The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1897-06-16

Louge No l9, A. + d A. NJ, ap-
pointed a Committee composed OF
Q. j. Hess, Ii S. Pomeroy and S.
q Elannigan. TO have a life-size
oil portrait made of Hon. IL r.
Howard Past Grand Master of
West Virginia, to be placed ia their
ledge room The Committee hav-
ing had the work done to their sat
isfaetion, turned the portrait over
to their Lodge at the regular meet
Ing held Tuesday night last Ehe
same being reported to the lodge
by said Committee through Hon.
Rankin Wiley, who on presenting
the same to the Lodge. spoke as
follows
Kofslslpfst t0s5e1.s Fugaelis
md B4.etlf lfera
In the greaf State Of Ohio. In
Champaign County, on February
, 7th, 1913, there was born to a Ger
tain family. q baby boy. This
ababy was 1Iae idol of father and
mother, and so disting guished look
ingSwas he that his parents looked
in warn about them for a name to
confer upon him. There was none
that they could select that they
deemed good enough. and In the
predicament confronting him, the
father, an enthusiastic Mason, de-
cided that his beloved lodge should
help him out of his quandary. Ac-
cordmgly he reported the good
fortune. with which he had been
visited in the birth of a son, and,
explaining the difficulty he had ex-
perienced in finding suitable
name, asked the lodge to select one
for him. After due deliberation
the lodge named the boy Hiram
Reese, Hiram after our Grand
NJ ster, Hiram Abiff, and Reese,
for the then Grand Master of the.
State of Ohio. Thus the boy re-
ceiYed his distinguished given
names, and 1t but remains to add
that his surname was Howard, and
as Hiram Reese Howard his name
was inscribed soon afterwards in
the Family Bible, and as Hiram
Reese Howard il holds an af-
fectionate place in the memory of
every person in this room, and
countless others not with us in the
body now, but who in spirit are
ever present.
When this boy grew to manhood
he remembered his fathers love
for the order and soon knocked
himself for permission to enter a
Masonic Lodge. Being found.
worthy to enter the permission was
conceded, aud a worthy Mason he
became and still remains.
: When but eighteen years of age
the war broke out, and yeRng 1EI-
ram Reese Howard, recognizing
the danger threatening the country
and moved by patriotism to take up
arms In the cause ofthe union, the
disruption of which keenly appeal
ed to.his young mind, enlisted in a
regiment of his native State and
going to the front for four years
suffered all the hardships and pri-
vations of a private soldier in the
ranks, ever foremost In heroism
and moved by the loftiest senti-
ments of patriotic ardor. 1t was
not until peace was declared and
the war completely over that the
valiant soldier laid down his arms,
and then he retired from the
army, not only with an honorable
discharge, but with the added
honor of medal voted to him by
the Congress of the United States
for signal and distinguished brav-
cry on the field of battle.
The war over, in 1866 Hiram
Reese Howard came to Point Pleas
ant. and so confident was he of the
future awaiting this part of the
country that he then and there de-
termined to throw in his lot with
us, and taking unto himself one of
our fairest daughters for a wife
established himself in our midst
and ever since he has SO closely
identified himself with the pros
perity and advancement of the city
that he may be considered to have
been instrumental in the achieve
ment of the best that has been
done to attain for Point Pleasant
the position it occupies today.
But I wish more particularly to
speak of our respected Brother as
a Mason. When he came here he
at once took the hveliest interest
in reviying Minturn Lodge and
promoting Freemasonry in the
town and county, and I may safely
say in the State also. His energy
and devoted interest were several
times rewarded by his election to
the Mastership of Minturn lodge,
and to representative positions In
the Grand Lodge of the State, in
which he so ably, honorably and
admirably discharged the onorous
duties deVolyi9g upon him that his
private WORT, his devotion to the
order and his fidelity to the teach
ings of Masonry were felt to be
only adequately recognized by his
election in 1881, as Grand Master
of the Order in West Virginia
And in that distinguished position