The Ocala banner., 1906-10-19

! slaughtered annually; its beautiful
rivers. majestic lakes. and it's far.
famed Silver Springs. and Blne
Springs. whose .limpid waters
lclear as crystal and more
transparent than light. where sixty
feet below the surface OF the water
may be seen innumerable and indis-
lcribable, variagated colors. which to
the steady gaze Of wondrous eyes gilt
tiers and glimmers and glows like
sparkling diamonds of rainbow hues,
which seem to be gently floating In
ETHEREAL space as the finishing touches
OF the artistic perfection of beauty
of the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
Marion county today stands abreast
with the most progressive counties Of
the state in progress and material
prosperity. Its officres are perhaps
in advance of some of the rank ami
file of her people on lines Of progress.
thank God that I am about to real
ize one Of my highest aspirations dur
ing the past fifteen years. which was
to see an up-to-date court house erect
ed in Ocala, In keping with the neces-
sites OF the people of a great, rich,
progressive ard prosperous county. I
would rather have my name inscrib-
ed on this corner stone as an humble
co-worker with my efficient associate
members of the board Of county CON-
missioners Of Marion county. Fla,
aided by the citizens advisory CON-
mittee. and our county advisor, all
OF whom have stood shoulder to
shoulder with me in all OF the com
Iplex and difficult problems we mad to
overcome. than to become governor at
Florida. president OF the United
States. or one Of the bloated billion
aires of the land.
tLank you fair ladies' for your
presence on this occasion to aid ms In
extending a welcome to visitors, your
presence and your smile speaks wei
come that is louder than words to our
distinguished visitors from beyond the
limits OF our county. In behalf OF
the people of Marion county ex-
tend TO all visitors q cordia, welcome
to our beautiful city and fertile coun-
ty.
To you, most Worshipful Grand
Master. and through you most wor-
shipful Sir. in behalf OF our people,
| extend to the Most worshipful
Grand Lodge Of Florida. +. G. a. NJ,
and all visiting Masons. q most fra
ternal welcme among us on this i'm
portant epoch In the history OF Mar
ion county. Again ] say to all. well
come. thrice welcome among Us.
Most Worshipful Grand Master, az
ter introducing you to respond to the
address of welcome. commit 70 you
the work OF laying the corner stone,
knowing full well that when Il Is
done will be found to be square work.
plumb work and true work, and Just
such work as we are authorized TO re-
ceive.
Ladies'. gentlemen and fellow citi-
zens, 1t affords me great pleasure to
introduce TO you. Most worshipful
Charles w. Johnson. Grand Master
of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
OF Florida. F. & A. M.
II. w. LONG.
Chairman Board of County Commits
sioners. Of Marion County. Florida.
Most worshipful Charles w. John
son, Grand Master Of the state lodge
OF Masons, In a clear. distinct and
pleasing manner Responded to the
address Of welcome as follows:
1t Is indeed an honor to respond
to an address of welcome extended to
a Grand Lodge OF the greatest and
most ancient fraternity existing on
the face of the earth. II is. indeed. n
pround privilege. and when your
kind invitation was received Il was
accepted by me in behalf OF this
Grand Lodge with feelings Of great
pleasure and qualification. But now.
find myself in the position OF
the farmer who was breaking a pair
of steers. which he held by a rope.
Finding 1t necessary TO let down
some bars he took turn OF the
rope around his leg and at that In
slant something frightened the steer
"A tha farmer began a wild and err
ratio journey over the ground and
was left In very diiapidated condI-
ton indeed. His neighbors came to
bis assistance. gathered him up and
laid him together and after he had
revived, one Of them asked him why
he had done SO foolish a thing. He
replied. We'll. had not gone two
rods before / seen my mistake" Rut
we are rejoiced to have come to this
enterprising capital OF the county OF
Marion, to have experienced your