Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-05-21

| VI 0uO AOuS@ dnU ucEOSitSu III
the corner stono, which was
sealed up with impressive cere
monial and the reading from the
ritual of beautiful words appro-
lpriate to the occasion.
| Our esteemed townsman Mr..
W. T. Dortcb. who will don the
parapherna;ia of Grand Master
of the State Grand Lodge at the
close of this, the fifty>third an-
nual session. declared the corner
stone laid according to the rules
and rites of Odd Fellowship.
Grand Master G. F. Lrmsden
said the duty assigned the Grand
Lodge had been performed. He
said it gave him much pleasure
to introduce the speaker of the
occasion-a man known well in
North Carolina as a gentleman
and scholar and, the world over
as an Odd Fellow the Past
Grand Sire of the Supreme
GrapdLodge of the world, Charles
Manly Busbee.
Mr.. Busbee arose and said:
L
Worthy Grand Muster, Officers and Mena-
bers of the State Grand LoClge Ladies
aud Gentlemen:
1t is to me source of sincere gratifi.
cation TO unite with you in the CRATE
ful ceremonies of this auspicious day.
| In these days of political excitement
and partisan strife, it is pleasant to
turn away for few hours from matters
that distract and divide; and to direct
our thoughts to the consideration of a
benevolent Order, upon whose broad
basis of practical humanity all OF US.
of whatsoever faith, or creed, or
opinion, can stand and labor for the
betterment of the human race In this
presence we know no political diffe...
enceS; no diversities of religious faith:
NO rivalries of business: no conflicts
from personal disagreements: but we
stand the faithful subjects of a great
Fraternity, within whose gates the
things that, amid the turmoil of life,
breed controversies and strife, are
buried and forgotten.
| l congratulate you, my brethren,
upon the condition of the Order in this
State, which is alive with vigorous
zeal and with that blessed spirit of
pr acticai philanthrophy which is the
| very foundation and essence of Odd
Fellowship. For our present strength
| and prosperity, we are largely indebted
to the wise guidance aud unselfish ef-
forts of that devoted brother who will
soon surrender the chair of Grand
| Master, which he has filed with honor
to himself and with universal accepta
bility to his brethren.
NY brethren, we have assembled to-
day, in recognition of our duty to our
dead brethren, to lay, with appropri-
ate ceremonies, the cornerstone of the
main building of our Orphan Home.
felicitate you upon this work, that
exemplifies and illustrates the p"in-
ciples and the mission of Odd Fellow
ship: work done only by those who
are animated by that divine spirit OF
fraternity which is the strength and
glory of our Institution. May it stand
for all time, sheltering within its hos
pitable walls eu1 orphan chill 1ren-for
they are ours, in deed and in truth-a
worthy memoirs al to the genius of our
Order and 20 the devotion of the Odd
Fellows of North Carolina: fitting
exposition of those sublime virtues that
underiie it's being and constitute the
germ and essence of its development.
] count myself fortunate that am
able to be with you this day. 1t marks
an epoch in the history of North Caro-
lima Odd Fellowship. We are to typify
aud illustrate, in material form, one OF
the fundamentals of our Order-the
care and education of the orphan. Ami
mated by a common impulse, with one
heart and one mind, we are gathered
here to do honor to this day and to this
occasion. l bid you we'come, my
brothers-God-speed and hearty vel
come.
This cornerstone has been laid with
certain rites and ceremonies that are
not meaningless or empty of signli-
Icance. It has not been mere idle
| form. You have witnessed the exer-
cises of the day; the ceremonies per-
formed by the Grand Master of the
| jurisdiction, whose heart has always
gone out lovingly towards this work.
You have seen the ritualistic applica-
tion of water, flowers and wheat.
Water-one of the primitive ele-
ments-is employed as the symbol OF
Friendship. From time immemorial it
has been used in sacred ceremonies as a
token of cleansing and Of purity. In
pensation, closely allied with hygiere,
the fres use of water was taught as a
religious duty. From the placid cur
rent of the Jordan, the leprous Syrian
general rose with the tinted, healthy
flesh Of child, and in the same his
toric stream, John, the great prophet,
Of the desert. baptized the per-
feet Christ. Distilled from the bound
less expanse of ocean, condensed in
Ifleecy clouds, falling as refreshing
rain and seeking its way again to the
Ipulsing sea, carrying in its train bless
NOS innumerabie, no human power IS
able to destroy one shining drop i'm
mortal. universal, the basis of life: it is
a worthy type of that cardinal virtue
THAT binds the human race together in
bonds indissoluble.
Flowers are tho sweet emblems of
Hove Born of the sunlight and the
ldew, drawing beauty from the soil and
fragrance from the viewless air; ever
renewing themselves, they illustrate
the perennial birth and growth OF the
isaving passion OF the race, the under
Lying impulse of religion, the enthusi
life worth living: Love of one another
love of wife and child and friend; love
of humanity, love of country and home
love of virtue and peace and truth; love
tof God; religion in practice, charity
lincarnate.
'sIn the sweet scented pictures, Heav-
emily artist,
With which thou paintest Nature''
widespread hall,
What a delightful lesson thou impart
est,
OF Love to all"
Wheat is used to symbolize Truth
Without truth, fl iendship would be al
unmeaning term, and love a delusiv,
word Wheat also typifies truth: Sow
and plenty it brings forth a hundret
If0ld that which Waa SOWu-SO truth