New-York tribune., 1897-01-31
THE VETERANS DINNER.

,-,,.- r,,r some wears past l have not
"slung" the Masonic quill TO any extent anu
that reason have lost much OF the ou'i'''"" 80
- 80 he.n credited 10 me; nevertheless. there
~A' ~ ,r,nen,ne forces that lead me 10 dis
,uss mentally. the anniversary dh'ne' Vi ~
r,.r.,s given at the rooms OF the Crai'sfhe"
c,rh on the evening Of the 18th inst
before considering the event itseii let III. 'S
the very human inclination to SPEAK ol my 49,,
rjke .he vast majority OF men VINO are "O"s
engaged in the daily task OF earning "' ms, ' .,'
rho have arrived at an age so much pe!o" '"o
,.v ,.,,rrv that the past has become n shaoo"S
dr..n tho nresent only dull. uninterestihg rou-
TIN, and the future sort of quiescent coh'e"'p'" 10
toa the aches, pains. sorrows anu am, - 80
eyitahlv accompanying advancing years '"'' 60
sxn.r,ences that have affected me oeePN' 80:
Nsson,c duties which in younger man couiu
w., h.ya baen conscientiously omitted l have al
,orsd .nvself the privilege OF declining, III 'ie
belef that young blood. being more acti'e anu
effective was sufficient to carry the banner VI Wy
craft even beyond the point TO which 'he se'e ,''
carried Il, While still OF the same beiief am .e @
10 the conclusion that the older Masons nave sun
the power and the energy to do much III tie "e'"
81 Masonic usefulness not only because their e@
periencs has given them wisdom to conuiVe ool
because the best and moro permanent desires VI
human life have failed in them Wns erspna paa
and Otherwise induced some OF wcn wSa,nvfT ~ rs
may be said. however will be with the kindesf KIND ST
and most fraterna regard for al tnc Drs s ch,d
for its mother. for regard tho relation DC
tween Masonry and myself ., r,ooIea about
ne and Sotea some Of the absentees many Of
whom came before my menta VISION: ii,u ,nat eve,
hangs between time and eternity %nUse baye de-
could only 5e regretted because 2anv ervy in and
beyond The dark valley there were several nota,
be absences only one Past Crane Masf craf. was as
pssen e mie well spoke we'll and Laughed much
sekles and Fish ,suggestlve naivI nvI q substitute
for the other were quite apparent, h1%svy o1Scrwse re-
There were present. aceorams of 70 Whom We're over
orty-hye Years Of age The statstican afSresa,G; 10,
After carefully going over dne eaa by each stated
that the total weight was 2SVI pounus. averase
weight l7s pounds; total ages 100, crs sS years
hsay.es 2S5 pounds highest. Us POUNDS sorgiven Eve "
vas told that the Oldest Mason present was eighty
.MS M years Of age and that ne had oeen What "A
Comment this is upon the general complaint or m
Question from which very many younger inen '"''
] was sandwiched between two Past Masters oi
@y own lodge both older men than niteen ~; the
acts. prominent lawyer. bright. active and hon
Isl was two seats away. He signed ne & py-I Ws
sns ssans for the first time. and Will not forget II; ~
,h,,le pert bad-headed man IN dress suit was ;is.
should Be on good terms With himself know hin,
On ne gld and always thought him fn OF wlSd0 @n
"hom did not know Afterward learned he was
aselergyman and an excellent after-dinner speaker
Many men who have been prominently before the
sses OF the public for many years-onc OF them an
sncei who in days not long gone presented
~~asnncent appearance in uniform on Broadway
sr 81 present Indeed every profession ana almost
,'y calling was represented at the dinner.
~ was my FIRST appearance at the annual dinners
ionvukn one OF the for several years had
,es peen OF the opinion that the Veteran Associa-
shnsds vas one OF the adjurcts or Masonry which had
eonnueh, reason for existence, and fhat II was
ec,p,Sosed OF men who had proven their title to be
tyoered i've n.ed Masonic Veterans by long term of ac
c,s,aesI ths dinner had thought that the asso-
Of Wbnl, X, though 2erpe,uating an ideal, was one
Gy. 'n Se sppendages 10 large organizations that
Gs only 10 gather into corners and talk over
w.. pas, and 10 Indulge into Imaginative pici-
fSwoi glorious deeds. But all this is changed.
berSs before me lA gentlemen tof MEM
siIAsp OF 800, cignined. courteous. kindly and
Tn. enthusiastic IN the cause that enlisted their
Years shn energies during their younger and best
ktn..ih IN the natural order OF things. II is an
asnsins "a 70 WIG, wheh the personnel Is constantly
&uns IN IN winch the comparatively new Is ever
H6sc,sIr. FORWARD and the old dropping out And yet,
Aan my upon this. what is better In long life
vkckv kv.ssant rcIniniscence? What more firm with
Pefksr,n" iiVet the chains OF fraternity than the
tbored 3 .t.oeether OF intelligent men who have
" in aithIuliy and zeaJously shouldey 20 shoui-
2ore useful? ' '' ~
sat down to write this intended to make