Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-26
For the New Temple That's Build
ing in Anaconda.
ABLE ADDRESS OF MASSENA BULLARD
Recited the History of the Order From Its
Foundation to the Present Time--
A Big Parade.
Address-Massena Billiard, P. G. M.

dsSSIi bulldIu, T.. u. VI.
and G. r., who spoke as follows:
Grand Master. Associates and Friends:
America is q land of historical certain
ties. No student of history can fix the
date of the haninning Of any of the great
governments of the eastern hemisphere.
He may be given free access to the most
ancient archives and official records: he
may diligently study the books, essays,
f~ragmentary sketches, ballads and mar
rativeS of the earliest writer's, and may
d~ecipher the most obscure hieroglyphics
that the antiquarian has oun on monu-
ment. or in tomb or buried city: and he
ind that the foundations of each great
government that today has recognition
as a member Of the family of nations, in
Europe. Asia and Africa, We're laid at
dates whereof no authentic record has
been preserved. In prosecuting his re
searches he will reach a period as to
which no archives or authentic records
are found. The oldest document that
comes under his eye will refer to a more
or less substantial form of government
then existing. and as to the far off incep-
ton Of which no positive declaration is
made. The earliest writings and HERO
glyphlcs will mention a few contempo-
raneous facts and refer 20 the existing
order as the product of the proves of
some mighty giant, or god, or demigod,
who lived and ruled at a period so far
back in the dreamy past that history
makes no attempt to locate, and legend
is silent as to it's place in chronology.
The same rernark may be made as to the
theories and principles of government Of
those nations, their social CUSTOMS, edu-
cational methods. religious tenets and
fashions in dress. AS to each of these
things We find that it has had it's origin
at some uncertain time and as the result
of circumstances or environment, the de-
tails of which have not come down to the
people Of this age.
1t is not so in America. Before Column
bus discovered the new continent peoples
dWelt here who We're without history.
Their origin and their first appearance in
this land are involved in mystery that
has thus far not been penetrated. We
have neither historic record nor reliable
legendary account of their experiences,
growth or development. They have not
SO much as a mythology that long ante
dates their introduction to the nations
of the old world. But the civilization
now existing on the American continent
is not the product, or outgroWth or devel-
opment of the races that preceded the ad-
vent of the Caucasian. The governments
under which the civilized peoples of this
land now live did not assimilate with, nor
build upon and have not been Influenced
by aboriginal forms.
We can point to the day On which the
existence, of the American continent was
made known to the civilized world. We
know the day when the United States
became a nation; when each state became
a body polite and when it was admitted
into and became a member of the fedora
union. We know when the several prov
inces of British North America We're es-
tablished and when under the provisions
of an imperial act they voluntarily united
in one Legislative confederation and en-.
tered upon a magnificent career under
the name of the Dominion of Canada
We knOw when Mexico became a colony
and when she was transformed from {
colony into an Independent republic. w
have reliable history of the organization
and progress of the various government:
in Central America and in Soutf
America. Referring again to our owl
nation, we can trace through indubitably
records the inception and growth of those
great theories of government which after
much patient discussion II debate Wer,
formulated and put into practical opera,
5 ton by a written constitution that is the
wonder and admiration of nations whose
laws, though theoretically framed In har
, mony with a theoretical constitution, ar
in fact based upon a shadowy and un'
: substantial genius of government,
whose very essence varies with the phase!
of thought of each successive genera
ton. We can find the beginning and fol
low the progress of our great system o
public schools and point to the dates o
laying the corner stones of our oldes
universities and other institutions o
learning. Our social customs and on
styles and fashions in dress are likeWist
, matters of history. From the days tina
our puritan fathers and mothers sat b,
sexes in church. regarded a mirthfu
F, smile as a frivolity to be froWned upon
a joyous laugh as an evidence of de
moniacal possession, and love of g. brigh
ribbon as being inconsistent with sedate
ness and dignity of character. we ma,
with certainty trace the origin, spread
. and ~decadence, where decadence ha.
occurred, of customs, styles and fashion:
t through all the variations of quilting
bees, apple parings, thanksgiving re
unions, May parties, corn %huskings
house raisings, house warnings, CAM
meetings, county shows, knee breaches
furbelows, sun bonnets, wigs, snuff boxes
the regulations and restrictions Of tn