The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-07-29
1T IS A BIG THING
Col. Loomis Enthusiastic Over Masonic
Home Prospects,.


Colonel H. c. Loomis Of iWnfield,
Colonel Perry Hoisington OF Newton
and II. II. Wodsey of Kingman, the
home committee Of the Masonic Grand
Lodge, Were in the city yesterday pre-
pairing for the dedication of the Ma
sonic Home which event will take place
on September 10.
The first thing TO be done Will be the
making of important Improvements. A
sewer will be built down to the river
and other improvements will be made
IN the line of sanitation. The lawn and
grove. covering fifteen acres, will be i'm
proved and highly beautifed and the
house win be repainted and the floor
polished and oiled. The most import
ant improvement that will be made Is
the conversion of the barn into a dor
mdtory consisting of twenty-four rooms.
This will be used principally for apart
ments for old people. This is a fine stone
building and will make a splendid apart
ment house. There is about $4,000 in
the Masonic Home fund. and while the
committee are not going to indulge IN
extravaganza or any unnecessary i'm
provements they Will do things up
brown SO that the home will be one of
the finest in America and representa-
tive of the progressive Masonic spirit of
Kansas.
Colonel Loomis, mayor Of Winfield,
who is one OF the members Of the COM
mtttee, is enthusiastic about the home
He is more so than nine-tenths of the
Wichita people. He says that Wichita
has no idea of what big thing the ded-
icaton of the home will be. 'Ill tell
you," he said to a reported for the Ea-
gle there wifi be $4,000 people hero that
day They viii be here from every part
Of the state. The suposition is that none
will participate in the demonstration
but Masons. That is a great mistake.
You will see bands, school children and
civic societies taking part in 1t. We Will
have band here from Winfield and the
whole town besides. Nearly all OF Cow
ley county will be here that day. We
propose to show the people of Wichita
how generously Winfield can honor the
event. We will bring all our Masons
and their wives and pretty daughters up
and / want to tell you right here that
Winfield has prettier girls than any
city OF equal size in the world. The
mark of culture IS on their brow and
the bloom of health is on their cheeks.
You ought 10 come down TO see our city,
the Athens of Kansas. some time"
'FWill there be excursion rates that
day?"
'Yes.sir. We will meet at Topeka IN
a few days and we will then ask the
railroads for a special rate. We expect
to get a good rate. too, for the event |
will be an important one and thousands |
Will participate in it We win also ar
range the program at that time We |
want everybody to see our new home for |
II Is one that every Mason can take par
III H. ,,,~ ,r,sI.r
the finest Masonic home in America 1 |
look for its fame for beauty and adapt |
ability to circulate among Masons |
the length and breadth OF |
the United States. 1t will be a great /
thing for Wichita and through its IN |
fuence 1 predict right now that II Will /
bring a state institution OF some kind |
10 Garfield university. l am sure that |
II VIII make Wichita a central point /
Tor the affections OF Masons 10 dwell in. |
Tor all MaSons like 10 be friendly 10 |
their charitable institutions. 1 look for
ward TO see Wichita the permanent
place OF the Grand Masonic |
bodies OF Kansas on account of this
home 1 would call you attention 10 the
fact that Mr.. Mccall OF your city did
more toward getting the home than
any other man ard 1 hope Wichita ap-
lis NOfh n
Il want to say also that Winfield VIII !
furnish the parlOr OF the home as a
room. and ii viii be the finest
room in the building. We expect 10 put
$1,000 worth Of furniture into IL. all at
the Expense of the chapter OF our Eastern
Star which. l VIII say. number among
Is members our finest ladies. The home
VIII be opened about August *"
Colonel LooTnis in speaking about mn
licipal affairs at Winfield said thar the
,iiy was IN splendid condition. He uses
he best business methods as rnayor and
is satisfied. When asked
ibou; politics down there he declined 10
liscuss them. saying that be hardly ever
axes part in politics.
The many friends OF Mrs. Re- ]. q
POST VIII be delighted 20 learn she
las 50 far recovered from her stroke OF
.araiysis that her children. Milton and
sidney l.. were enabled yesterday 20 |
eturn 10 their homes Her recovery
ras a remarkable one.and all have -ea-
on for thsnkfulness. Rev. Mr.. Post
avs that he hopes his friends viii now
all TO see them as they are alone and {
III be glad 70 meet their old friends. |
nd rejoice with them over the recovery
Z his companion for over fifty yars.