The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-05-16
A Hero HOnOred.
Memorial Services to Major Butt, Who
Went Down in the Titanic.

Memorial Services to Major Butt, Who
Went Down in the Titanic.
Brief mention was made last week OF
the memorial services, May 9th, IN WASH
ington, D. c., in honor of Major Archi-
bald M. Butt, U. S. A. Carter B. Keene,
formerly of Freedom, master of Temple
Lodge, paid the tribute of the lodge and
of Masonry to Major Butt, the Mason, -
and said in part:
1T is impossible to speak of Major
Butt as a master Mason without relter-
ating much that has been here said of
him, for the sterling qualities which
characterized his eventful life lllumlned
his Masonic life. His gentle birth and
breeding in a Georgia home, his alertness
and reliability in the press galleries, his
perfect sense of duty and his absolute
respect for discipline in the army, his in
flexible fidelity to every trust, his kind
ness and affability, his compassion and
thoughtfulness for the unhappy and af-
hicted were conspicuous in his short but
beautiful Masonic career.
Major Butt inherited his generation
for the fraternity. A life-size portrait
of Jonathan Butt hangs on the walls of
Franklin Lodge, No. II, Warrenton. Ga.
1t is the likeness Of his great-grand-
father, master of that lodge in 1921. His
grandfather and his father were likewise
recorded on the roster of that lodge.
Major Butt was made master Mason
in Temple Lodge January 80, 1909. But
he undertook no duties in conflict with
those instinctively practiced by him. He
lived the serious and sublime tenets of
our faith. His Masonry was of the heart,
and not the Masonry of insignia and Gre
dentials.
''He was an active and earnest mem
ber He loved the traditions and teach
ings of the order. His sincerity and
friendship won speedy recognition from
all his brethren, and in short time
Archie was a part of our fraternal life.
No assignment was too small for him to
to accept and none too large for him to
undertake. He delighted in meeting his
brethren in the lodgeroom, and often re-
marked that it was alike his pleasure and
duty to attend tbs communications of
the lodge. The charitable precepts of
the fraternity appealed most strongly to
him, and he often expressed the hope
that they would be enlarged and made
more effective And believe this hope
will be vitalized by the mastor Masons
of this broad land of ours in Masonic
memorial home at the Nations Capital,
which shall be hallowed by the name of
Archibald W. Butt Every suggestion
made by him to the master disclosed his
refined consideration for the rights of
others, and his veneration for the ancient
landmarks of the order.
observed honors fell fast upon our
brother, and with them came the most
exacting responsibilities, but his success
never impaired his simplicity, nor did the
exercise of authority warp his compass
sion. In the greatest peril he was most
heroic, and IN his utter helplessness he
was most helpful.
'Many of our brethren on this stage
Were led to the doors of Temple Lodge
by his example His last Masonic act of
record was the filing of the petition of
close and warm friend. A week ago
Thursday night Major Winship received
the entered apprentice degree in Temple
Lodge; today he is in Halifax, watching
and hoping that an incoming steamer
bears all that is mortal of our brother
and our friend. Major Butts last mes
sage to US, mailed at Gibraltar March
18th, was: Best wishes to those whose
friendship is frmer than this rock. Love
to every one Then it was a greeting,
now benediction.
"There is a responsive and sympa-
thetic chord in the breast Of every true
man and woman the wide world over
when mention is made OF the virtues and
achievements of the heroic and illustri-
Gus dead. Seldom has there been more
distinguished gathering IN honor of an
American. Never has there been one
more deeply responsive to the sentiments
and memories of the hour. But the
words here spoken and the songs here
sung will fall short of their full value
unless we take away with US the inspira-
ton of our heros life and death Moth
ing can add to his record and his glory;
the approval of all mankind abides and
remains with him forever.
''He was master Mason
Following is an original poem, Kind
Memories" written by Phiander Chase
johnson, as personal tribute to Major
Butt and dramatically recited at the Ser
vices by Charles 3. Hantord, the actor:
Iife-the Mysterious gift
From the Eternal Source
How ricusly do we find it used
Ere it is claimed again,
We know not why or how!
We squander or we let it idly rust;
We lerd our days in petty usury,
In hope to add anothers little share
OF earthly happiness unto own,
And still the solemn shadows Turk beyond
And bid falter in our futile quest
In WEAKNESS we pause and lift our eyes
And wait for some one, wiser than the rest,
To show the way and teach US to defy
The Darkness and the Silence-Over There!
Then from the Many Thousands one steps
forth!
No stern, compelling soul, but kind of speech
And generous of thought;
A man who loved this world of ours SO well
He felt no fear of what it might contain
And had a smile, even for death ITSELF
He showed the way,
And as he passed he found
The comradeship of natures like his own.
First among men because they were content
To be the last.
There was no stress of storm where he went
down,
No vengeful hate nor strife of jealous greed
oh Sp1opNid Rivalrvi