Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-16

nation the SMALLEST QOnatlOnS are just as
essential and Is much appreciated as are
the munificent gifts. so we come tonight
and say to all who have aided us, that we
thank You from the depths of our hearts.
and when temple shall have been
erected. and it shall stand forth as thing
of beauty and a joy forever may 1t stand
as glorious monument, for many years
TO come, to commemorate the noble spirit
of charity that prompted your contribu-
lions to a cause grand and work SO
laudable.
Extends Welcome.
And now / extend to one and all most
hearty welcome to this fair, and bid you
come early and stay late and enjoy your
selves to the fullest extent. Here come
and fellowship with us, and with your
presence and good cheer not only con-
tribute to our enjoyment. but feast your
serves upon the good things which we
have TO offer you on this festal occasion.
1T affords me great pleasure to announce
that we may have with us this evening
the president of the Board of Commission
ers of the District of Columbia and the
grand master of our noble order, who will
make short addresses in the opening ex,
erciseS of this evening. We not only feel
honored but we are delighted in having
these distinguished citizens with us on
this occasion; and without taking any
more of your time l take great pleasure
in presenting to you Commissioner Mac
farland, who has attained greater dlstinc-
ton a public speaker and as q public
official, throughout the length and breadth
of our great country, than has any OF his
distinguished predecessors He has dur
ing his three terms of Office as Com
missioner of the District, taken the great
est interest in all matters pertaining to
the advancement of the public welfare,
and in the improvement of the conditions
of our fellow citizens. whether 1t has been
civic or religious matters, or in the noble
work of charity. Wherever, either as an
official or as a citizen, or as man. ne
could say or do anything for the improve
ment of the municipal affairs or social
conditions of people, he has been
found most ready and willing to give OF
his time and of his great talents
The Commissioners Speech.
Commissioner Mcfarland was greeted in
an enthusiastic and fattering manner and
VIXEN the applause had died away he made
a brief little speech in which he said:
The President has pressed the button
and you will do the rest No, we will do
the rest. For this is more than Masonic
undertaking. Like every great enterprise
of this character, ii is a community I'M
dertakng. Just as the community. with
out regard to crecds or colors. built the
Young Men s Christian Association building.
lust as it is raising the George Washington
University fund, il will build the new
Masonic Temple. as thing which the ma
tional capital must have. If this were
simply a Masonic gathering. | would not be
speaking here, but because ii represents all
the people ! have right to stand here
and to say for the national capital that 1t
will give success to the enterprise.
You who are giving not only your money
but your time and thought in the leader
ship and management will have the support
of your feliow-citiZens throughout the Dis
trict of Columbia. You know that l am
one of those who proud of the ma
tional capital proud of its people. the sub
stantial and permanent elements of our
population proud of its present and conf
dent of its future. The people of the Dis
trCt need no apologies and have no apollo
gies to make. Knowing ! do something
of the real life of all the great cities of our
own country and Canada. and of some of
the cities of western Europe by personal
contact. | am sure that nowhere is there
greater public spirit civic pride than
here, just as nowhere is there so keen and
public opinion.
notwithstanding the misrepresentation
of the ignorant or the malicious, chiefly
foreign critics who do not understand our
conditions the simple truth ought to eX-
alt the just pride of every American. From
the nineteen original proprietors who,
der George Washington's solicitation, gave
the national government more than half of
the land of the federal city, through the
seventy eight years when the residents
supported the national capital entirely, and
the twenty mine years that they have paid
half while all the rest of the country has
tributed more than their quota of volun-
teers in every national war and have given
more in proportion for relief in every ma