Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-05-22
HOT SPRINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA, FRIDAY. MAY r. 1885,

OIA, FRlDAY. MAY Z
to do my best to respond, on behalf OF
the Rebekah assembly of South Da
kota, to those eloquent and earnest
words of welcome.
l realize, most forcibly, the poverty
of language at my command, to convey
to you the appreciation of your hospi-
tality of those whose sentiments l so
feebly echo.
Yet let me say that I esteem it not
only privilege but high honor, to
stand here tonight and, on behalf of
the Rebekahs, to express their appre-
citation of this formal welcome, and of
the multiplied informal evidence we
have all received since our arrival, that
this public welcome is not an unmean-
ing pageant, but a hearty expression of
your we'll known hospitality.
We ARE here on a mission of human
ity, not out of mere idle curiosity, but
in order that we may each assist in de-
vising the best means of alleviating
human distress.
i We are Rebellahs. The noble order
of which we are branch, is one whose
deeds of benevoleuce and charity,
though not blazoned upon the showy
monuments of the world, nor sounded
upon the streets by the clangor of
trumpets, are yet known and read by
all men. They are known by the fruits
they have borne in the great human
garden, whereverth sunbeams of Odd
fellowship have fallen; they are read
in the smile of chastened hope stealing
through the sadness of the widows
lonely lot, and the light beaming from
the tear filled eyes of the orphan.
While the outside world is surging
with earthquake shocks of political ex-
citement and teeming with passion.
within the charmed circle embraced
by the triple links all is peaceful, calm
and serene. Friendship stills the
throes of excitement, Love smoothes
the torrent of passion, and Truth calms
the pillows of tumult.
Human sympathy is the only thing
that makes life endurable; Danish love
and it becomes wilderness fit only
for heather.
| Our order is not alone an organiza-
tion to relieve necessities and alleviate
suffering, but to cement humanity to-
gether in the bonds of Friendship, Love
and Truth.
1t is Unnecessary for me at this time
to enter into an explanation of the
aims, objects and character of Odd
fellowship, for understand, from the
eloquent remarks of your mayor that
you fully comprehend that the mis-
sion of our order is to ameliorate the
condition and promote the welfare of
mankind.
When we shall have finished our al
lotted work and taken our departure
/ fr0N, Hoop,fSf,11 nil kx,,
you may have no lingering shadow of
regret because of our sojourn among
you. The "freedom of the city," SO
generously rendered, rest assured, will
not be abused.
Words being inadequate to express
the delight and gratitude we all feel
for this manifestation of your friend
ship and good opinion, will stop by
once more tending YOU, on behalf of
the officers and members of the Re-
bekah assembly OF South Dakota, our
sincere thanks for this and all other
| indications of welcome we have re-
ceived at your hands.
Hon. M. A. Heath, of Groton. Grand
Chief Patriarch of the Grand Encamp-
ment, delivered All interesting address.
in behalf of the order of which he is the
head. His manner is hearty and ,jovial
and his remarks were pointed and
interesting. He said:
There seems to be alittle irregularity
in the proceedings here. For twenty
seven years have attended the meet
ings of tho Grand Encampment but
this is the first time 1 ever made a
| speech and 1 SO informed the committee
but they said 1--WE can't help it; we have
time to KILL" and so they pressed me
! into service. will promise, however,
/ that will not talk long enough to kill
you.
/ Sweet indeed are your generous
words of welcome to the weary travel
ers who may sojourn in your midst,
and it gives me satisfaction and appre
citation that we listened to them. For
we believe that they emanate from
heart and soul SO fully in accord with
the interest and happiness of the peo-
pie that you but voice the sentiment
of the citizens of your beautiful city,
which has been SO unmistakably dem
onstrated upon every side in tones Of
no uncertain sounds. We trust that
in profit to us and no dishonor to YOU,
Permit me on behalf of the Grand En-
campment to extend to youan through
you to the citizens of this city, my sim
cere thanks for these expressions of
your consideration and regard; and
and when we have finished the work
committed to our hands, we shall leave
the city with regret and with the feel
ing that this occasion will be remem-
bered with pleasure the remainder of
our lives. 1 am sure can not be mis-
taken in the belief have that every
member of this grand body knows we
are welcome. We read it in the coun-
tenances of the people we have met.
for in every hand we have grasped and
I;s} Mn 81 g|.l| sl !!