The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-23

delightful singer; Mr. B. B. Cushman
second tenor; Mr.. r. B. Hull, first bass
Rev. Eugene Shippen, second bass.
The next toast announced was the
'tNovetiates" or class of '9l. which was
responded to by Mr.. Harry l. Gordon
The talented and eloquent young gentle
man had not uttered three words wher
the stiffness became so great that the
efervescent champagne could be heard
sizzle in the glasses that contained it. Mr.
Gordon's speech was entirely impromptuer
| but it would have been considered an elo-
quent out2ouring of the feeling that was
within him even if the au'
dience knew that he spent a month
| preparing it instead of a min
Ute or two. His language was
absolutely poetic, and every word be
uttered was as pure English as was ever
uttered by Milton, Shakespeare or Byron.
| 1t would be impossible to gauge on paper
the depth of the feeling which his words
measured and such beautiful sentiments
as he expressed concerning Masonry could
only be uttered by one who stepped from
| the lodge working room into the banquet
| hall bearing with him. unaccompanied by
in Scottish Rite work Old Masous who
were present saidit was the most beautiful
| address on the subject Of Masonry they
ever heard, while all declared that he was
one of the coming orators of the west, where
such great intelligent minds are daily de-
veloping Every Wichita man present
were proud of their young friend and
brother and all of them were surprised at
his remarkable talent as speaker.
The next speaker was Hon. George d.
Adams of Canada. His subject was Scot
tish Rite Masonry" and certainly no one
could handle it better han he did. He is
one of the best posted and most jealous
Masons in North America probably. He
first commenced by paying high tribute
TO the address of Mr.. Gordon, and stated
that ia all his travels among the
fraternity he never heard more
earnest or more eloquent address. He
then proceeded to show the beauties Of
Scottish Rite Masonry, and made an i'm
preston on the hearts of his hearers that
viii never be forgotten By those who list
ened to it. The Christian religion is fine.
said he. and its teachings are grand and
sublime, but it exceeded not Scottish Rite
Masonry in these attributes. He painted
its beauties in the choicest language, and
showed to what extent its influence has
been exerted in the progress of civiliza-
tion
Judge Henry c. Sluss. of the
United States court of private
land claims was the next speaker,
and he richly deserved the title the boys
gave him, which was The Chauncey
Depew of Kansas" His theme was Fra
ternity," and the central idea of his re-
marks was that pure and genuine liberty
which knowledge of the beautiful teach
ings of Scottish Rite Masonry gave the
mind and conscience. Vanity would in
deed be the characteristic of the reporter
who would attempt to describe the i'm
preston created by the honorable gentle
mans remarks. They were so ele-
waited that the average mind could
not possibly comprehend their altitude
They could not have emanate1 from any
but pure. exalted, generous and COM
prehensive mind, and even those present
who had studied the fraternal teachings
embodied in the Scottish Rites rituals |
confessed that the judges remarks opened
up new fields of thought to them which
made the principle of Masonic fraternity
more beautiful to them than it ever ap-
peared before. 1t was an elegant speech |
and one that will long be remembered by |
the brethren present.
Mr.. c. NJ Jones followed Judge Sluss |
and made a few brief but very interesting |
and decidedly appropriate remarks.
Messrs George Dold, of this city, and |
Lang, of Coffeyville, were also called upon |
and responded with a few brief marks. |
Taking the banquet as whole it was a |
delightful affair. while the speeeh-makinG |
that accompanied it WAS both interesting !
and instructing and at the same time ele- /
waiting. The chief ideas illustrated acted |
as spurs to nobler aspirations.