The farmer and mechanic., 1910-01-18
ORAT0R|CAL GEM
BY GOV. WINSTON
AT Anniversary OF Will
mington Orient Lodge
THE MEASURE OF EVENTS

Masonry Wa. Planted in Wilmington
i'm i756-"Nasonry is Not Thing
or placc--It Is Principle, and Be
cause It's Universal, Ii Has Not
Chanced-It l. the Only Universal
Truth
Wilmington. Jan. 15.-The follow
ing address was delivered by Past
Grand Master F. d. Winston, Thurs
day night at the 25th anniversary Of
the Orient Lodge of Masons:
Charity Lodge, who has recently
celebrated her 136th anniversary.
sends you sincere fraternal greetings
on the quarter century Of your exist
ence. l am indeed happy to be the
bearer Of these fluctuations.
It is always a rare pleasure to visit
the brethren or this historic city,
where Masonry was first planted in
North Carolina. From that early
daVning to the present hour. the Ma
sons Of Wilmington have always been
which they have unfalteringly ad
hered to the land marks of Masonry
and the ancient usages of the craft.
For more than century and a half,
they have been beacon stars to guide
their brethren throughout the State to
Masonic truth The utterances Of your
illustrious sons have always accorded
with the fundamental and unchange-
able principles of our institution
against the restless desire to improve
Masonry, which in these late years
has possessed some Of the brethren.
They have stood firm and unmOva bic;
and in all the work of the institution.
your sons have ever stood pre-emi-
nent.
1t is, therefore. with nigh unSpeak-
able pleasure. I find myself able to
yield to my inclination and accept the
flattering and gracious invitation so
courteously conveyed by that prince
Of gentlemen and soul Of Masonry
our brother James G. Munds.
l congratulate you on this auSpi-
ctous OCcasion-may 1t be but the be-
ginning Of d yearly event to mark your
advent in the life OF this noble people
An event must be measured by the
consequences that flow from it. Meas
ured by that standard. this meeting is
greater than il appears to be. But q
thing need not be great, even in ap-
pearance. to be worthy Of celebration.
If any one can find the day on which
the needle first tremhled on its poise.
SEEKING the north and giving US me
mariners compass, by means of which
the commerce Of the world was lib
Grated from the head lands and coasts
TO which it had been tied and enabling
nighty ships to tread the waste Of
waters as safe as foot passenger in an
open port: if any one can find the
l1r y sxy. +
C4me into the grasp of human fingers
ending in the linotype and cylinder
press, to he the lever to lift the world
nearer the throne Of God: if anybody
can find the day when the wire frs,
thrilled with inarticulate thoneht
making neighbors Of distant nations
and ending with the MarcOni standing
tiptoe on the sea-eirt shores of North
Carolina. whispering into the listen
Ing ear bevOnd the trackieSs OCEAN,
1t We're we'll to celebrate such days
The world reco"nizes the principle
and comm memorates the great event:
witt fitting ceremony. We have i,,s
passed through the celebration, which
tells of the birth of babe in q Jew.
ish manger, which has opened a new
era Of Christendom. It is by swell
tiny and incOnsid crate Instruments
that babe now sovereign Lord or tn,
universe is carrying forward His snln
Plot the fourth Of July from our cal
endar and liberty would he in peril
Plot the 10Th day of January from
our festivals and bravery and ChiyaIr,
would pass away. Plot the 25th ',
OF Decemher from our sacred ami
VerS9ries and our free institution
wou'a be hnt q Republic in name. w
should celebrate such events, suc1
days, not for the splendor. hu
the immense consequences whfc,
have flowed from them. AM
so, too. with the smaller movement
OF life. An institution which bo
stood organized in your midst fo,
more than century and q half ,ono
of necessity have been a worthy forno
ca,,tss on,ess Masonry, has been good. it.
ca'i'"e honorable its acts inst in ~,
com munity, 1t wonid not en 1ono he,, o,,'
stooo-nor would its roll of WEN hare
embracing the purest nob1ast az
pest "l your splendid citizenship