evening
/ who in DAYS past, felt the hot breadth o
/ the cannon: men who amid the comforts
} OF home and peace have not forgotten tn
/ sacrifices and sutferings OF war and who's
memories are busy now with the scene
/ Of GETTYSBURG the Wilderness, and scores
! of other places made historical through
| carnage md hloodshed. How often yol
| talk over again those dreary days o
danger and many weary nights or watch
/ inCI While we honor the great leaders o
/ that cause and revere their memorie
which shine with brighter luster IS tim
passes. vet after all 1t was the indiyidus
soldier that filed up the gaps made b,
| shot and she'll
The rank and file know that II they Go not prevail
| The bravest general must fail
| Each man IS a he o that the battle wins,
| Zach n 4 Is hero tho the battles lost.
II battling for the right
| It's thus Ia human living day BY day.
! The common sold er is the I.a3 at bay.
de stands in the trenches faces desdliest gEns
I'D spo~s ne temper 81 me a o e.
| The heayies' burdens since the world began
! Of each the g0rld has everlasting heed
Ours is a charitable order; not what IN
| world calls charity, but in the sense tina
/ the Holy Scriptures use the word-love
| That love which extends beyond the grave
| Charity is as old as the first day c
eternity and as new as the last moment c
| time No fairer blossom ever bloomed
| The onportunity for doing kind deeds
always offered. 4 little child, ragged an
becriued, was passing along the street an
sat down on sn iron plate made war;
by the heat that escaped from IN
| building. 4 hungry cur came alon
| ard shifting the heated air. stopped Tn
little girl made place for him, and ther'
! side bv side in their misery, they en!oye
an unexpected comfort There Is no on
! so wretcned that cannot ind an opportuT
ity TO dc q kind deed.
! The world may sheer az our banners an
plumes and tinsel, our gorgeous pageant
/ and ceremonies; yes, we are often misuI
J i. - ls1e - al q
. Just one.
Two pilgrims who together sought th
holy shrine, as they passed over the desel
1 discovered that the water sluug across II
eamel's back had leaked ont drop by droI
till at last the skins were well-nig
drained. and what drops still Iemslne
were gathered q golden cup. When tie
saw what ruin the day had brough
thew looked eSch other IN the eye
sui saw the shadow OF the wings {
death The older whispered 20 his brothel
/ Drink. and may peace aud life De thine,
The other answered. Drink thou.h an
thus they argued till they lsId them dow
10 rest. the cup between Them anu csc
held out his hand TO push the goblet wit
its precious drops OF life away II ws
late morn when they awoSe ana the PUFF
ing sun had dried the water up. WE
this thew saw, they bowed IN prayer the
loosei their beasts 10 wander where the
would: then sick and faint, they lsl
down again and in their dreams Of thir:
the cup o'erfiowed with crystal wst'
which each gave unto his brother bstoi
the sun had set, they passed away Ne'
day a Caravan passed thst way al
saw the brothers with their hsnc
stretched ont as though 20 Sras
the golds1 cup, each stlI
deaths embraces. aud one old man who's
hair was white with sge picked up the ca
and sighed. questioning tee greed :
which man was made 70 give up al ~
and ali lie held for one small cir OF goi'
/ Sir knights. 4 our aims are noble an
our hearts pure. We need not fear the re