The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-11

De until upon his efforts hangs IN
destiny and welfare of wife and child
nor does he ever till then show fort
the full measure OF his powers. TIL
same principle holds good in the caree
OF institutions and societies. Gran
as is the history of Masonry in our stat
glorious as are its precepts and work
yet without something 10 labor for
some great enterprise 10 try its strength
and strain its powers, il cannot be tn
truest Masonry. For more than thirt
of a century the Grand Lodge of Kan
sas has had being AT its head hay:
stood the best and greatest of our state
Within its ranks have been numbered
hundreds and thousands whom our ma
ton has been proud 10 call citizens. Ye
when until now has the Grand Lodgc
done a work that will stand as a monu.
ment in history? Not one Jot or title
would i detract form the fame OF on:
great names. Not one laurel leaf would
1 pluck from tire brow of our Browns
and our Bassetts. but only reflect how
much greater and grander might have
been the glory and lustre of their admin
istratons and names had this or some
other great enterprise inspired their
mighty powers TO their fullest action.
Therefore 1 say that these walls and
these grounds signify that the Masons
OF Kansas have assigned for themselves
a work 10 do-have set before them a
task that Will tax 10 the utmost their
ability and endurance. Having before
them, and in full view this great object.
seeing it grow into all its name and de-
sign has promised il shall be under the
forming hands Of our builders, we may
v1reH
monwealth viii become more truly Ma
sorry, and our Grand Lodge more per-
fectly her mirror than ever before. Wen
indeed has the work been begun. May
every upward step be as triumphant,
and every result as perfectly attained.
Here in this splendid city of the
plains is now firmly established and
anchored. the great nucleus OF our fu-
ture labors. Around the Masonic home
will cluster our ideas Of Masonry, and
our efforts for its advancement. Cen
tered around this great enterprise, Ma
sonry in Kansas will mean more 10 the
profane than it has ever meant before.
Beholding what is done within the cir
Gle Of the noble craft, many viii desire
to be OF the faithful, who otherwise had
deemed it not worth their while. II
there be any indeed, whom the fear OF
what 1t may cost him individually in
dollars and cents, may have heretofore,
or may hereafter repel, there is wanting
in his composition something that is es-
sential 10 make him a good Mason. This
building is ours. These grounds be-
long 10 US. Every one OF us has direct
and personal interest IN these stones,
these trees, these flowers.
May there not stand before me now
more than one to whom in the decrepi-
-ude OF his age these walls may afford
4 refuge? Who can answer? We stand
now erect in the strength Of manhood
and feel as if we can defy the storms OF
time as theforest oak the winters blast
Yet there comes time when each may
say
Ny days are in the yellow leaf:
rhe flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The worm, the canker and the grief
Are mine alone
Should it be, as we'll Il may, that in
hat time no roof of our own should
,ffer US shelter. have we not here
home? Is not this our house? Who
hall say us nay. Here may come the
widow in her woe. Tender hands viii
eceive her within these walls. Gentle
viii bind up her broken heart,
nd breathe cheer and solace into her
tricl1en life Will IL be she who today
Falks down life's highway with you
nth me? Who can say? Only a few
avs ago a Kansas Mason went at even
1g to his humble home. He carefully |
rev from his pocket his invitation, |
hat day received, TO the dedication of |
he Masonic home, for he was master ]
{ his lodge. Taking the beautiful SOU
enir from its envelope, he exhibited il /
roudly TO his little family. and ex-
lained 10 his wondering child what it /
-as, and showed on it's cover the engrav
lg OF this stately edifice. Papa she
aid, You are a Mason. Can't live in
ne Masonic homer His strong lips
his eyes were dim, his heart
rev full, as he replied, Yes. my child.
hank God, you can II father and
iother should have TO leave you, you
IN live IN the Masonic home
Vest, my brethren, as Gods beauti-
Il sun shall rise on each succeeding
~. and with its warmth kiss the dew
night from grass and flowers, from
Irret and roof: at the hour when the |
Ire air OF morning is filed with the
yous songs OF happy birds: from these
ais shall come forth the happy pratt
? OF little children as they commence
rain the round OF the days duties and
easures They may be mine, they may
yours. Who can tell? But blessed
ough. they VIII be happy---they viii
safe. When the rich princess Of
Ome showed with pride her glsttering
weLs to Cornelia, the mother OF Grac-
I. she had no glitterig gems 10 show n
turn; but drawing 10 her bosom with
wing arms her two noble boys. the
oud Roman mother replied. These are
jewels May this edifice be the cas-
/, Masons Of Kansas. in which shall |
preserved jewels more rare than ever
aced a mor.arch's crown. more pre-
,us than ruoies. sapphires and pearls
III here may they be kept. polished
d formed. and be seTt forth perfect
ms 10 sasdorn MaSonryis CROWN of re-
eng.
When n future years the Grand
-dge OF Kansas shall celebrate In this
y. grown GO 4 metropolis some return
: anniversary OF this Gay. who shall
1bt that the grand master who YIELDS
; gavel then, may be one OF those
lose early youth and budding man
ID were sheltered within these walls.
In the founding and maintenance Of
: Masonic Home, every grade and
lde Of Masonry has joined on 81
al plain Lodges. chapters. councils.
nrla,lder-es have joined sheir efforts.
in one great purpose 10 make me
ne a fact We do not by any means
get Tire powerful aid and influence
the Eastern S1ar and It's chapters.
Ihcsrt their aid and the support - ne
men OF Masonry. We could b1aSr l.
ther o. past success nor OF future
~ Already furnished aEncSr
oug1Os1t by woTnan's hands. our Ma
&C Home leans upon the great heart
Woman for rs chief support. Chesr-
by their smiles. taucAed BY bar tender p
= warmed by her love sustained
her strength. her influence AID pres-