Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-02
IT'S ANNUAL BANQUET
MASONIC VETERAN ASSOCIATION
AT SOCIAL FUNCTION.
Address by Deputy Grand Master Wet.
more-President Larner Serves
as POSTMASTER.

President Noble D. Larner of the Wash
ington Masonic Veteran Association pre-
sided at the seventeenth annual banquet of
that organization Saturday evening. 1t was
held at Freund's. 10th street. About Sixty
prominent Masons were present, including
the deputy grand master Of Masons, James
A. Wetmore, and Grand High Priest George
C. Ober.
This association admits no spring chick
ems to membership. Every one Of its
members has belonged to the craft for more
than twenty-one years. some Of them for
twice that long, and a very few for three
times that period.
After the completion of the menu Presi-
dent Larner called on number OF promi-
nent members for remarks. There were
several very interesting responses. Elk
Representative w. E. Andrews Of Nebraska
made a peculiarly happy talk. President
E. s. Parker Of the Metropolitan National
Bank. Henry Clark of Nebraska, the deputy
grand master and the grand high priest
were among those replying to toasts.
Mr.. Wetmore's- Address.
Deputy Grand Master Wetmore said, in
response to The Grand Lodge"
Although l lack few years yet of
being a Masonic veteran, 1 am no stranger
to this festive board, around which are
gathered annually brethren whose interest
in the fraternity, whose efforts to advance
it's welfare, and whose wisdom in council
have done so much to make the Grand
Lodge Of the District Of Columbia esteemed
and respected wherever the influence OF
Masonry is felt.
1T has been my pleasure and my priv
ilege to be present on several OF these oc-
casions, and tonight l appear before you
for the second time as the substitute for
the grand master to respond to the senti-
ment, THE Grand Lodge of the District OF
Columbia" In his absenuce bring, from
the grand body, Of which he is the honored
head, to the grand organization here as
sembled. her cordial greetings and hearty
good wishes on this, the occasion Of your
Sevent zenith annual feast.
ITO say of one that he is veteran
either in the arts of war or Of peace-is to
proclaim him experienced. When I look
about me and observe the brethren who
constitute the membership of the Washing
ton Masonic Veterans Association, and re-
fleet on how much experience counts for in
this institution of ours which has existed
so long and has witnessed the making Of
so much history, during which time it has
recorded SO little of its own l realize how
it is that the Grand Lodge of the District
of Columbia has been able to establish and
maintain reputation for being careful and
conservative in the administration Of her
Lodge shall heed the voice of experience
In her councils so long will she surely
avoid pitfalls and perils and be able to
maintain her proud position in the Masonic
world.
II am of those who believe that the good
days were the days of old Not in pes
simiStfc, but rather in a comparative sense;
for 1 believe the days we are now living.
are better ones, and that the best Of all
will be the days which are yet to come.
For also believe that the world is grow
ing better and that Masonry Is exerting a
powerful influence for the accomplishment
of that result in every quarter Of the globe
where its efforts are not throttled. Where
ever the life of the citizen Is priced by the
recognized and protected by the law,
wherever freedom of conscience is per-
mitted to exist unfettered by bigotry and
untrammeled by intolerance, there Mason
ry fourishes and liberty abides.
What influence Masonry may have ex-
erted in the formation Of this government
may never be known. That Masons were
prominently Identified in that great work is
undoubted. That some of our principles
may have entered in the finished product is
probable. That the principle recognized by
our form Of government of the equality of
all men before the law, may have been in
spired by our practice Of regarding each
member as the equal of every other on the
common level Of the lodge room floor, Is
possible.
Those Present.
William ]. Acker w. s. Anderson, G.
York Alice. J. B. Austin. George W. Bal
loch, c. F. Bennett, James G. Bowen, Z. ].
Brutt, F. NJ Detweiler, David G. Dixon
James M. Fowler, George Gibson, John F.
Gibson, Andrew Glass. Charles w. Han
cock, A. M. Hoover, w. w. Nottingham
John Q. Larman. James Lansburgh, A W.
Kelley, ]. H. Jochum- Charles L. Patten,