Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-07-05

Baptist. be seems when first we
speak of nim. to be only a poor
fanatic who preached the coming
OF the Messiah and who was be.
beaded at the behest of a woman
whose enmity be had incurred.
But when we call him a Master
Mason, when we contemplate
that ne TO lsbored in the same
quarries in which we have mason
lcaily worked. that he itrove to
lnculcate the same principles OF
truth and morality that we as
Master Masol.s are. taught to make
an integral part of our lives. then
the centuries they lay between
that historic character and today
fade even as the years of time
fade in the light of eternity and
we grasp that character as a sent
lent fact. Nay more as We study
carefully the life of this character
we lind vet another reason why he
should have been chosen as a fit
patron saint of our order. He
wss the one who announced the
plans and manner OF work of the
Messiah; He was sent by another;
he was great vet his greatness
was overshadowed by that of an.
other; he was entrusted with the
truth and would declare only that
even when accosted by those who
had the mower of life and death ;
and finally he yielded up his life
in defense of his integrity; His
work was not finished vet his
column was broken; the honors
50 Justly his due we're paid him
and in sacred history and as the
patron saint of our great order he
lives while centuries of Oblivion
cover those who prosecuted him.
Truly the parallel is. startling be-
tween his great character and tina
other whose life of usefulness anC
whose tragic and untimely dealt
, are so often pictured to every
] mason in a manner never to he for
| gotten. Whether. however. thu
cause be historic or symboliCa
matters not; the fact remains tina
the oath day of June known a
e the day of St. John the Baptis st
2 one OF the great festivals of thi
e ancient and honorable craft.
/ We have come from the east
J. from the west. from the mort
b and from the south, from ever
+ walk in life to gain new light TO
D the labors which still await us.
Y when the record is closed of tn
!. days meeting we can feel that "
IS have each received some though
t. which will tend to build for bin
IS the temple of his life. stronger
a better and purer, which will max
b hin more thoughtful of his dat
/, to his Coz. bis country and h
e fellOwman then we may feel TIL
our meeting has not been in vail
g At the conclusion of the a
a dress. a vote of thanks was tent
d cred the speaker, the ladies vi
N prepared and served the suppe
IS and the musicians who furnish,
10 music during supper.
m At eight O'Clock work was |
il. sumed in the lodge room. vine
N after finishing up the work on {
candidates, the illustrated Iectur
we're delivered by Bro. G.
Redheld, assisted by II. +. III
y. das with the lantern.
" At the conclusion of the lectul
several of the visitors and sol
of the members of Great Be
Lodge made a few remarks
y" the good Of the order. Amor
~ the little talks was an explanati
- OF the Grand Masonic Word
y Bro. E. c. Cole, which was We
much appreciated, both by
newly made masons. and the ole
- members.
The st. Johns Day celebrate
: was a great success in everys.
y spect, and the members of Grt