Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-02-24

The outworn rite, the old abuse,
The plous fraud, transparent grown,
The good held captive in the use
OF wrong alone:
These wait their doom from that great
Which makes the past time serve
day,
And fresher life the world shall draw
From their decay.
1t is but the ruin of the bad,
The wasting of the wrong and i'll:
Whate'er of good the old time had,
Is living still.
And life shall on, and upward go:
The eternal step of progress beats
To that great anthem, calm and slow
Which God repeats.
Take heart: The waster builds again.
A charmed life old Goodness hath:
The tares may perish, but the grain
Is not for death.
God works in all things: all obey
His first propulsion from the night.
Wake thou and watch, the world is
gray
With morning light
May Peace, and Harmony. and
Love, unite US, in this Temple. And
| will pray for the peace of our Jeru-
salient " Peace be within thy walls,
" and righteousness within thy pal
" aces. For my brethren and compan-
= ions sake, | will wish thee pros
perity.'
SPEECH OF MRS. MARTHA ROSS.
Mrs. Martha Ross, Past Worthy
Grand Matron, of the Wisconsin
Chapter of the Order of the Eastern
Star, was called upon, and she ex-
pressed herself as highly honored by
the invitation to speak. She thanked
the brethren who had spoken. for their
kind words for the Order of the East
ern Star. She thanked the officers
and members of the lodge for the
privilege accorded women to organize
as coworkcrs in the cause of Masonry,
and to aid in their way the good work.
The order which she represented
was not ornamental, but useful in
Woman's supervision of the Masonic
home. Woman's accomplishments
touches, and tastes are now in evil
dencc in the lodge room. Cobwebs
have disappeared, and beautiful
works of art lend their charm, and
flowers their fragrance, to lodge
rooms everywhere. Mrs. Ross, to-
gcther with Miss Phillips. was last
week honored by the Past Worthy
Grand Matron's jewel, presented by
the Grand Chapter, an honor which
she said was only equalled by the
privilege of speaking in the lodge
room on this happy occasion. She
closed with an appropriate sentiment
from one of the poets, which expressed
the feeling of those present.
CALVERT SPENSLHY'S ADDRESS.
Hon. {. Sponsley made the closing
speech of the evening. He said that
he would talk about Mineral Point
Lodge No. |. He gave rapid but
a very clear review of the origin, and
early struggles of the lodge. To w.
Il. Smith, Moses Mcekcr. and Charles
Dunn, the lodge owed its origin.
These three men We're not only strong
in the Masonic faith, but men of
recognized character and ability.
One was the states historian and its
attorney general: another, judge of
the supreme court: the third, lead
ing physician. The lodge first met in
the old court house, and dry goods
boxes served for altar and for seats.
Although Masonry, on account of
the Morgan excitement, was not in
popular favor, yet its principles as
exemplitied by the members that were
added from time to time, made deep
impression upon the community, and
the lodge prospered. 1t soon had a
hall of its own. and began to acquire
the necessary paraphcrnalia for the
due execution of its work. Here the
speaker spoke of the erection of the
new Temple, which is to be made more
beautiful. He showed that the tinan-
cial problem which now confronted
the lodge in its erection, had con-
fronted the members at different
stages of the lodges history: and as
the difficulties of the past were over
come. so it would be at the present
time, In few years the members
would be astonished that there was
any apprehension, no matter how
slight, that the present debt would be
burden upon the lodge. The reason
for this confidence is that the lodge
has always been true to its Masonic
faith. When the majority say thing
shall be done, the minority gracefully
yield. and go to work for the success
of the lodge, y strong pull, and a
pull altogether, inspired by Masonic
principles, means that success awaits
l1S 'Thi. faitb has a lraN-S rua1a tho