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

/ IttISSllN MS NOISldDl DIOUCCIOI. lis
! best and tfuest friend. 1t throws the
mantle of mothers love around him
at birth: it arms him with father 5
strength for the battles of life: it in
spires him to loftier aspirations,
higher hopes, and greater deeds,
through a wifc's devotion, and in
his children's affections he is sus-
tanned and comforted as his feet touch
The dark waters that separates him
from the great beyond.
The home is the depository of the
best thought of the race, and from
gers Of love, hope, mercy, and justice
out into the warning world.
! ] do not use the word home as APP
plying to the buildings in which we
| live, but in a higher, nObler, and
purer sense. In the castle Of the king,
or the palace Of the millionaire. not a
single attribute of the home may be
| found: while in the cottage of honest
toll, every beam and rafter may be
radiant with the reflected light of hui
man love.
What the home is to the family,
! Masonry is to the community. OF all
institutions of antiquity, Masonry is
the sole survivor. Its mission has
been, is, and is to be, TO lead the race
up to u point where they will say, God
is my Father, and man my brother.
1t has come down to us from the
days of the Temple Builder, stcrnly
proclaming thai II belief in Deity was
essential to membership, carrying
upon its cmblazoned shield those inn
mortal tencts which have made the
home of today Il possibility Friend
ship, Morality, and Brotherly Love.
A few months ago the Masonic hall
in this city was consumed by fire, but
the Masonic home, nesting in the
hearts of the members of Lodge No. |,
was unScathcd.
With an energy worthy of the Fra
tcrnity, this pioneer lodge has erected
II new structure, which the Grand
Lodge of Wisconsin has this day
symboIically dedicated to Masonry,
to Virtue, and to Universal Bencvo-
lencc.
But these impressive ceremonies do
not in reality apply to this building
of wood and stone: they have a deep
err, a higher and Il broader meaning
They apply to the inner home, the
spiritual dwelling, the heart temple of
the Fraternity, which has been chas-
tened by fire. reused to greater activi-
ties by disaster. and today rises tri-
umphant over tribulation. and extends
true Masonic greeting to their visiting
brethren.
In this work they have been ably
assisted by their Masonic sisters.
When the darkness of disaster over
took the Fraternity, then the Stars
shown brighter in the Masonic hcav-
ems, and they came to the work of
building this Temple with minds act
i've and strong, with hearts filled with
love for the Order, and hands guided
by intelligence and industry. And to
Them in full and rounded measure,
should credit be given for their share
in this noble work.
Rob. Morris, the poet laureate of
Masonry, during his long and useful
life did much for humanity and Ma
sonry, and future ages will revere his
name because OF his great goodness,
his prc-cmincnt ability, his trustful
nature, and gentle, loving soul: but
most of all because he gave to Mason
ry and the world the Order of the
Eastern Star.
The temple for the physical man is
completed: the working tools can he
laid away, and the craft called from
labor to rcfrcshment: but the temple
for the inner man is still unfinished.
and upon it, work must continue while
life lasts.
The past record of Masonry in Min
cral Point shines with Il halo of glory
brighter than the MONDAY sun. The
present deeds of the Fraternity show
that they are worthy sons of noble
sires, and that no act of theirs will
ever suffer that glory to be cclipscd.
or that halo dimmcd. Let us then,
unite in the building of the inner tenn
pie, not for ourselves alone, but for
the whole Fraternity, the entire race.
Let us lay the foundation upon the
living rock of Truth: build it SO
broad that all humanity can find shell
ter within It's portals: carry it upward
and higher until its dome catches the
light and reflects the glory that comes
from the Great White Throne. And
there let it stand, Il moral haven for
storm-tossed souls; II beacon light for
struggling humanity: monument to
Masonry. symbolic and adaptive.
ADDRESS BN ROBERT NJ. CRAWFORD.
While Masonry is II progressive
science. take it that we are not here
for to tell or to hear some new thing.
The Holy Bible informs rs that
upon the completion of the first temple
solomon held a feast, and all Israel
with him, u great congregation, from
the entering in of Klamath unto the
river of Egypt, before the Lord our
God, seven days and seven days, even
fourteen days" Since that time unto
this day Masonic temples have been
erected and Masonic tcasts have been
held throughout the world.
The first Masonic lodge for Wiscon-
sin was established here in $50 fifty
eight years ago: and regularly since
that time has the work Of the craft
been we'll performed in Mineral Point.
\ very pleasant feature of Masonic
meetings here has been the attendance
of many faithful craftsmen from diff
fcrent points throughout Southwestern
Wisconsin, and it is to be hoped that
the erection OF this fine temple will
have II tendency to draw hither more
of these out of-town Masons, and their