The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-12
CORNER STONE LAID
New Building at the Blind
Institution.
MUSIC AND ORAT0RY
CEREMONIES BY GRAND LODGE
OF ODD FELLOWS.
GRAFTON BY DEPUTY GRAND SIRE
The Principal Grafton Delivered by Mr.. W. j
PeeIe, al Request of The Governor
Legislation for the Blind in
North Carolina.

nm and dormitory building OF lhe wv -
Carolina institution for the Deaf, Dunn
and Blind was laid yesterday afternoon
bv the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows.
The exercises took place at . O'Clock
and were witnessed by large NUMBER
Of people. including delegates OF the
Grand Lodge, faculty and students ol
a. ;ns,;tntion and citizens of Raleigh
generally. ,a,+ oe
Mr. w. ]. Peele, at the request Oh
Governor Russell, who had been lhNlteu
70 sneak, delivered the Grafton. II was
an admirable study of Legislation III
North Carolina for the deaf, dunno anu
blind. and showed what the otate l'''u
heen doing for this unfortunate class ol
its citizens. - po,,, soi5
Among other things, Mr.. Peele saiu'
in the course of his remarks:
- =, 1e1I Cromwell and his ironsides
won tbeir famous victory over knlgcIall
tl,ot IL IN saw. over the doctrine that
limos have a divine right to rule othef
mon The fruits of that victory we en-
IN, today though we need many others
TO consummate it.
Rut this victory had been won III the
hearts and consciences of men before II
was made effectual by the sword. Ii was
won nv the pen. And III whose hand
yeas that pen welded ''mightier thah
the sword?" 1t was the hand of a great
or champion of liberty than Thomas JeL-
ferson-it was the hand of one WHO
sewed seed which sprung UP at once
info Cromwel's revolution, ana, III the
naxt century. into the still more glorious
Revolution of the Mecklenburg patflois
Of Henry, of Washington, OF JEFFERSON,
of Macon. lit was the hand OF the Dliiid
noet. patriot, scholar, statesman, ph!i-
osopher, John Milton.
WAS it in compliment TO Milton. ami
the yictaory which illustrated the powers
of his immortal pen. that. IN the year
1914. the second centennial anniversary
If that victory, that the legislature OF
North Carolina chose to illustrate the
blessings of liberty then secured ana the
brotherhood and equality OF manklnd
by beginning in the establishment I'D TINS
State of this institution
LET it be remembered also that TINS
is essentially and always an educational
institution. It was so named from me
beginning. The original acts, of 1914
and 1916, provided for the education anu
maintenance of the blind. the mainten-
necessary to the completion Of their edu-
cation"
4 patriot cannot contemplate Il work
like this without some heart throbs Of
pride. The circumstances are that III
these times. when all debts and taxes
are payable in the limited currency OF
international exchange when the peo-
ple. not in office, and not enjoying fixed
salaries, and not protected by legislative
advantage, are struggling with adyers-
ity at home. they still have the faith, the
courage. and the love of humanity, to
vote their substance for the support,
maintenance, and enlargement of this
institution. who can measure the self
sacrifice, and the fecundity of resource
of Anglo-Saxon patriotism. With an
hundred such institutions as this III the
British empire, and even greater num-
Der I'm America, supported by patriotism,
and most enlightened public policy,
increasing all the while in numbers, Use
fulness and efficiency, who can measure
the good already accomplished and rea-
sonably certain in the futureg
There are no such institutions in Tur
key-the sick man does not minister to
the blind: his blind, uneducated and UNI
cared for. still fight their short and I'M
successful battles with the stern nature
and still sterner man, upon every high
way, and in the streets of every city III
his fast declining empire. The Chinese
Government cannot give much help TO
the blind, because 1t cannot help itself
The Flowery Kingdam blooms garden
and IL grave. The eagles of war are III
ready gathering together for its conquest
and partition. The Anglo-SaxOn is cut
ting down the old unfruitful nations Of
the earth os cumberers of the ground
and hard on his footsteps the Christian
religion is sowing peace and charity ana
enlightenment in its worldwide way.
The Christians faith, hope, and love, is
the fostering mother of all asylums and
of all institutions for the amelioration
and education of mankind worthy Of a
name.
L cannot conclude without a word TO
the blind themselves You are some
times called unfortunate No one is UNI
fortunate who uses the circumstances
of his life to build a good character. You
are cut off from some of the employments
which others can utilize. But You can
build character, You can obtain the best
culture, and the influences of these in
any family or community cannot be over
estimated. But you are not cut off from
all the common employments of your fell
lows. You are the pioneers in industrial
education in this State. and there are n
few fields in which you hold almost an
even chance for success with the seeing.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Peele's re-
marks, which were listened to atten-
lively and often aDplauded, Mr.. Geo. H..
Tonnoffski, a director of the institution.
introduced Mr.. Alfred s. Pinkerton. of
Boston, Deputy Grand Sire of the Indn-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr..
Pinkerton is man of fine personality
and a most eloquent speaker. He spoke
Of the greatness Of the work. the Odd
Fellows are doing in the world in the
way of charity, and he thought it there
fore eminendy fitting that they should
dedicate this building, svmbolizing, as it
does. the care that a Christian govern
ment takes of its blind and deaf children.
4 last week heard it said by preach