The Dallas express., 1900-01-13
NATIONAL COMP ACI
Masons In Session ABLE Address
OF The Grand MASTER
ports of Delegates
SHOW GREAT increase OF MEMBERS
Property To The
~ Amount of $4,000 Now
IN MSlIM wIn Possession of Craft.
RIASIIV Captain Matthews, One
V\ OF The Visitors.
DIR ]. II. wilkins CT Galveston, Unani-
mousIy Reelected Grand Master.
Brilliant RefOrt.
Huntsville, Texas, Dec. 81, 1899.
The Most WoIshipful st. Johns Un-

The Most WoIsAIpful St. Johns I'm
ion, Grand Lodge of the state of Tex
as, working under the jurisdiction of
TIE Most WOrshipful National Grand
LolCe of T. and A. A. Y. NJ. (compact)
OF North America, convened in the
town of Huntsville, in the st. Benia-
MINIS hail No. 6, December 9th 1899,
pnd opened in ample form on the third
dec. ea of Mas Onry. Most Worshipful
Jonn II. Wilkins, grand master, pre-
siding, and the other officers in their
stations. Delegates from various sub
O ..iuate lodges in the state were pres
in person and by proxy. Tle
g'nd lodge was then called off from
W nee they marched in body to the
o 4 Fellows hall, where public re-
C, ton was tenGered by the mayor
a d citizens of Huntsville. The may
@ spoke as follows:
WELOME ADDBEs PROF.S.W. HOUSTON
ON BEHALF OF HIS HONOR, THE
MAYOR, AND CITIZENS OF HUNT S.,
VILE, TO THE MOST WORSHIPFUh
GRAND MASTER Or ST. JOHN UNION.
GRAND LODGE OF F.&A.A. Y.MASONS
COMPACT FOR STATE OF TEXAS.
Grand officers, members of the Ma
sonic fraternity, ladies and gentle
men:
Standing as do this morning in the
midst of this splendid representation
of representative organization, and
noting the intelligent makeup and
dgnitied bearing Of your delegates, to
Say nothing of their being we'll
groomed, and apparently well fed, 1.
i1tn 10 nI
city of TexaS-the clone Star" state
of the union, made famous as the
home of Sam Houston, the illustrious
hero of San JacintO-I say, sir, that [
wish to congratulate Huntsville and
her citizens, on having such an intelli-'
gent body Of gentlemen, assemble
within her portals.
Sir, Huntsville has long been noted
for its educational advantages, its cul-
tivated and refined society and the
hospitality and intelligence of it's citi-
zeas- and with the stars and stripes
that wave over the land of the free
and the home of the brave, floating
from yOn magnificent pile of brick
and mortar, which marks the most
commanding sight of our little city,
and serves to perpetuate the memory
of him for whom it was named, she
throws aiar her gates of hospitality
to receive the delegates of the frater-
nifty, whose progress and achieve
ments, success and glory, have been
won by strict adherence to right and
duty, or the actuatiOl cf pure and
sincere motives.
Sir, your order has no sectional in.
terests, it knows no one on account of
his politics or religious creed; its
principles are second to none, and are
as old as creation. 1t has been a great
power in promoting morality, pros
perity and unity, especially among
the Negro race.
In fact, everything of development
and material progress, stands out as a
prominent and magnificent feature of
your mystical institution and evinces
It's value and importance, which is.
equally discerned in the constitution
OF this august body, which has assem-
bled within these walls, to deliberatei
Il take lt) not only for the present
coed, but also the future success and
prosperity, dignitied by great and
benevolent deeds of the past, and
now being strengthened by sufficient
safe guards, by the heightening and
broadening Of principles, which arc
and have been sacred from time i'm
memorial, and will be glaring efful
morn, when we shall see and know
relatives in all the great and intelli
gent light of divine and infinite know
ledge.
If Orphens with his sweet and in
fnllIptant ,-tp 1,N hn
presence of this assembly, he could
not touch the hearts of these votaries
OF the affairs of the east, the south and
The north, with any more warmth and
inspiration in you, than what has been
done in developing the Negro capac-
ity tor self government.
Towering in majestic proportions
above frivolity and sensuality of hu-
man life, your order seeks the good
OF mankind, mentally, morally and fl
nanclaIiy- sternly, yet calmly, posi-
lively, yet kindly, supporting and ad-
Vocatlng principles which give an i'm
pCtus to the development of purer
and more enlightened civilization,
which is to serve in part, the future
greatness and capacity of the Negro
TO manage and control great institu-
tons for revenue, for beneficient pur
poses and results which tell to the
world, the moral and intellectual
good attained.
Now sir, on behalf Of his honor, the
Hon. J. G. Ashford, mayor of the city
OF Huntsville, l take great pleasure in
giving into your care and keeping,
the keys to the gates of the city.
Perambulate our streets and thorough
fares, visit cur business houses and
places of historical interest, mingle
with our citizens;in short, make your
selves entirely at homeland when
you have satiated your desire for
pleasure and amusement. and have
IN Ide the most of the hospitality of
our citizens, the only request we have
10 make is, to please return the
"kays."(?)
Again, allow me to say, welcome!
thrice welcome to all!
At the conclusion of the mayors
address, DR.. j. II. Wilkins, grand
master, responded; also, Rev: Mr..
Atkinson and Capt. w. ID. Matthews,
tne national grand master, afterwhich
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