The Ocala banner., 1906-10-19
ocALA.s Big DAY.
tcoNTINUED FROM PAGE 1s)


humanity, the only real source of
truth and of perfect and absolute
justice.
am proud that this Grand Lodge
is to lay the corner stone of this
building; am proud. too. OF the fact
that carved upon the everlasting stone
Of its walls the name of your honored
fellow citizen and one OF our best
beloved Past Grand Masters. Henry
w. Long.
Masonry through tradition traces
its origin through the almost forgot
ten centuries Of 1900 years. Why has
this great fraternity been thus perpet-
uated? Because 1t is founded upon
the immutable rock OF truth; on the al
tar Of every Masonic lodge is spread
the holy scriptures accepted by us as
guide of our faith and practice. Be-
cause there. has been and there Is no
Institution among men which SO iov-
ingly and earnestly teaches the faith
.erhood of God and the brotherhood Of
man.
This she has done throughout the
ages Of her existence. unchanged by
political policies of the state. undis-
mayed by anathemas of the church
and for the unborn centuries that are
yet to come from the womb of time.
will this great lesson with its gos-
pei OF peace. love and fraternity be
perpetuated through her unchanged
and Interchangeable principles?I An
American Mason should be pre-emi-
nently q patriotic citizen. OF the
56 patriots and brave men who sign
ed the declaration Of independence.
81 Of them were Free Masons. When
the constitutional convention met
and which framed the constitution of
our country, the greatest charter
ever drafted by the wisdom of man;
Of that convention of az members 81
of them were Free Masons, and we
today glory In the work of our fore
fathers. are pround that we are Ma
sons and should cndeavor to emulate
them in our endeayor for the COM
mon good.
While Il Is true that this great fra.
ternity does not enter into polirics.
vet It is encumbent upon each one
OF us and upon each one of you. my
fellow citizens. to resolutely set the
seal of our individual disapproyal up-
on the wrong-doer and to UNFOLD the
hands of the men or men wto are
endeayoring to lead in the right path.
I'm fares the land to Fastening ills
a prey. where wealth accumulates and
men decay"
This occasion is significant as ar
educator u what IN best In American
citizenship and this grand lodge will,
with ancient form and ceremony, de-.
clare the ethical beauty of this build
ing to stimulate q desire to shape our
very action agreeably to the conmon
good. Let us by such consecrating
ceremonies keep alive contention for
the common good until our contsn-
tions shall become that noble conten-
ton or rather emulate as
to who can work and best agree. That
IL the. purpose OF this building, for
the general good. We have come to
gether In Gods name. In the name of
all tnat Is best and great, to buil.l
and keep 1t for the common good.
Because OF this we lay the corner
stone OF this court house In especta
ton that 1t Will produce a character
and citizenship consistent with Ameri-
can idsais anu framed ai'er 'ne iolt!
pa''etl sci psioie us Nv the in'hof
esl h4'nes NOT po'n " u'e'
fne former cnairmens OF the
boards OF county commissioners were
tnen introduced ana bowed their
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS They were
Messrs. Sol. Benjamin. Frank Harris.
Louis FOX. ID. A. Miller. Il. L. Car
ney and w. T. Allen.