The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-04-21
Address OF Hon.
"a M Sllo walter

II sF55GIllF
3spELlyERED ATsTHEs EAsTEResEF
VICES OF MISUNDERSTANDING
ERY,5 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
In what II shall have to say. on hi.
occasion. trust 1t will be borne ii
& tr'st l here has o. en- no :: frcr, 4
Prepare scholarly essay. or 10 de
liver discourse calculated to /. ,n ad
miration or approval. by reason Of the
diction or rhetoric in which It is cloth
/ ed. II, 4 ! SIS
But II will be remembered that Ii
our TeInplar pilgrimages,e,we have
learned that there Is nothing co.npar
able TO truth" and it is my desir, this
afternoon to bring to you plain. sim
PIE message OF truth. born of my. OBJ
servation. experience, and sincere CON
Fietion. And, IL ms utteranc.s would
seem to be at variance with my mas,
communications with you. measure m,
words. not by the past, but by wha.
now hope and shall constantly strive
to attain. 2
About nineteen centuries ago an an
gel appeared in a garden near Jeru
salem. and kneeling. rolled away q
stone that marked the interment three
days before. OF the cruclfed Jesus OF
Nazareth: and from that tomb arose
according to the Divine plan OF re-
demption. the Savior OF the world. and
with His resurrection also the dawn
of life eternal for all men who should
believe upon. and nut themselves in
right relation with Him..
This day. or rather this event. or
better still this epoch. has since been
commemorated by the establishment
and observance OF feast day: and
throughout the world. Easter Sunday
mas been universally recognized us the
greatest festival OF the Christian
church. and regularly observed by all
denominations OF that church as well
as by many appenlant organizations
and orders. not the least OF which ia
the Ordor of Knights Templar. And in
itself. the very nnme Easter. and in
Its leriviviation and the egg its sym.
Dol. all signify tlrawn-resurrectIo -
new birth. &.
Hut how many OF lis Sir KNIGHTS.
who have in a perfunctory manner
subscribed to the confession of faith
requisite to membership In this val.
liant and mngnanlmous order. have Sc,
riously contemplated. after We have
once left the chamber OF reflection.
the solemn import OF the pledges we
have made. and the obligations we
have assumed. But have uuieted the
still small voice. by the suggestion and
conclusion that 1t is all more or less
form. or at best. that It is not intend
ell to apply to us now. And SO how
many hours are wasted, how many tnl-
ents are destroyed. how much vitality
Is dlssipatetl. how much virtue is sacrl-
feed. how many lives destined to grow
and develop into the perfect men and
to bless. ennoble and enrich the world
are absolutely FILTERED away. simply
because we do not take life seriously
simply because We do not permit our
serves 10 come 10 n realization of the
fact that we. |. Ego. am an integral
part. potent factor in this marveI-
Gus creation. Not fnanimate. not
piece OF clay in the potter's hand. Not
bit of machinery to run in a groove.
bnt man. born In the image OF the
creator: with vast capabilities and po-
tentlnlities: with the power to think.
to VIII. to direct, to govern. to suffer.
TO love; aye to attain even unto the
likeness OF God Himself.
And yet. the young man with
sonhmoric mind. who has read forty
or fifty pages OF philosophy. but not
far enough to encounter the warning,
Drink deep or touch not the Perian
Spring" with n knowing shake of the
head. questions the story of the Resur.
rection. and asserts that the Immacu.
late Conception was never intended
to be believed except by children and
~eak-minded women. But let me sur.
Gest that the immaculate Convention
presents no deeper mystery. nor one
no more unsolrable than that present.
Ell by every new life that makes its |
appearance into the world. we look
on this ms n mere matter OF fact, be-
cause We are accustomed to see 1t ey.
cry day. and the explanation we make
OF life is that life exists.
But where is the man. skilled though
he be In the sciences of the boast
ed 10th century. or even In the still
more subtle arts of the ancients, who
can explain how and why, the bursting