The herald., 1896-02-23


feel it due to myself to emphasize some-
what what our grand master has stated in
introducing me upon this occasion. In the
few hours that have been able to snatch
from pressing duties L do not come here
today prepared to deliver an Grafton of the
character required upon occasions like this
or that you have right to expect; but I'M
der the circumstances | find myself here
today wearing the jewel of the orator, an
nounced as an orator, and feel embar-
rassed from the fact with this magnificent
audience. wish might feel prepared to
deliver an Grafton that think l could de-
liver if had time enough and an opportu-
nifty to prepare for the occasion.
why is it we are here? Why is it that
Master Masons all over Southern Califor-
MIA have come together today, clothed as
Masons and bearing the implements OF
Why is it that the Sir Knights have gath
cred at their asylum, clothed themselves
in their uniforms, formed in line, and with
their plumes waving, with their jewels
glistening in the sunlight, with their flags
floating to the breeze, they marched here
with measured steps to stand guard over
these ceremonies? Why is it that the
members Of the Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of the state of California
have come from hundreds of miles to be
present at and perform this ceremony?
There is something back of all this; there
man heart of the multitude. Or why is it,
again, that this large audience of people,
coming from every part of this section of
the country, laying aside their business,
representing no sect or creed or belief,
speaking all the languages that are written
every nationality, are here? | say again
that there is something back that lies in
the life and necessities of all ma
tionalities. This event is important. 1t
does mean something. This particular spot
is not especially historical. This is not holy
ground upon which we stand; and the
ceremonies that we are to perform here
today are simple within themselves. The
simple fact that we take a rough hewn
stone from the quarries of the mountains
and place it as the foundation of new
building, is not very important. The cere-
monies that we are going to witness here
are not very imposing; but the Importance
OF this occasion comes to all of us. As
Master Masons the mere fact that you are
here speaks your interest; and while the
grand master, in introducing me, has
spoken of me as an old Mason-It is true,
l am an old Mason, but am not as old as
many others before me-and ! remember
we'll, more than twenty years ago, when a
few of us gathered up here in the old Los
Aegeles lodge No. AZ, weak in numbers.
The only strength that we had was the
strength of our faith. 1t was difficult at
times to get a quorum; and | remember
we'll while l was the commander of Occur
de Lion commandery that [ labored many
times with much difficulty to get suf-
ficient number to do the work of my COM
mandery. We then as few stood up and
worked out the Masonic destiny of this
city. Those lodges have multiplied. The
commandery has grown, and today you
witnessed on the street something of the
results of the work that we did, or tried to
do the best we could. about quarter of
century ago. The sadness comes to me
that most of those who were with me then
are not here today.
"As look over this audience, and as
watched the procession as it passed, I
wondered how few | know of the Masons
of this community. Those old Masons |
will not stop to name, because might not
name some that have passed before to
their long rest, and yet feel today that
the work we did then follows them.
"This ceremony is of great import
ance also to the Masonic fraternity. Let
me say, by the way. that the work we are
doing is our own work. We are not deal
ing with a fancy; we are not organized
here as Masons to keep a secret; and let
me say, once for all to this audience, that
there is no institution on the face of the
earth that is worth preserving to keep any
secret You cannot hold a large body of
men together in an effort to do anything
on earth that have no higher duty to per-
form than to preserve traditions or secrets
that belong to them. The secrecy of
Masonry is simply valuable to us for the
purpose of Identification.
1.-The building of Masonic temple of the
character that we expect to erect upon this
lot is a matter of public interest
sit is to the best interests of a COM
munity to have located in it's midst any Or
ganization that serves to educate our citi-
zens to higher and better morals; that
serves to strengthen the bonds of fellow
ship; that teaches lessons of truth and
Godliness.
IL do not propose to stop here to discuss
the history of Masonry or to enter into any
inquiry as to its age or the part it is play
ing in the affairs of this world. This much,
however, I can safely assert: That Ma
sonry, as an order, is more widely diffused