The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-25
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

\
| stalling officer. assisted by ]. c. Stanley,
acting as grand prelate. aad Thomas j.
| BAKER. as grand master at arms. The fol-
lowing were installed: Chancellor com
mander. George T.. Bissonet: vice chan
cellor. S. W. Blodgett; prela;e. r. r.
| hoh; keeper OF records and seals. T. Had
| ley Franklin; master OF finance. c. II,
Ries; master CT e1chequer. John Kennedy:
| master at arms, j. L. Smith. master OF
work, l.. NJ. wilkins; inner guard Lou
| Key. outer guard. Thomas Owens. At the
conclusion of the ceremonies the retiring
| chancellor commander, George b. Griggs,
addressed the lodge. He spoke az follows:
Friends and Brother Knights: This
! night marks another epoch IN the history
of our lodge, another nile.post has been
! ret,hed in the onward march OF time.
/, While busy with the cares of life or
glad with mingling together around these
sacred affairs doing god. old Father
| Time with his sand glass and sha-pened
| scythe has stolen silently upon us 10 an
nounce the beginning Of another epoch In
our history as a lodge. As we reflect upon
the events Of the past year. and as our
! eyes rest for n moment upon the four
grass covered mounds that mark the eter-
nal resting place OF those who shall meet
| and mingle with US no more the foun-
talns Of our souls Well Up In grateful
memory Of their virtues and we turn
aside 10 wipe away a tear
| And take the last fond look:
Grasping vet the brothers. hand.
As he treads deaths cold brook.
Death and disease hath not passed US
I ny unm0lestci Four OF our beloved
| brothers have succumhtd To the grim
| monster. others have vcntured close upon
/ the cold stream. and san others have
keeuly felt the rangs NJ pain, The widows
and orphans Of those who died and the
wants and needs of those who success
fully battled with disease have had our
earnest attention These As well as other
{ emergencies. have knocked heavily upon
the do1r OF our treasury and have not
Knocked In vain. Our lodge has not been
misery though striving to keen within
the spirit Of the Law
Perhaps NC have been too lax with our
sacred trus, funds but II W. havA brought
sunshine ard Elndness to single neart
In gloom, u We have caused a single
smile NJ 10y % ad1ru Tho troubled brow
o. w.dpwho1i or to play upon the iimpied
check n orphaned youth. We surely have
had oGr reward.
The object q Pythianism IS not 10 horde
It's sacted funds. but rather the reverse,
70 buy sunbeems and toss them gently
upon the runlel pillows Of pain. not to
build monuments Of sorrow and regret
over the graves Of cur sncred dead. but
/ TO s;tew flowers and sunshine In the paths
OF the living.
II We have. pcrchnnce, used any por-
ton Of our sacred trust funds bv invest
. Ing in flowers and sunbeams, and thereby
have disarmrd the fears ana llghtened the
burdens OF WILDWOOD. or have caused
the smile % gladncss n ripple over the
sorrowfm face u orphaned youth. or II
We have eased the burning couch Of
fevered pain. or u we have Inspired "A
noble resolution in the heart OF brother
Knight we hare then hcen most re-
warded for to what nchlor or granGer
Use could hc put the most sacred Of funds.
But, bless you. brother knights, with All
our hardshps, agd wiin all cur trouble.
and wiih al our unlocked for expenses,
ard with all our faults. we are IN better
financial 60 ldifIon than you might have
expected Al she beginning ~ our torn
Of Office We had on hand. cash $50
/ After deauctirg the extraordinary death
and s.ck BENEFITS grard lodge expenses,
/ together with the regular current eX-
/ penses during the torn. We SIN have on
| hand cash $1,000.
| And when We take into consideration
/ that during th.s one term We have had
/ more deaths thAn IN the whole history Of
/ Tho lodge before. that wc have purchased
/ four burial lots that VIC have had an eN-
tra1rdirRry amount Of sickness. that we
| nave doubled the salaries % the keeper
Of records and seals aud the master Of
| finance. that we have had more widows
and orphans 20 look after and care for,
/ and al this taken in connection win the
| eXpcnss Of entertaining the grand lodge,
We may really congratulate ourselves that
we have not become absolutely bank
rupt
We may further congratulate ourselves
upon the fast that we have brought or
dor OUT q chaos during tho term From
! the lax. irreglslsr -,r1e - -1ri ri t.Is tHH
affairs 81 the lodge, We have changed to
machlue-lke regularity. We have con
z,ructea aud adopted the best 50, OF by
laws Of any lodge IN the State, Il not in
the United States. and are now conduct
ting our business In accordance Herewith,
True. all this has taken time. labor and
expense. and in order 10 avoid differences.
strife ard dissatisfaction. It has required
tho guidance Of q discreet and steady
hand, under the circumstances.
And u your chancellor commander has
( seemed at times severe or perhaps In a
degree partial, you may now. Ia look
ing at the results. feel less harRhly to-
ward hin, for whatever he may have said
or done hls sole object was 20 bring nbou,
even better results. n possible. And what
ever Efforts We may have PUT forth. and
whatever success We may have achieved
and whatever good we may have done IN
. the year that has passed, bnt calls tol
renewed energies aud increased efforts
with the hope and prospects Of greater re-
ward.
, aud now IN giving Into the care and
keeping Of my worthy successor, brother
, Bissouei. the lodge and the emblem Of
, authority, DO II with a ssnse Of PythlaI
pride and satisfaction Five long years
, has our brother faithfully served you II
: some official capacity always faithful al
= ways true, and always AZ his post Of duty
= | II possible. Your choice IN him WAS wise
: | for none other so much rnerltcd the hon
! | or. Bnt a good general needs brave, tru,
= soldiers TO win IN battle SO does
chancellor commander need good Knights
brave aud true, TO maintain an,
sustain his lodge. II you have not ALREADY
resolved 70 Try ~ be better Knights, he
me- implOrc you. make that resolve now
Make II IN behalf Of your lodge. your new
:, officers and yourselves.
Does not PYthlantsm teach you 20 be
come better men eyGry day. Can yo-
v possibly come here night after night an,
hear the teachings Of ,his order and con
v tinue 10 grow worse sin? open that 1T
y tie heart OF yours and let the gioriou
h sunshine Of friendship beam IA upon you
= soul that II may ameliorate ANA fcrtiliz
d your nature ana make you productive o
y the rich harYestB Of true Pythianisn
l. From out your heart cast every grudgt
II Danish every unkind thought"