Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-27

icence to mankind. In the dawn oI
life on this earth the second man. "a
hide a crime. looked into the face OF
his Maker. and asked. Am ! nv
brothers keeper?' and through all
the centuries the solution of that
question lay in truths quarry. and
the fraternities have brought il to the
light, and have fashioned from il a
beautiful and enduring cornerstone.
which says, i am my brothers keep
er.' And on that stone rests the
corner of every fraternal superstruc-
ture in the land, and on that stone
none have builded more wisely nor
more enduringly than the order in
whose honor we are gathered here
today, the Modern Woodmen of
America
The third thought of the speaker
was upon the history of the great So
ciety. The subject was divided into
three epochs. Its first seven years
from 1888 to 1890, embraced strug-
gle of hope. disappointment, and at
the end almost dissolution. Its sec
ond epoch beginning at Springfield in
1890. and ending with the removal of
the head Office from Fulton to Rock
Island. was one of abounding vitality.
marvellous growth, enormous expan-
sion, unparalleled prosperity. until
now, at the meridian of its greatness
it has $500 camps. covers 19 states
and enrolls 800, 600 members. This
day, We may say, marks the
commencement of its third epoch.
and it is little significant
that at the threshold of its third sew
en- year period, it is inaugurating this
laudable project for the preservation
of its records, and that means. in n
material sense, the preservation of
its life. 1t has taken years of time.
and oceans of trouble, to even reach
the Inauguration of this building, and
it will take many thousands of dol
lars to complete and equip it for the
orders business, but all this expendi-
ture of time, trouble and money.
meets the hearty approval of all
our members, because it means.
when finished, permanance and Sc
curity."
In conclusion Mr.. johnson offered
the fervent hope that the order ..mav
enter the dawning century free from
strife or dissension, but prepared bv
both precept and example to take a
leading part in the work of maxine
the world be'.cr: that its existence
may he as enduring as the cornerstone
we are laying today, and its influence
for good, as never ending as the
true principles which underlie its
and that its members
concern may not only he for the pres
ervation from destruction of its valu-
able property. but NAV also he
aroused and quickened for the per-
fection and preservation of the order
itself so that it shall not only be a
firm reliance to us who are now its
members. but an enduring and abid-
ing inheritance for our children's 5 chill
dren."
There was selection by Otto's
Military band. of Davenport, and then
came the laying of the cornerstone
proper. The ceremony opened with
the singing of the following:
woodmen rejoice, Ali hail to the day.
As the chief cornerstone of the temple we
lay;
Let heart join with heart, and hand join hand
to hand.
To make the home OF the order the pride of
the land
Mai. G. w. Hawes, head clerk of the
order. then conducted the actual cere-
monies as follows:
Neighbors and Friends: This is the
opointed day for the laying of the
rnerstone of our edifice to he the
ONE of our order, the repository of
Its archives, and the head center of
fraternal supervision. We have
looked forward with joyful anticipa-
ton to this auspicious event in the
annals of the order, cheered and en-
couraged with hopeful expectancy of
assured success and prosperity, and
gladly engage in the present under
taking as evidence of love and fidelity
to the Woodmen's brotherhood. Let
us ever remember with grateful
hearts, Him, in whom we place our
trust; may His wisdom guide and di-
rect us in all our undertakings; NAV
His blessings multiply cur numbers
and increase the strength and har-
mony of the order. In the presence
of this distinguished assemblage of
neighbors and friends we will now
proceed to perform the important
duty of laying the cornerstone in due
form and in accordance with the cere-
monial of the Woodmen's craft.
Neighbor Talbot, YOU will take this
AK, repair to the forest and see that
the pathways leading to the home
are in proper condition; that the
groves where the weary traveller may
rest are comfortable and pleasant TO
behold, and that all rubbish which
may impede the workmen in their
labors is removed from the site of the
building.
Director Talbot, with the AK, made
the circuit of the building, and re-
turning. said:
Neighbor Chief Forester: The du-
ties you assigned to my care have
been performed. l find the pathways
duly prepared, the groves pleasant
and convenient for use, and the site
of the buildino free from useless ruh-