Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-18
Barrett Chapter, r. A. M, OBJ
serves its Semi.Cens
tennial.
AN ENTERTAINMENT IS GIVEN
Large Company at Temple to Take
Part in Festivities-His-
tory of Lodge.

mat gathered at Masonic temple last
evening to celebrate The 5Oth anniver-
sary of Barrett chapter, No. IS, II.
y. NJ.
Addresses were made by George w.
Warvelle, of Chicago, past grand high
priest. and l.. c. Daugherty, of the
local chapter, both of an historical
nature bearing on the order.
The entertainment features were
furnished by the Nell Hines Horr Con-
cert company, of Boston, an crganiza-
ton of four young people offering a
varied and highly enjoyable program.
Miss Horr, an accomplished reader,
gave several numbers, and was fol-
lowed by Miss Catharine Cole, imper-
senator; Leon Batchelder. with selec-
tiOns on the flute and piccolo, and
Karl Il. Beedle, ceIlist, concluding
their entertainment with farce, a
Pair Of Evolutionary Aspirants.''
Mr.. Daugherty's address was as fol
lows:
History of Chapter.
The history of Barrett chapter, No.
Is, Royal Arch Masons. must needs be
like the poets annals of the poor.
short and simple. For, as Mrs. Pura-
burgle declares, how can one tell n
story without starting at the begin
ming. And the genesis of this chap
ter is not found in records. nor does
tradition rehearse its advent, nor vet
is any mention of its rise found in
the twice-told tales of its oldest mem
bers But, in spite of some ones fail
ure to surround its birth with a halo
or to inscribe its first proceedings on
imperishable tablets, yet the fact re-
mains that Barrett chapter had a ma
tai day; else how could happy we
celebrate its 5Oth anniversary?
In truth we tell. then, that on the
third day of September, \. d. 1853. y.
l. 1888, in certain upper room, on a
thoToughfare known as Second ave
nue., not many doors from where we
are now assembled. this chapter did
begin its corporate existence.
From our magma charta we learn
that the honored one who read and
expounded the law and devised plans
for the workmen was =. s. Whitaker;
that his support on the left was Will
liam Faris, and that he looked for
counsel and advice from u. Goldsmith.
But he who tied and Ioosed the strings
of revenue is mentioned not. And he
whose duty it was to summon the
craft to labor has no historic men
ton. Neither is he who took com
mand during the Introduction of
strangers among the wCrkmen men
toned in song or story: nor vet is the
trusted guide who led the three most
excellent masters all the way from
Babylon to assist in the great and
glorious work Of rebuilding the city
and house of our God known to fame.
The valiant guards who protected the
sacred altar, upon which burned in
cense both day and night. are lost to
memory. And that one who stood on
the outpost, warning of danger when
yet afar, has no place in our achiveS.
The companions of those earliest
years have left no recorded marks.
yet their work must have been such
as would pass the overseer's square,
else the structures they reared would
not have remained until this day.
Though no roster of those earlier
years is at hand, yet a perusal of the
journal that remains shows that the
chapter was composed of representa-
tive men.
Parallels the City.
THE growth of Barrett chapter
closely parallels the development of
the city in which it is located.
"In 1853 Rock Island was village,
now 10000 people delight to call this
gem of the Mississippi valley home.
''The charter members of this or
ganization were few, now 246 compan-
ions dwell together in unity.
I'VE honor those who laid the foun-
dations. We congratulate the chap
ter. that during the half century she
has had so many who have wisely
builded. For at this hour we have a
chapter large in numbers, strong in
resources and capable i'll achievement
1.-THE earliest minutes on file are
Sept PIE 1858. From May 6, 1862, to
Sept IS, 1864. the record is blank.
81 am told that during these trying
times no meetings were held because
so many members were absent in the
service of their country.
"From a reading of the records of
the chapter we conclude that its his
tory IS a fair epitome of human So
ciety everywhere. One is exalted to
leadership, another is denied further
companionship."
companionship. One comes from afaI
and enters into fellowship with us;
another sewers pleasant relations to
form new ties. One "a Seated iB the
oriental chair of King Solomon; an
other is tenderly tucked away in the
lowliest of beds.
"Ah! well, for us all the time will
soon come when, for each, there Will
be no more occasion for level or
plumbline, for trowel or gavel, for
compass or square. Our work will
have been completed. May it be the
happy lot of each to hear the SUI
preme Architect of the universe pro-
nounce the edifice we have reared,
good work. true work, perfect work
'.The soiourner that is within our