Evening star., 1903-07-27

memory of one who was among its most
loved and most distinguished members.
Sixty years and more of his life gave
he to the cause of Masonry; sixty
years and more went he in and out
among his brethren, ever exemplifying
the fratenral spirit which all who knew
him will recall ready at all times to go
out of his way to serve a worthy brother
remembering that brothers welfare as his
own, wise in counsel. true in his friendship
and the confidence in him reposed.
Il need not recte his Masonic record nor
his achievements as a scholar They are
set forth so fully in our records that their
repetition here is not required He never
forgot the three great duties which as a
Mason he was charged to inculcate-his
duty to God his neighbor and himself He
mentioned the sacred name with that rever-
entail awe due from a creature to his
Creator, imploring His aid in all laudable
undertakings and esteeming Him as the
chief good. Toward his neighbor he acted
upon the square and obeyed the Golden
Rule. and toward himself he avoided that
which would bring reproach upon his own
name or that of his family or the brother.
hood with which he was SO long and %
honorably connected.
Faithful Church Member.
Il hardly need to say that such a man.
though not a bigot, was d true and faithful
worshiper in his church l have hereto
fore taken occasion to say that Masonry ia
a.
ligion, but by reason of the fact that 1t
teaches its followers to be good and true
men 1t has been oftentimes designated as
religions handmade. Our fraternity would
not have men to laud the sanity or the
satisfied and fail to succor the sinful or the
suffering. Look over the names Of those
who are most active in the church, of their
officers and their strongest supporters and
you will find many who have knelt at the
Masonic altar and who are Jealous in their
LOYALTY nd ftc
William Reynolds Singleton was living
witness to the fact that a man may be a
faithful supporter of the church of AL
mighty God and at the same time consistent
and earnest in his efforts to be true and
faithful to the grand principles Of Ma
sonry.
Origin Of tho Movement,
while the first official action looking to
the erection Of this monument was taken
by Pentalpha Lodge, No. %. whose resolu-
ton, reported to the Grand Lodge, induced
the latter body to formally assume charge
of the project the feeling was general
among the brethren that to the memory OF
so pure Mason, noble a man, a monu-
ment should be promptly erected. Most
Worshipful Brother Standiford, who was
grand master at the time Of Brother Sin
gletons death, was among the first to pro-
pose q suitable memorial On the very
day of the funeral Of our late brother
while returning from the cemetery Past
Grand Master George w. Baird upon whose
shoulders after the death Of Brother Single
ton fell the mantle of the chairmanship of
the important committee on correspondence
suggested to those Immediately about him
that Masonry owed to itself the duty OF
erecting a suitable monument to the men,
ory of the distinguished brother who had
just gone to his last rest. The idea met
with hearty approval, and upon the sug-
gestfOn of those present Brother Baird toox
upon himself the task of raising the neces-
sary funds. His efforts met with gratifying
success until the action of the Grand Lodge
in assuming the task made further endeav-
or on his part needless. l mention this fact
to show how strong has been the devotion
of our craft to the memory Of him who lies
here beneath the sod. 1t readily showed its
appreciation of his worth as a man and as q
Mason.
Fortunate indeed have we been that to
give tangible evidence of this feeling among
the brethren we were enabled to secure the
services Of SO talented an artist as Brother
Dunbar The skill with which he nodded
the cold and soulless clay and produced In
enduring bronze the well-knOwn features
of him in whose honor we are assembled
today, has caused us all to marvel. AS we
look upon the sculptor's work we arc en-.
abled to realize the brilliancy of that great
intellect; the gentleness Of his nature per
vades our being. There is a saying which
has passed into proverb. that you may
paint the rose, but you cannot paint the
fragrance 1t exhales. And yet, gazing npon
this masterpiece today. we seem again to
be under the influence Of that Happiness.
of mind. that abundance Of good cheer
which always characterized william Rey.
nolds Singleton.
The Mission Of Masonry.
'Tt is tho Office Of Masonry to bind men
together In that tie which 10 born Of brother