Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-06
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
AT WASHINGTON ANNIVERSARY
IN PHILADELPHIA.
Significance Of Masonry and It's Part
in the National Life Of
the Country.

President Roosevelt was the principal guest
and speaker yesterday afternoon at the ses-
qui-centennial anniversary celebration by the
Grand Lodge Of the Most Ancient and Hon
orable Fraternity of Free and Accepted
Masons of Pennsylvania of George Wash
ington's apprenticeship into the Masonic
fraternity of Philadelphia.
The celebration was exclusive, being linn
tied to one representative from each sub
ordinate lodge in Pennsylvania. together
with the members of the Grand Lodge and
it's committees. Grand Master Tennis de-
livered the address of welcome. Charles A.
Gallagher. most worthy grand master Of
Massachusetts, responding.
The Presidents Speech.
President Roosevelt spoke as follows:
mo man can be insensble of the honor of
addressing a body like this on an occasion
like this l should think that every man
would be a better man for having been here
today. I thank you, indeed, for having
given me the chance of being present.
speak with freedom here that is i'm
possible anywhere else, and with GER
tainty of not being misunderstood. 1t seems
to me that that which this country needs
more than everything else is not to preach
only-but to practice the virtues we try to
realize through Masonry and to show to
8
lived-Washington -the homage of deeds,
not merely of words
Zone of the things which attracted me
so greatly to Masonry, that l hailed the
chance of becoming a Mason, was that it
really did live up to what we, a govern
ment, are pledged to, treating each man on
his merits and as man. When Brother
George Washington went into lodge of
fraternity he went into the one place in the
United States where he stood below or
above his fellows according to their official
position in the lodge; he went into the one
place in the United States where the idea
of our government was realized as far as
it is humanity possible for mankind to real
lie lofty ideal. And | know that you will
not only understand me, but sympathiZe
with me when l say that great though my
pleasure is in meeting you here your
guest in this beautiful temple and in meet
ing such a body of men this that l am
now addressing, l think my pleasure would
be even greater in going into some little
lodge where | meet the plain, hardworking
men-men who work with their hands-and
meet them footing of genuine equality
not false equality, depending on each man
to be a decent man and fairdealing Mason
Lesson of Brotherhood.
THE lesson of brotherhood, first and
foremost is to learn that lesson with a full
heart on the one hand, and without a weak
head on the other. The lesson of brother
hood,-that is the lesson that has got to be
taught and got to be learned and applied to
us as a people if we are to solve the great
industrial and social problems of today. If
we could get wageworkers and employers
in any given occupation or in any given
district in lodge together, | guarantee the
results. 1 guarantee what will happen Is
not that true? Do you not think SO? (Cries
of Yes. yes,'D Exactly, and l will guar
antee it. If that thing could happen we
would come always into the lodge each re-
specting his brother and each wanting to
do what was good for his brother; each
recognizing that in our government every
man of us has to be his brothers keeper.
Masonry not only bids us and teaches us
in this direction, but makes care for
the brethren that stumble and fall, and
for the wives and little ones of those who
are beaten down in the harsh battle Of life.
OF all things, it does not teach us to make
believe that there are not any obstacles: 1t
does not teach to make believe that life
can somehow be made soft and easy for
every one; it cannot be. For many of us
life is going to be very hard. For each one
of US who does anything it is going to have
hard stretches in it: otherwise men would
not do anything. If a man does not meet
with difficulties, if he does not put himself
in a way where he has to overcome them.
he would not do anything that is worthy of
being done.