Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1905-03-23
1Exoo AUpRAN COUNTY, MISSOURI THURSDAY
JUDGE S. M, EDWARDS SPEECH.
With a Short History of This Well
Known Mason and His Masonic
Forefathers.

We take pleasure In publishing the
speech OF acceptance made by Judge
S. NJ. Edwards upon receiving the
Past High Priest jewel from the Royal
Arch Chapter OF A. F. and A. NJ.
Tuesday night We also present a
short history Of his life and bis Mason
ic antecedents
Judge S NJ Edwards was born In
Henry county, Va, and on becoming
2l years Of age was made Mason in
lodge IL at Pauldingville, Mo. He was
one Of the organizers Of Hebron and
Mexico, both OF this city. He was
Worshipful Master Of MEXICO lodge
many years. For q years he was
High Priest of Royal Arch Chapter in
this city, and for eight years Emmi-
nent Commander or Crusade Com
mandry No. 49,
While District Deputy Grand Mas
ter he instituted lodges at Youngs
Greek, Laddonia, and dedicated the
Martinsburg lodge. Jas. johnson, a
maternal grandfather, was made a
Mason by Geo. Washington during the
Revolutionary war, where he was
member Of Gen. Washington's "mili-
tary family"
In accepting the jewel presented to
him through Past Grand High Priest
It. B. Duncan, Judge Edwards said:
Companions: Sometimes there comes
a time in mems lives when silence is
more eloquent than fine words. 1t has
come to me tonight, for language at
my command can not express my
feeling. My heart alone can thank
you for this beautiful gift. In my
Masonic life many times | have been
honored with high positions by my
brethren and companions and always
beyond my deserts, but this regard
as the very cap-stone, for it surely
rounds out and finishes long life OF
Masonic labour.
When / look at these young men
who now surround me, and who in the
| future must bear the "burden and
heat of the day" l naturally turn to
the past--to those other companions
with whom In former days travelled
the trough and rugged road" but this
only sad memory. Most all Of them
have passed the fourth vail Of that
everlasting tabernacle and entered in
to the presence of that grand council
of eternity. A few Of us only remain
as links to hold the present. to the
distant and almost forgotten past.
You can hardly know how pleasing II
is to us when we look at this prosper
Gus and intelligent chapter to realize
1 and know that our "work shall not &c
unrewarded. These will build better
than we. My work and faithfulness
is for your Judgment. have for more
than so years wrought with you from
the checkered ground floor through
quarries, to the sad and solemn
scenes Of Calvary have stood with
you In the house OF mourning beside
the weeping widow and the helpless
orphan. We have together dropped
the sympathetic tear with the spring
of Acacea In many new-made grave
We have visited the sick, comfortet
the afflicted and given aims to tht
poor, and all this because we arr
Masons.
ALL HAIL TO FREE MASONRY.
Asa lion in strength, 1t has bravet
persecution and overcome betraya
and to-day with the swiftness Of thu
Eagle it goes in secrecy and silence OF
its mission Of love and charity to al
comers Of earth. God bless fre'
Masonry, God bless its brotherly love
its sweet charity and its everlasting
truth. Next to the Christian religion
it does more to refine, elevate and en-
noble the race than all beside.
My companions, this beautiful gif
is exceeding precious to me; not alon
because it is the gift of affection AM
the mark of esteem of good men, bu
also, because it types to me that fina
and greater reward that awits tn
faithful craftsman. That final re
ward of the ''white stone with the neN
name written thereon, which non
knoweth saving him that receiveth it.
That grand, that lnifible Word, th
aim and the end Of all Masonic Labor
This word that shall bring th
marvellous lights, the infinite life an
the everlasting peace to him that ovei
cometh.
/ thank you most sincerely CON
panions for this expression Of you
confidence and affection.
This memory shall stay with me
till all things Of time and sence sha
fade into the infinite and go henc
to be numbered with the dead.