The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-04-29
LAYED THE CORNERSTONE
concluded from page 81

prise as an addition to the growth
and many added interests of Mitch
ell. In the course of his remarks he
drew attention to the city's CONNER
cial enterprise, her religious in
f1uence, and her standing rs an ed
%ucatioual center in this state and last
of all emphasizing the growth of
the fraternity spirit with it's good
Fellowship and mutual helpfulness.
He mentioned the wonderful advance
in the past few years,=the new
banks with their push and property;
the magnificent churches, both Cath
Ollie and Protestant and their earnest
congregations; the educational in
situations, the new high school, the
college, the corr palace; and in clos
ing drew attention to the fact that
fraternity interest now comes into the
civic life to play an important part
In developing unity of push and un-
ity of spirit. This Odd Fellow build
ing" said he, els a monument erect
ed to say to all citizens that men are
not enemies but friends, not selfish
aggressors but brothers, knit togeth-
er for mutual helpfullness in times
OF trouble and distress and for mu-
tual cOngratulation in times of vic
tory and success" He believed that
he but spoke the sentiment of the
1hC0nf ovnr md h{c Fo11o" occnZ
ciates on the city council when he
rejoiced with the Odd Fellows and
wished them success in promoting an
enterprise that would grow from
year to year in a broader fellowship,
a deeper love and a richer service to
and for their fellowmen.
w. M. Herbert, representing the
fraternal societies spoke substantial
ly as follows:
ION behalf of the fraternal orga-
nizations of the city. l congratulate
Chanka lodge, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, on this occasion, and
add my endorsement to the kindly
sentiments expressed by the speakers
preceding me. We know that a
work so auspiciously commenced
will be successfully concluded, and
that a temple will shortly be dedi-
Gated here to the purpose of a grand
fraternal organization and that II
common citizenship will be a bene-
ficiary thereto. We are mindful Of
the motive and design which makes
possible this occasion, and of the pro-
found sentiment attending it.
It Is my purpose to speak for a few
minutes and of necessity, very SUI
perficially. of the f~raternal organi-
Nations. the causes Of their existence
and their purposes.
Looking back Into the earliest
history of mankind we find 1t replete
with strife, d~issensions. disaster. man
was a savage. His Advancement from
savagery to civilization has been a
work of organization; first, political,
and almost simultaneously Herewith
religious organization, we see first
the tribe, and its chieftain, then the
patriarcby, the oligarchy. the mon
archy. and the republic. Under these
organizations man was uplifted. But
this was not enough. something
was required to bring the individual
into close communion with other in
dividuals, something that would make
them know to each other that they
might be Of mutual good and assis-
stance to each other. by an exchange
of ideas and experience. by extend
ing sympathy and love and relief. and
by the application of those offices,
the need of which society in general
knows nothing or, knowing. cared
nothing.
There is a latin adage. "Magna
c~ivitas. magma solitudo"-a great
city is a great desert. meaning that
being non people and not knowing
them or being OF them Is equivalent
to being where tn ere are no people.
We can readily grasp the truth of
this adage, and it was to remedy this
condition of affairs that fraternal
organizations were created.
This, in a general way, was the
reason for existence of ~fraternal or
CARNATIONS, and it is at the same
time a summary of the purposes of
such organizations.
"a fraternal organization has for
its purpose the development of man
socially, and to make active his DOR
mant powers of usefulness. 1t seeks
to make men Of true worth, men of
service in the world. There is no
more exalted purpose.
The a%ncients had a saying that "a
friend was another himself" Our
lives are lives Of toll. Of struggles,
vicissitudes and disappointments. We
die many times before our ambition
has been realized, and before the