West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-11-23
Proceedings OF the Grand Lodge 4. o.
o. r. Meeting at Charleston,
November 18th, 1905.
Reported Specially for The Argus.

order by Grand Master w. 1. Can.
ter, of Huntington.
The address of welcome was made
by +. +. Hood, city recorder, on
behalf of the people of Charleston
and DIR. J. l.. Stump on behalf of
Kanawha Lodge No. IS, and on be
half of the Grand Lodge Grand
Master w. l. Canter made the re
ply.
Two hundred and thirty-two Past
Grands were given the Grand Lodge
Degrees, which was a record break.
er. After the distribution of the
Grand Officers reports appointing
committees, the session adjourned
to take part in the dedication of the
l. o. .. F. Temple of Kanawha
Lodge No. IS. This took place at
the rear of the building where
platform had been erected. About
two thousand attended the exercises
which lasted about one hour.
Grand Master w. l. Canter called
the assemblage to order and Dept.
G. M. S. p. Bell delivered the ritu-
alistic invocation after which an
ode was sung,
George Rathbone, grand marshal,
and his dedication team, consisting
of Henry G. Moore, herald of the
north; Joel CottrelI, herald of the
south; ]. Q. Cottrell, herald of the
east; and S. G.. Smith, herald of the
west took their stations on the stand
and the grand marshal delivered the
opening speech in an impressive
manner. Then at his command the
herald of the north brought for the
erection of the altar the white stone,
emblem of purity; the herald of the
south the pink stone, emblem of
friendship; the herald of the east
the blue stone, emblem of love; and
the herald of the west the scarlet
stone, emblem of truth. The her
aids of the north and south brought
the green stone, emblem of faith I;
and the heralds of the east and west
brought the gold stone, emblem of
hope; and all four brought the royal
purple, emblem of charity. These
stones were laid up in the altar shoe
as brought to the stand, and when
finished the altar was surmounted
by a white section, upon which
stood a lamp ready for lighting. w.
]. Wilton, representing the build
ing, presented the building to the
Grand Master for dedication in rit-
ualistic form, and the Grand Master
accepted the charge.
With the ritualistic work of the
order, Grand Master Canter and
Grand Senior Warden Woodbridge,
proceeded to dedicate the temple at
the end Of which the Grand Marshal
was hidden to proclaim the dedica-
ton complete. This he did through
his four heralds, who bore the pro-
clamatlon to the four points of the
compass, the herald of the north
sprinkling the altar with water for
friendship; the herald of the south
lighting the torch in the name of
love; the herald of the east sowed
the seeds OF truth; the herald of the
west scattered flowers to faith, hope
and charity. Each of these actions
was followed by a stanZa from an
appropriate ode by the choir.
Grand Master Canter then deliv.
cred short but interesting address
in which he reclted something of the
history of the new building, the
choir sang the doxology, the Grand
Chaplain pronounced the benedic.
ton, and the dedication was com.
pleted.
The principal part of Thursday
was taken up by the locating of the
Home for Odd Fellows and was the
cause of more interest and excite
ment than has been shown over any
other feature. Ohio county, Cairo.
Richie county, Elkins, Randolph
county and Mason City, Mason
county were reported by the Home
committee as wanting the Home.
Hon. Virgil A. Lewis for thirty
minutes extolled the merits ofMason
City. f. d. Talbot, Mayor of
Elkins, followed Mr. Lewis. Hon.
Fl. {. Lockney Of Ohio county was
the next speaker and was followed
by +. S. McCollum Of Cairo. The
proposition OF Elkins Lodge was
considered much the best as ro4
acres Of fine land adjacent to the
city, worth SIS, 700, vas offered as
bonus. Mason City and Cairo
also offered sites, but Ohio county
wanted the Grand Lodge 10 pay for
the land there BY vote Of 1873 to
90 the Grand Lodge decided to 10.
cate the Home at Elkins.