The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-25

uphltilS lliueIlCe VI COIIlIIl union Ol
thought and spirit, while hand meets
hand in our common cause with a
grasp steady, strong and true.
Our vocations are many and varied,
our thoughts and aspirations per-
haps far removed from each other,
but 1t is ours to glorify our stations
whatever 1t be linking ourselves with
our fellows the world over. Thus the
commonplace comes in touch with
the pioneer, the discoverer, the inven-
tor, the captain of the sea. the cap
tain Of industry, the captain Of the
laboratory. as we'll as the lonely travel
er, the brawny limbed son of toll in
factory or depth of earth or the
brainy thinker whose towering intel
lect Is as the light tower of the world.
1t is a wonderful theory: we cannot
touch the common place any where,
blindly as we grope, but the slight
est pressure brushes away the COM
mon place and we perceive divinity.
Common place lives like ours are
the lives which are Of value to the
world but this is not all. The char
acter which Is demanded of us in our
commonplace conditions is the same
as that which sets on fire lives the
most conspicuous. the most infiuen-
tial. and the most honored. Virture,
devotion, loyalty. obedience and sac
rihce.
All Of this Is reflected by the light
of the Eastern Star. and often our
common place lives call r capac-
ity and a courage greater than that
demanded in greater circumstances.
II position brings responsibility, 1t
also brings stimulus and an encour-
agement to noble living They that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength, they shall mount up with
wings as eagles. they shall run and
not be weary. shall walk and not
faint. Anybody can fly when youth
aspires and dreams count as nought
the limitations of time and sense,
anyone can run for a little time when
great effort is needed, but to walk
and not faint, to run and not be
weary. to trudge on mile by mile a
narrow path circumscribed and
dreary. without view of smiling land
scapes or awe inspiring hill, to keep
on steadily. quietly, persistently, al
ways with a smile. always with the
love light in the eyes, and always con-
fident that
somewhere the sun Is shining,
Somewhere the song birds dwell"
this Is heroism-the heroism of the
commonplace, and Of such is the
kingdom of heaven: such are the
characteristics of Him whose Star in
the East we have seen, whom we have
come to worship: such are the char
acteristics of those who maintain and
exemplify the principles of our Or
der. the Grand Order of the Eastern
Star.
Again dear friends, brothers and
sisters, we extend you in the name
of our city. and more than all in the
name of Beuclare Chapter, o. E. S. a
royal welcome to Sumter Here you
Will find hearts as true as ever beat
In Southern breasts, here you will
meet comrades as loyal as ever ex-
tended the hand clasp of hospitality.
here you will see beauty, chivalry,
honor, and true citizenship exempli-
fled as forcibly as ever it has been
your good fortune to witness, and
while we would not be found Grow
ing" over our sister counties, we must
add here, that you will find the Old
Game Cock perched on the topmost
branch OF the old Palmetto tree. and
his clarion note rings pure, clear and
true, Welcome, welcome, welcome,
representatives OF the Eastern Star
to the Game Cock City. While as
guests you are ours, please remember
mat as hosts we are yours. Use us.
This was responded to by Mrs. r.
II. Cudd, of Spartanburg, after which
Mrs. Rogers and Miss Nettles rem
dered a beautiful duet.
The representatives were welcomed
by Mrs. Sturdyvin. which welcome
was responded to by Mr.. ID. A. G.
outz' after which the Grand Chapter
went into executive session.