Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-04-26

cient custom of the order.
The ritual ceremony completed
Grand Master Craig then introduced
Judge L. E. Fellows of Lansing, Pas
Grand Master of Iowa, who made {
splendid address. He said that thi:
was an appropriate ceremony. foI
the Masonic order was founded
among the workmen on the greatest
structure ever erected in the worlds
history-King Solomon's Temple. at
time when the world was at peace.
He then gave brief description of
the order and its teachings. How
1t inculcates the beauties of educa-
ton and industry, and recognizes
labor in every way. How its code of
morals is drawn from the bible. 1t
is one of the greatest forces in the
world laboring to uplift society, to
make men better, wiser and conse-
quently happier. 1t dispenses char
ity to the unfortunate, no Mason or
Mason's family is in want or an OBJ
ject of charity, large fund always
being on hand for this purpose. 1t
also dispenses charity unstinted out
side of its membership when needed.
1t teaches its members to be good
and true citizens, loyal to the gov
ernment and the country. The best
men in the world are Masons, and
it has always exercised a. good in
fiuence on society. There are near
ly $4,000 Masons in Iowa, a won
derful force for good. He closed
with compliment to Decorah for
obtaining the federal building, and
for having the. first postal savings
bank in Iowa.
The Grand Master then introduce
ed Rev. DR.. H. H.. Green, Past Grand
Chaplain, who chose for his topic
the development of the post office,
tracing it from the time of mounted
couriers who carried the mails for
kings and princes alone, through the
days of the corner grocery post Of
flee to the present extensive system,
which represents the equality of the
American government, for every citi-
zen, no matter how high or low in
station, is its patron and the recipi-
ent OF rs services, He closed with
expressing the thanks of the people
to the late Senator Dolliver for put
ting the bill through congress, which
gave us the building, and thanking
the participating grand officers and
visiting brethren on behalf of the
city and local Masonic lodge.
The benediction was then pro-
nounced and the procession reform
ed and the Masons conducted to the
Masonic Temple, where the emer-
gent communication was closed.
At $50 o'clock the ladies of the
Eastern Star served a banquet to the
visiting Masons in the banquet hall
of the Masonic Temple, and many of
those here from adjacent towns re-
mained over to see the play at the
Grand opera house in the evening.
OF course 1t was impossible to
procure anything like complete
list of the visiting Masons in at
I.,, h f~lI lou inc n a
list was secured, which represents
probably not more than half of
those here:
Calmar-E. c.. Walker, C. G.. An
derson, A. F. Lundgren, John San
ders, j. B. Strayer, Geo. A. Bieber.
Postville-Albert Mackenstadt,
Fred Thoma, w. Thoma, w. r.
Durno. l.. ID. B. Hawkins, P. j.
Boucher, j. b. Hart and wife, l.. l..
McEwen and wife. A. S. Burdick and
wife, John Waters, w. S. Webster,
Dan McNiel, A. f. Cornell, Chas.
Kinsman. Hans Christopherson, Guy
Gregg, Jno. Gregg, Henry Miller,
Frank Teller, Henry Bushacker,
Chas. Krumm.
Frankville-Ole Smorstad, Erwin
Hughes, Frank Smith, ID. w. Smith,
Harry Bollman, James Birdsell, Ray
Birdsell, George Sherman. Lee Peck,
II. j. Crawford, /. Birdsell, Col Bird
sell. VIM. Albright, Henry Burns, G.
l.. Merrill.
Canton-D. A. Mosher, Ole
Maland, c.. A. Webster, ID. B. Nor
ton, j. C. White, F. Wicket, Nj. c.
Willford, S. Duxbury. j. Donald,
John Milne. Ray Vail.
Cresco-T. B. Blandin, n. S. Dur
Gin, j.. j. Sobolik. G.. l.. Gill, G. r.
Baker, w. A. Gleason, w. Fl. Till
SON, A. f. Bents, E. j. Thomas, c.
G. Burgess, C.. F. Robinson, Robt.
Thomson, ]. b. Thomson, Fl. G.
Moen, Bert Monsmith, w. o. Sven
son, e. T. Loomis, l.. B. Loomis,
George Glass. r. o. Hughes, l.. Spar,
lC. w. Reed. w. j. Webster, VIM.
| Wilbraham, L. II. Allen, w. l..
Barker, j. e. White, c. w. Powers,
j. j. McGinnis.
West Union-C. w. Dykins and
wife, f. w. Schneider and wife, G.
b. Minchen and wife, r. o. Wood
ard and wife, j. M. Usher and wife
VIM. Kinsey, r. F. Dewey, w. b,
Clements, p. j. Mclaughlin.
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