The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-01-14

OF LennerG, their selections being o
high order and faultlessly rendered
The officers were installed by M. w.
P. q. M, Frank W. Haven. assiste,
by II W., g. s. W., Asa P. Fitch
acting as grand marshal. It was es
timated that fully 200 were present
60 of whom were members of the fra
ternity, The past masters of Uric
lodge present were George Fl. Baker
and W. H. Hall. Among the nota
BILE events of the evening were the
remarks by Retiring Master W. HI.
Hall and the members of the grand
lodge. Worshipful Master W.. H.
Hall welcomed the guests in the name
of the officers and members Of Uriel
lodge. Brother f. w. Ravens pro.
voked the mirth of the audience by
his reference to the goat and gridiron,
and afterward aroused the deeper
feelings by his very fine rendition OF
Rudyard Kipling's poem, "The Build
ers. - Brother J. H. Barlow noted
some of the characteristics of the or
der, referring to the open Bible as an
absolute requisite, the foundation and
rock on which legitimate Masonry is
built. Brother A.. P. Fitch recited
instances within his personal knowl-
edge of the beneficent purposes and
results of the fraternity. Brother
Leonard Smith closed the speech max
ing by extolling the principles of, Ma
sonrys which teach the fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man.
The stereopticon exhibition Of some
of the emblems of the order and like
nesses of members Of the grand lodge
and Of Uriel lodge proved to be one
of the most attractive features of the
evening. An effort by the members
of Uriel lodge to show some tangible
appreciation of the untirings efforts
of Retiring Master w. Fl. Hall. to
bring the lodge up to a high state Of
efficiency and prosperity eliminated
at this function by the presentation
to him byJ W. George W. Bracket,
on behalf of the lodge, of solid gold
past masters jewel. In presenting
it Mr.. Brackett said =
Worshipful Master Hall: The ia
bles are turned; there can be no ac-
ton without some reaction. Many
times during the year you have called
different members of our lodge to the
center, and then in neat speech you
have preented them with some token
of our appreciation and esteem; or
else, without any ado, you have pre-
sented the lodge with stereopticon
and slides, that we may the better un-
derstand the lectures and work of the
lodge. All these things have bound
the members and officers. of Uriel
lodge closer together. We have felt
that Masonry did not exist for the
high, the low, the rich, the poor, but
that it was the internal and not the
external qualifications Of man that
should render him worthy to be made
q Mason. But as I said, the tables
are turned; it. is your turn tonight
to be the listener and not the speaker.
Now just a word about the year 1908,
the year,you have presided as master
Of Uriel. lodge. Nineteen hundred
and three was one of the most pros
porous, yes, the most prosperous, year
in the History Of The lodge. We have
raised12 candidates into the sublime
- aiAs of Masonry; the furniture
Of o dge has been materially add
I'd to Ter balance in the treasury
has increased from a few dollars to q
few hundred. dollars; our influence
has extended wider and farther than
ever before. VI. In short, the lodge has
grown. from q poor, week, country
lodge to- a.. prosperous, fourishing in
stitution. Much: of this, worshipful
master, can be attributed to what
you have been able to do and what
you have done for the lodge There
Is great significance in that state
ment. There are many men in the
world who have the desire to do no.
bic act, but not the means; there are
other men who have the means, but
not the desire; and when we find a
man with both the means and the de-
sire to aid worthy cause he should
oe singled out from his fellow men,
be should be honored. And we have
nonored you. We have carried: you
upward through the chairs 10 junior
thence to senior warden, and
We have elected you to the exalted
position of worshipful master But
I'D things pass away, all things have
become new. That could not last.
You haye seen fit to step down into
The ranks, that You might not be a
nindrance in. the way of any worthy
brother travelling toward the east
And so what more fitting than that
We should present you at this time
With substantial token of our appre-
station and esteem? Therefore, Worl
'hipfuls Master Hall, 1 have been seT
ected by the officers and members Of
his lodge to present to you q past
masters jewel. It 10 AN emblem of
and the badge of an hon
,red Mason. It will be yours to weaf
an honorable life, and at
your death to be passed to the men
oers of your family, that it may be
carried down from generation to gem
,ration, and your children's children
will thereby the better understand
the esteem and respect in which Yen
we're held by the officers and menu
oers of Uriel lodge. And now, wor-
,hipful master, as you vacate the
chair you have SO ably occupied, We
wish you a long and happy career,
narred by none of the accidents or
of life. And when at last
he Supreme Author of the Universe
translates you from this imperfect to
hat all perfect, glorious and celestial
odge above, and your trembling soul