Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-10-13
Of Maine In Its 48th
Somi-annuaI Convention.
Business Matters Attended to
With Reports Of Officers.
Interesting Addresses by Grand Chief Temp
lar Rldeout and +. ". 6owen.

Brooks, Me, Oct 12.-The Grand
Lodge of Maine, Good Templars, met
for the 4Sth semi-annual session in
Union hall, Brooks, with a good at
tendance, Wednesday morning. Most
of the officials Of the lodge were pres
ent. the session being called to order
about 1890 by Grand Chief Templar
w. A. Rideout of Calais.
The following Grand Lodge officers
were in attendance: Grand Chief
Templar w. A. Rideout, Calais; Grand
Vice Templar Mrs. Francis kimball
Auburn; Grand Secretary George E.
Brackett. Belfast; Grand Treasurer
Frank C. Holt. Norridgewock; Grand
Superintendent Juvenile Temples Mrs
II. A. Ivers, Waterville; Grand Assist
ant Secretary Mrs. f. l.. Bracket
Belfast; Past Grand Chief Templar a.
H. sNewbert. Rockland; Grand
Electoral Superintendent Frank W.
Gowen. Waterville.
The morning session was devoted TO
the organization and receiving of del
egates A short time was devoted 10
business after which several candi-
dates were initiated into the Grand
Lodge degree.
Vacancies in the official board and
delegations were filled by appointment,
the delegates of last spring holding
over, and each new lodge being en-
titled to four delegates
With the opening of the afternoon
session came the reports of the va
rious officers first among them being
that Of Grand Chief Templar w. a.
Rideout, which is given in part below.
Another report of interest was that
given by Frank w. Gowen, grand
electoral superintendent, OF Water
vile.
Grand Chief Templar Rideout said
I'm part:
1--WE express our honest convictions
when we state that we believe that the
SturSis law in the hands of an honest
Governor, is a great power for good.
It's enforcement during the short period
it has been with us has been the source
of untold blessings to the inhabitants
of our State. Its expense will be but a
small fraction of the wealth that its
strict enforcement will provide and is
not to be taken into consideration when
VIC tilIllh u tlC II VII
make happy for there is no price too
great to pay for the freedom of man
kind from the awful bondage of strong
drink. l hope we shall feel it duty to
do all in our power to aid in the en-
forcement of our prohibitOry law.
81 have been very creditably informed
that one of our Grand Lodge members
whel visiting subordinate and district
lodges has been encouraging dancing
and playing games at lodge meetings
and in open session he denounced Sec
tion IL. Article 8 of the Grand Lodge
constitution as that 'damnable clause
and at the same time told about lodge
he visited and where he installed their
officers. which he had no power to do
as he does not hold a deputy's commits
sion, and at that lodge meeting they
had a recess of half an hour, during
which time they danced, played games,
etc. and he said that Is what ought tC
be done if we want to build up the or
der.
"Any member indulging in such con-
duct violates his obligation and is H.
able to trial for the same. l consider
the foregoing matter of considera tioi
by this Grand Lodge as such advice
causes a vast amount of dissatisfaction
among our young members. DanCint
and game playing We're not prohibiteC
by our order until it became neces
sity and we find that the Patrons o
Husbandry have been compelled {,
adopt the same restrictions to order t.
prevent the loss of their best members
Any member that encourages violation
of our laws. certainly does not have tn
best interests of the order at heart.
"What a relief it would be If W
could consider the question Of resub
mission IA thing of the past, but whc
we find newspapers of influence advO
eating rcsubmssion, we are forced t
acknowledge that it is not a dead ques
ton. and we are impressed with tn
strength Of the combined forces wit
which we have to contend. 1t seem
very strange that men who declare i
favor of prohibition, advocate resuh
mission, for If we should vote on tn
question and prohibition be sustaine
by an increased majority. nothing /
gained. as we are left with the sam
law and the same inhabitants to en-
force 1t that we had before the vote wa
the union of all the prohibition senti
VI tuE Nidlt Ill ollt great prom
hition army with all the powers devot
ed to the enforcement of our liquor lay
and thereby enlighten the world in tn
rich blessings derived from enforce
prohibition.
"Our enemy. the combined liquo
TRAFFIC of the nation, has unlimitc
means at its command and il the hon
or of the press and politicians can b
bought. the magnitude of the price wi
not in any way prevent the sale.
THE repeal of our prohibitory In,
would be the grandest victory for tn
enemy. If the repeal of our law is tn
great aim of our enemies. surely tn
aim of the friends of the law shoul
be TO sustain it with their Who'll
strength. We should ourselves in a
ways try to interest pulpit and pres
In our work and keep right on prayin,
working and striving for freedom fro,
the rum curse until we have made III
grand old state of Maine the mo,
sober. happy spot on earth. Let tn
be our aim'
One of the interesting addresses
the afternoon was that by Frank y