The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-17

your hospitality Ia a household word in the
\ nation; IL IL as broad ~ your state, an lofty
as your mountains. and as rich and fertile
~ your productive valleys.
welcome from the state Of Montana
may we'll make tho hearts Of Its recipients
o'eraow with anticipations Of pleasure and
delight. Your state is an empire in itself
with almost iuexh0ustiblo resources in all
the useful and precious metals. II 10 the
very heart Of the hill country and sits al a
| crown OF glory on the surrounding noun
tain regions. Through your valleys and
agencies of this great land, carrying to and
fro the commodities Of the nation; beneath
these lofty mountain peaks are the precious
mineral deposits which have been aooumu-
latlnQ through the countless ages of the
past, while at the foot of those lofty hills
are valleys of we'll nigh inexhaustible fer
ullty; eternal snow Rehms on the noun
tain tops. while sweet scented flowers and
waving fields of green smile in the valleys
below. Nature has been profuss in her
gifts 10 this vast empire.
We gather to-day to hold session of this
supreme lodge in the capital OF Montana,
the richest city OF its size in the world; a
fsw miles away, at the summit Of Granite
mountain, IL the greatest silver mine in
me world; few miles in another direct ion
there smokes, and puffs. and thnnders, the
greatest smelling plant in the world; few
miles IN another direction and We find the
greatest mining camp in the world and tho
greatest copper mine in the world.
Over your mountain tops and through
your valleys blow the breezes that minister
to perfect health; here it il said, is the best
climate In the world; but this supfe eme
!odRe comes to your state not especially to
look into your mining resources, nor to in
vest III your real estate, nor seeking the re-
cuperation of health. We come as the rep
a nf 1nfk nk,n
organized form, the world has ever known ;
We come to you the representative OF 29O, 600
members in good standing; we come to 70 n
the representatives of an order that ha
dispersed to the families OF its deceased
members almost 500 O00, 900; we come to
You the representatives of an army of men,
whose chief object is to make provision for
the homes of its members. against tho day
when the husband and father shall be found
no more in his accuston ed place.
We gather here to consider and plan and
legislats for the better equipment of this
mighty armv. for the work IN which ws are
engaged. We represent a principle, or
legitimate conclusions are better defense
20 the flag and the nation, than our stand
no armies or floating navies.
We come to you the Representatives of an
'rmy whose purpose is the conquest of the
world. In this warfare our weapons are
'ie AoI tue Keen eQReu SWORD, the 060truC-
i've rifle, or the murderous cannon; our
Weapons are not cold-blooded reason, nor
re they merely the faculties of the mind;
he weapons of our warfare are heart weap-
ms; We seek to win the world by the con-
Luering rower of human affections.
we trust that our stay in your midst ma '
ondnce to a strengthening of these princi-
les, in the hearts of our brethren in this
tate. and that when We leave We shall leave
'ehind us an inspii alton for nohler service
nd grander work.
1t is our sincere hope that the words of
Welcome SO kindly spoken, and the hospi- |
alltv SO lavishly bestowed may be like |
read cast upon the waters, or seed sown in |
ood ground. bringing back to You and |
ours hundred fold. As the years Of life |
oil by, may the memory of this session be |
IS the memory of the OASIS in the desert, or
IS words kindly spoken in sorrows darkest
lour, and when the shadows of life's even
ng begin to gather, and the light of day,
or Us, shall 90 out may the scenes of these
coming days, and the memory of these
lou's spent together, shine upon our even
ng tide like the soft and mellow light
which illumines your valleys and gilds your
mountain tops with glory.