The record-union., 1898-10-23
A NOBLE WORK.
THE MASONIC WIDOWS AND
ORPHANS HOME.
Dedication Of the Grand Institu.
ton at Decoto on the
Twelfth.

a lady who attended the dedication OF
the Masonic Widows and Orphans
Home at Decoto on the 18th inst, will
| be read with interest by all members
Of the Masonic fraternity:
And now abideth faith, hope, char
ity, these three, but the greatest of
these is charity"
The Masonic fraternity Of California
should be proud of the "Good men and
true, and the noble women, our sis
| ters Of the 0. E. S., who have worked
| so faithfully to bring about the COM
| pIetion of a home for the widow and
orphan, which was dedicated at Decoto
on Wednesday, the 18th of October,
with the solemn, impressive and beau-
| t1ful ceremonies of Ancient and Accept
| ed Masonry. l could not but feel that
the spirit of love professor Drummond
truly said: Love, the greatest thing
| in the worldly moved all these noble
souls to work in faith, and hope, and
| charity Qove), that the Scripture might
| be fulfilled: "Do right by the widow;
judge for the fatherless; give to the
| poor; defend the orphan; clothe the
naked" What grander monument for
humanity's sake could be given to the
Keeping Of the Grand Lodge of this
State? And Old Glory, proudly waving
| from the dome of the substantial home,
seemed to say: Though you remem-
| Der the Maine, also remember we have
fought the fight, and we have builded
the home" And as one who knows
whereof they speak, this was no easy
task from the beginning, and to the
| indomitable will of the men composing
the first Board Of Trustees to accom-
| plish for a just cause, is largely due the
| glorious outcome.
| Past Grand Master Edward Myer
| Preston nursed the thought in face Of
many difficulties, and was aided by
the noble thoughts and efforts of Rev.
| Jacob Voorsanger, and, also, William
Johnston, who, as you all know, gener
ally has a will to accomplish what he
starts out to do Then came the strong,
forceful thoughts Of Charles L. Patton,
now President Of the Board Of Trus
| tees, who gathered together forces with
his good ideas, and aided by such as
Mrs. Frank Pierce and Mrs. Edna Field,
and many other good sisters and true,"
| imbued with the spirit of charity, and
his appeals to the Grand Lodge, was
the key to open the door Of success to
completing the home.
1t stands upon its firm foundation of
stone, a lasting structure, situated
about a mile from Decoto Station, upon
a hill, with broad, winding road lead
ing to it, with rolling hills back Of it
and overlooking the valley below, many
| acres Of it the property of the home.
The land Is fertile enough)to grow any
thing, and the hills can be cultivated
=
inmates can in a few years sit under
| their own vine and fig tree, literally
speaking. I had heard that the price
paid for the property had been exorbi-
tant- Rev. DR.. Voorsanger stated in
his address, as I recall, that something
less than S125 per acre was paid for the
155 acres, and as we know the value Of
land in California, 800 per acre would
have been cheap for Alameda County
land in that locality, surrounded by
well titled farm homes and thrifty Or
chards, all along the line of railway
out from Oakland.
Decoto lies tWenty-seven miles from
San Francisco, six miles beyond Hay
wards, and We all know what kind of
orchards abound near there. And as
for climate, one would scarcely know
Where TO find a better though I did
hear Junior Grand Warden William
Sewall Wells of Martinez remark that
the finest climate in the world was near
Mount DiabIo, Contra Costa County.
That may be, but taking all things into
consideration, could it have been pos
sible for the trustees to do any better
for site, land and climate? I say, NO
and you, who were not present on that
glorious day to see for yourselves, kind
ly take the word of one who has judged
righteously.
Entering the memorial hall, one sees
tiled walls, covered with many familiar
names, and the memorial window, with
its Masonic symbols, given by the La
dies Club of Golden Gate Commandery,
No. 16, all seemed proof Of a guidance
Of a Supreme Grand Master. Leave
the fatherless children and I will pre-
serve them alive, and let the widow
trust in Me- Mission Lodge and
Golden Gate Lodge also contributed
memorial windows. The work of the
building of this home had had the per-
sonal attention of Trustee Edwin Whip
pie, whose own home is situated near by,
and chief architect, r. G. Hurlburt of
San Francisco surely had the help of
the Great Architect in building so we'll
in the time allotted him, as to be ready
to return the implements intrusted to
his care when the cornerstone was laid
two years ago.
Now that the home is complete
awaiting furnishing, which is generous
~ provided for by the Grand Lodge
and the donation will be greatly en-
HANGED by members Of the o. E. S.
Let all your dealings be without mur-
murings and disputings," and the per
capita" assessed toward it's mainte-
nance cause you no worry, for a few
less cigars, boys, and bonnet or two
less for wives, mothers and sweethearts
will more than repay you, when you
have added to the comfort of the
widow indeed" who once had her own
fireside, and gave to the poor, and the
orphan who will be made happy without
papa" or mamma" because of the
home sustained by '1oyal hearts and
true
The spirit which animated the great
multitude that gathered at the dedica-
tory exercises gave sacredness to the
scene as touching as the beautiful
ritual which dedicated the home to its
noble ends. The officers Of the Grand
Lodge seemed to enter heart and soul
into the acceptance of the sacred charge
given them, and their responses were
given with voices whose tones were
indicative of the "All-seeing Eye" upon
them in their noble work. Corn, wine
and oil, emblems of nourishment, re-
freshment and universal benevolence,
were, in accordance with ancient usage,