The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-19

our patron saints which stands out to-
day as the most powerful illustration Of
the Gordon ties of fraternity the world
has ever seen, and from whose memories
have blossomed sentiments that time has
crystalized into realities and made the
world purer and better by the recollection
of the deeds it pictures. No more beau
tiful story of self-sacrifce relieves the cold
vista Of selhshness and distrust in which
humanity has ever moved
Il would tell you that this Damon and
Pythiau episode. whether il be fiction or
history which is a poem in beauty and a
Philippe in strength that recognizes that
there could be a friendship that might be
"A solder of society, a cemeuter of mems
souls, and a sweetener Of life, was selected
as the grand model of an organization
that has adopted their memories as the
prototypes and ideals from which it
draws its strength and inspiration. And
while / am not here to proclaim TO the
world just yet that this grand lodge rep
resents an order that has inherited all the
virtues of Pythias, and all the fidelity of
Damon-for we are but young disciples in
the very kindergarten of a system which
our patron saints made famous-but we
DO with all the pride Of our nature boast
ingly claim their memory as the sacred
fires Of our generation and their lives as
the glorious objects Of our emulation.
Though these patron saints of ours moved
walls and battlements of ancient SYRIA
cuse over 800 years before the Chris
tan era, still it is not 10
be supposed that this order is therefore
rich in the lore of centuries, for it had
its birth right here in our own native
land, an American institution, sprung
from an American mind and in a land
where every man is a king and every wo-
man queen, and that, too, without wait
ing for any international agreement 1t
is the American fruit of an American tree,
born on American soil and nurtured under
an American sun. 1t was ushered into
creation under the lurid skies of e. but
thirty-three years ago, when from lake to
gulf and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
this glorious land of ours was the scene
Of carnage and destruction, when mans
humanity to man made countless thous-
ands mourn, this order was given to the
world and methinks when its founder had
finished the work that he had builded bet
ter that ne knew, could he have dreamt
of its great possibilities for good, he would
have felt like that famous artist who af-
ter months Of careful study and labor
gazed upon the canvas upon which his
hands and genius had wrought such a
marvellous production in its tTuthfulness
and beauty, and exclaimed in the rapture
OF his enthusiasm, I have painted for
eternity
upon which this order was builded, the
time and the land la which It was born,
but do not understand because it was born
in America that ii is American only in
its SCOPE. for it Is worldwide It's teach
ings mean loyalty to the government I'M
der which II exists for Pythianism means
patriotism everywhere, and not simply
Americanism. Pythianism must be as
has been said by one of the great minds
Of antiquity, in speaking Of his church.
in essentials unity, in non-essentials lib
erty, In all things charity This is the
true creed of Pythianism, and as its dise-
pies gather about its affairs those lessons
are taught, the influence of which per
meate their castle hall and leave in its
wake sentiments which are planted in the
sacred gardens of friendship. nurtured
by the generous tears of charity, and
blossOmed with the glorious fruits of be-
nevolence. Great applause).
And now that l have modestly told
you who we are, where we were born,
and upon what high resolve we were
bent, allow me to descend from the noun
tains of high Olympus where our patron
saints must have dwelt, to the streets of
beautiful Savannah. where their disciples
now dwell. and discuss In business-like
manner with the high officials of this
Eden of cities the generous tenders that
he has made to this grand lodge As /
members, and appurtenances viii con-
strue IT, you have opened wide these
moss-covered gates that have never been
closed to your brethren from any and
everywhere. You have thrown down that
same old Portcullis that Oglethorpe used
when he moved and had his being where
the queenly De Soto now sits, and you ex-
cuse yourselves from giving TO US the
casket containing the keys to the freedom
of your city because the big-hearted
founders Of this fair city never contem-
plated her gates ever being closed and
Therefore, the use or necessity of keys
had never occurred 20 them.
"As we understand It you have further
offered us every privilege pledged us ev-
cry immunity, and promised us every
franchise contained in your city's charter
and the acts amendatory thereof, includ-
ing the right-of-way for ourselves and BIZ
cycles through mountain and marsh 10
where storm-t tossed and ocean battled Ty-
bee sits defiant triumphant, and careless
OF our knightly invasion.
And in accepting these generous ten
ders we desire to put you on notice that
while our arms are laid aside, and our
vizor raised on high We still have station
ed on the ramparts of our inclnations
knights fun OF caution and fun of BRAY
cry to guard the citadels Of our weakness
from falling easy prisoners to that far
FAMED savannah hospitality, tinCturcd, as
Il frequently Is, with an atom of artesian
water and piece of mint. which has been
known to have made pages, esquires,
knights, and brave men, and even fair
women. forget their home, country and
kindred. And in accepting all these gem
erous tenders, whether they be fatal or
not, we do so because we feel that they
are extended to us, not as storm tossed
strangers on some foreign shore, but as
fellow-citizens of this grand old common
wealth OF Georgia united In an organiza-
ton battling for humanitys welfare and
striving for the naturalization OF the
noblest sentiments of mankind"
MIR. Joseph NJ. Dreyer introduced Mr.
Jacob Gazan. who. he announced. would
extend the visiting knights a welcome on
behalf of the Savannah knights. Hon
Fleming G.. duBignon had been invited to
deliver this address, but was unable 20 be
present, being compelled 90 attend Liberty
county court. where he is arguing an i'm
portant lawsuit.
In his stead, Mr.. Gazan had been in
vitcd to deliver this address. and when
the speaker advanced TO the brink OF the
stage, he was greeted with liberal ana
hearty applause. lie said u was indeed