The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-15

The centennial anniversary of the
death of George Washington was OBJ
served with fitting orations, songs,
music and prayers in Masonic hall last
evening. The programme was one of
unusual merit and the occasion one
that crowded the large hall to its full
capacity. The decorations consisted of
flags and Grape artistically draped,
flowers, ferns, palms, holly and ever
greens. The effect was most pleas
ing Rarely, if ever, did Masonic hall
welcome so fine an audience or present
so attractive an appearance.
The meeting was presided over by
DR.. W. Z. Daily. worShipful master of
the lodge, who opened in a few well
chosen words on Washington as a
citizen. a soldier and statesman, and
why it was appropriate for Masons to
observe the anniversary Of his death.
c. S. Varian Talks.
After an invocation by Bishop Abel
Leonard, the singing OF America" by
all present and the rendition of the
Coronation March by Christensen's
orchestra, Charles S. Narian was in
troGuced and delivered scholarly ad-
dress on the early influence of Ma
sonry on the development of the Amer
lean idea OF the equality of men, as
expressed in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and its elimination in the
independence of the colonies.
The central thought of Mr.. Narians
address was that the revolution was
the declaration Of the rights eff man,
not against Britain alone, out against
all oppression, and that the foundation
principle of this declaration was iden-
teal with the foundation principle OF
free Masonry-the equality Of. men.
NJ
the revolution, and men died by the
thousands in its defense. The speaker
traced the influence of Masonry on the
development of this idea and gave the
names OF MaSons who viii be known in
all history as heroes Of that struggle.
Not only soldiers such as Washington,
Warren. Montgomery and Sullivan, but
civilians as well, such as Franklin and
the Randolphs, were high in Masonry
Lodges were formed in the army; in
the darkest days of Valley Forge the
lodge there was ever open, and at the
close of the struggle the banner of the
order was high because the people
realized how much it had done to win
freedom for them.
A Typical Mason.
Mr. Varian spoke of WASHINGTON as
a typical Mason, and proved by his
utterances how high the order was in
his esteem.
The address closed with a note Of
warning against the false teachers of
today, and an eloquent appeal to be
true to the idea to which Masons are
bound with hoops of steel, the idea
that animated Washington and Lin
ccln-the equality of men,
This address was heartily applauded.
Music by the orchestra followed, and
then Judge o. w. Powers was intro
duced to speak on The Personal
Character and Public Masonic Services
of Washington
Judge Powers opened his remarks
with reference to a visit ne once paid
10 the tomb Of Washington. Continu-
ing, he said:
Apostrophe to Washington.
Who can sketch his personal char
acter? Who can paint with words the
life that was so well lived that. al
though the years have clustered into
full round century, it stands out from
among the statesmen and patriots who
are revered by over 70.00U,000 of people,
as the one grand example for the h0v-
ers of liberty and of human rights
The deeds which made his life illus
trious, the virtues which marked him
as above his fellows, the simplicity ana
purity of character which identified
him as one of Gods immortals, are
written in the hearts Of the people, and
can be read wherever men are striving
to reach that higher state which will
come with perfect manhood, when all
mankind will meet upon the level and
part upon the square.
The most striking as we'll as the
most admirable characteristic of Wash
ington was his absolute simplicity of
character. Fame to him was but an
incident. Public p-efeTJnent was the
means with which to serve the people.
Rank was the opportunity to advance
the cause of human liberty. The sword
was not an emblem of power. but was
the means at hand to cleave the way
for freedom.
He assumed the head of our armies
and directed the affairs of state as the
servant of the colonies and as a duty
to the struggling nation, and he laid
aside the insignia of power with the
soy of one whose work is done, and who
wraps the draDery OF his couch about
him and lies down to pleasant dreams
The public stations which he held add
nothing to his fame. II is the simple
grandeur OF the man who never knew
how great he was. that makes il clea-
that SO long as the earth is peopled the
lesson which he taught will not be
lost"
Washington a Human Man.
Judge Powers said that it was the
Their great men, to make them super |
human. Their faults and foibles were |
Guessed over, and they were painted as
Gem.gods. One of the pleasant things |
to him about Washington was the fact |
that he WSs intensely human. In sup |
port of this Judge Powers related sew
eTal anecdotes of the great mans life.
Among them was a story of his first |
venture on the troubled sea of politics. |
Said the speaker;
AS early as 1755 he had an ambition .
TO enter politics, and he wrote his
brother 10 sound the pulse of the voters |
and learn whether there was good OPP /
p0rtunity for him to be elected to the |
Virginia house OF burgessss. But when
he offered himself as a candidate, not
being versed in the ways of practical |
politicians, the result was not to his |
liking. His opponent was Captain
Thomas Swearingen, for whom Wash
ington had but little respect. and whom
he described as man of great weight
the meaner class of people, and
supposed by them TO possess extensive
knowledge
Tribute of Red Men.
He was followed by the great chief
of records. Charles II. Conley, with a
beautiful message to the Red Men of
the World In conclusion he deposited
within the tomb a handsome silk flag
on a standard TO which was attached
four ribbons of the coiors of the order
green, orange, blue and scariet-re-
spectively inscribed: