Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-24

pie. He was untutored in eloquence
and stranger to the art of playing
upon the hopes or griefs of the nation.
He was the sincere and unfaltering
guardian of the people. His utterances,
brief and unstudied, inspired and
strengthened every patriotic impulse
and made a great people renew their
great work with the hottest devotion.
AS he turned from the dead to the llv-
ing, he gave the text of liberty Tor all
time when he declared, 1t is rather
for us to be here dedicated to the great
task remaining before us-that from
those honored dead we take increased
devotion to the cause for which they
here gave the last full measure of de-
votion-that we here highly resolve
that the dead shall not have died in
vain; that the nation shall under God
have new birth of her freedom, and
the government of the people, by the
people and for the people shall not per-
sh from the earth
These men are dead, but the gov
eminent still lives Their missions
have been filled, and God will not let
this nation fail nor forget them. Up
from the southland comes the voice of
that great-hearted Irish-American
Henry w. Grady whose words seem
to have come from lips immortal:
God has sown in our soil the seed of
His millenial harvest and He will not
lay the sickle to the ripening grain
until His full and perfect day has
come. When the old world comes to
marvel and to learn amid our garner
ed treasures. let us resolve to crown
the miracles of the past with the spec
tacle Of a republic compact, united, in
dissoluble in the bonds of love-loving
from the lakes to the gulf, the wounds
of the nation healed in every heart
as on every hill-serene and resplen-
dent at the summit of human achieve
ment and earthly glory-blazing out
the path and making clear the ways
up which all the nations of the earth
DR.. Bakers Address.
DR.. L. J. Bakers address which dealt
with the life and work of the late
grand secretary. T. S. Parvin, was
highly appreciated and was fitting
tribute to the memory of the grand
old man. who gave the best part of his
latter years to the cause of Masonry.
DR.. Bakers address follows:
The very beautiful ritualistic cere-
mony to which we have so attentively
listened this evening tends to recall
our minds from the various business
and social affairs that so constantly
engross our attention and to direct
our thoughts to the time when the
black camel shall call at our door to
carry us on the lonely and silent jour-
ney to that undiscovered country from
whose bourne no traveller returns.
Such hours as these with the attending
ceremonies are always productive
of good. We here review the good
qualities of those who once formed
links in our fraternal chain. Such quail
ties when properly studied and assim-
Hated become permanent part of
our own character and influence us tc
persevere in doing that which is cal
culated to strengthen and build up
our moral character. And as we list
en- to the sentiments expressed by the
various speakers upon the lives and
characters of our departed brothers,
we are filled with remembrance anC
an inspiration that causes our souls
to swell up with love for humanity
and we are encouraged and stimulated
to strive more and more to make oul
lives better and do greater good.
Theodore Sutton Parvin, was pic
neer in Iowa, who devoted his life fol
the welfare of humanity. He was born
in Cedarville, New Jersey, in 1917
During his boyhood he was compelled
to go about upon crutches owing to q
disease that finally left him perma
nently lame. In 1929 MS father NOV
ed in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he en-
tered the public schools. Here through
the interest of teacher he received
special instructions in the classics
and the higher mathematics. At the
final examination of his course {
wealthy man who was present pro
posed to his teacher to send him tc
college. Through the kindness of thi
gentleman, he not only received col
legiate but also a legal education
graduating in 1885. He was SUDDEN
under Prof. Joseph Ray and VIM. Nc
Guffy whom doubtless some of YOU
may have known personally.
In 1888, President Van Buren, ar
pointed Robt. Lucas, of Ohio, as tn
first territorial governor of Iowa
When the latter was on his way to hi
; new home he stopped at the house G
!; a friend in Cincinnati where he me
young Parvin and being impressed fl
vorably with his ability and intell
} gence he appointed him as his privat
secretary. Soon after their arriva
here Mr.. Parvin was admitted to prac
| tice law in the territorial courts. Hi
certificate bears date of July 4, 1873;
) which shows him to have been tn,
first man admitted to the bar in tn,
: territory.
Soon after the organization of tn
territory, Gov. Lucas entrusted t
young Parvin the task of founding
: territorial library, giving him the sur
l of five thousand ($5,O00) dollars fc
: that purpose. He Immediately wel
east and purchased the books an
g these were the foundation of our pre-.
: ent state library. On his return tn
: governor appointed him librarian an
l from that date until his death he wa
V in charge of books, either there, a
t the State University or at Cedar Raj
t ids, where the greatest Masonic |
e brary in the world is located and c
ItHtv, s,.l- L l.