Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-28
OTTUMWA LODGE ENTERTAiNS
FRIENDS IN WARM WELCOME
AT NEW TEMPLE.
NJ ELODY AND Wit
Lyric Quartet and Three Speakers
Make Evening Pass Pleasantly
and ProfitabIy to Craft and
Guests.

Just opened, ana KuOWu do IhO WAAoo1.
Masonic building, on West Second
street, last night, it was the cordlal
welcome extended. The glad hand was
out to ALL and each Mason made IT MS
own particular business to make ev-
eryone else, especially the stranger
| within the ranks, feel whole-souled
welcome. Last nights function was
the second of the evening events that
have marked the opening OF the tenn
pie and the affair was eminently sue
cessful from social standpoint. Music
and eloquence, followed by refresh
ments, were other features added to
the ever present cordiality which all
were made to feel. The Lyric quartet
supplied the melody, while Rev. r. J.
Locke, a brother of the Plankington
lodge, with r. L. Tilton, former OF
tumwan and member Of No. is, and
William McNett, supplied the elo-
quence. Each speaker was restricted
to short talks in order that the we'll
proportional program would not drag
too long and prevent some OF the
guests from hearing all
PIERCE in Charge.
e. G. PIERCE was master of cere-
monies, and after word OF explana-
ton Of the purpose of the gathering,
announced the various numbers on
the program in a pleasing and neat In
troductory. The Lyric quartet opened
the program with a negro melody that
called forth an encore. The quartet is
composed of Mrs. E. G. PIERCE, Mrs.
Alberta Head, Mrs. George Porter
and Mrs. John Hughes.
Must Not Forget God.
"The Mason About Town." proved
vehicle for the quaint and original
humor of Rev. Robert Locke, pastor
of the First Congregational church.
who told of the good qualities of the
brothers met with each day, and did
not spare some faults where he
thought they we're needed. The broth
er who sells meat and weighs his
hand with the steak was one of these
alluded to. In telling of the original
operative mason he stated humorously
that the masons we're the original
hobos. because the craft travelled about
from place to place. He said also that
Masons were the only guild that were
given papal dispensation. "The order,
said he, sis the originator OF the
square deal and invests men with the
desire of being square in their deal
ings with others. The fact that an or
ganization through it's members will
lapse at times is true of most organl-
cations and moral revival Is some
times necessary, as in the case of the
Knights Templars in 1717. It . has
grown great enough that more care
can be exercised in its membership.
The mason should always be found
on the side of all moral and civil good.
Beyond all other men, he ought to dis
criminate carefully and then act wise
ly and boldly. When the mason lives
as though there were no God and no
religion but symbols and passwords
of his lodge, he ceases to be true
mason and should seek fellowship
elsewhere"
Made Good Churchmen.
Following Rev. R. J. Locke, Hon.
r. l.. Tilton spoke of the s'Mason
Abroad" The speaker related personal
experiences while travelling before he
entered the order, that showed the
brotherly regard of one mason for an
other. One instance took place at the
old Burlington depot, located at the
foot of Vine street, where brother
from a Missouri lodge was stricken
with illness and the speaker, not then
a mason, but having seen their friend
ship demonstrated, called attention OF
local masons, who took care of their
brother He said that masonry made a
man a better father, son and citizen.
Regarding the mason and his church,
he said that a churchman may make
a good mason, but he was sure ma
| con mada q 5006 churchman
On Same Level.
what the Mason Has Been, Is and
Shall Be- was the theme Of William
McNett, who closed the speaking pro-
gram. He traced back to the ancient
time the history of the organization,
stating that social relation of con-
genial spirits was typifled by the order.
He said the symbols of the crafts were
the tools used by the masons in Solo,
mons time He told Of the stone ma
sons Of Germany, of how speculative
masonry, which is distinguished from
operative masonry in that the order
was opened in membership to those
livelihood. In the course of his talk
A. M" as meaning Ancient Free and
ACCSptSu NdSOuS. TIC oIoCSu IAbI
masonry was brought to America from
Germany and England during the first
of the eighteenth century, and that
Philadelphia and Boston each Sclaim
the prior lodge. '3In masonry" said
the speaker. call enter the same door,
whether rich or poor, and all are on
the same level"
The beautiful and spacious building
was filled with masons, their wives,
ladies and friends. The serving of re-
freshments took place in the pretty
dining room of the building, where
100 persons were accommodated at
one sitting.
| Many Lodgemen Present.
Among the prominent members of
the Masonic order who have been in
attendance at the dedicatory cere-
monies are: Grand Master David w.
Clements Of West Union, Senior Grand
Warden W. II. Hughes of Burlington.
Grand Secretary N. r. Parvin of
| Cedar Rapids. Past Grand Treasurer
F. w. Glaze of Oskaloosa and State
Lecturers T 2. Renca az RloanahAlaI