News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-10-22

tI iIouBci DoIIl Juilc - loooi iuoiiiilS l
Cambridge with family Of 1855 sons
Here is Madam Mystic, born Jan. II
1861, residing at Stowe and having 10
lusty sons, Here, too, is Mount Norris
from Eden, born Jan. II, 1865, having g
sons Waterman Lodge, of Johnson, borl
June IL, 1868, having l05 sons, and Min
eral Lodge of Wolcott, born June IL
1870, having 90 stalwart sons. Welcome
childrenl Gather round your old mother
knee and rejoice with her in her hours o
rejoicing. We hope that mother will b'
alive and well when you are hundred
years old and have daughters of your own
join like other people in the early history
of the Lodge, is probably due to the pre-,
| judice that grew out of the Morgan excite.
ment of 1928. Today, however, all de
nominations are represented in the mem
bership of this Lodge. The anti-MasoniC
prejudice that sprung up about 1925 was
more rampant in Vermont than in any
other state in the Union. 1t took on q
political cast and the anti-Masonic candid
ate for Governor William A. Palmer, of
Danville, was twice elected to that office
and the state itself cast it's vote for Presi-
| dent in 1882 for the anti-Masonic candid
ate. Many Masonic Lodges in Vermont
surrendered their charters by reason of
this prejudice. The meetings of Mount
Vernon Lodge were suspended at all
events, if the charter was not actually sur
rendered, but members held secret meet
ings in secret places and kept alive their
Masonic principles.
Robert Kimball and Charles L. Meigs,
above named, with few others met in
the cellar of Mr.. Kimballs store at Nor
ristown Corners. Francis Smalley and a
few others at Hyde Park held secret meet
ings in some secluded place. The meet
ings of Mt. Vernon Lodge were at first
held in Taylor's tavern near the Finne-
gan place in Hyde Park for many years,
Taylors tavern being the only tavern in
the county of much pretension at that
time. In 1855 or 1856 the place Of meet
ing was changed from Hyde Park to Nor
rsville. The dance hall of the Morris
vile House was the Lodge room until the
Masonic Temple so-called, was built.
Mount Vernon Lodge owned the third
story of that building and fitted up fine
hall. The building itself was destroyed
by fire in March, 1869 Soon after the
Lodge secured the right to put an addi-
tional story on the Town Hall and this
gave them their meeting place as now en-
ioyed.
Eleven members of Mt Vernon Lodge
celebrated their 50th anniversary as Ma
sons this year, and three their 18th an
niversary. The Oldest living member is
Past Master Judge H. H. Powers, who has
recently passed the ffty-sixth milestone of
his Masonic career
Here the speaker left history and bran
ched off into what he called "Masonry's
Challenge to Manhood. My concep-
ton of Masonry" continued the speaker,
'and | think | am in line in so thinking
with the founders of this order, is that it
is definite challenge to men to assert
their manhood. A man ought to be
better man, after he joins lodge of Ma
sons than he was before. Is this always
the case? From the time that he learns
to adjust the apron of the Entered APP
prentice until the unsullied lamb-skin is
laid upon his casket as the last work of
respect from his brethren, yes, beyond
that to the time that he enters the SUI
preme Lodge above, where the Grand
Master of the Universe ever presides he
ought to be better man because of his
associations with the ideals of Masonry.
Would that could sound out with clarion
tones bearing it upon the winds of
heaven to the four quarters of the globe
that Masonry rightly interpreted is a
challenge to men to assert their manhood |
The speaker dwelt at some length on
the meaning of manhood, and it's posi- |
0ilities because man is breathing of the |
Divine; the significance of life and its
and upon the fact that the
life which really counts is that which is
wrought out in the midst of difficulties
and hardships; that character is an achieve
nent not a purchase, something to be
wrought out of the marble with much
planning and many hard blows, not some
hing to be simply wished into existence
The speaker concluded, "On this, our
lay of Jubilee, let us dedicate ourselves
anew to the principles for which our order
stands. Thus can we best pay back our
lebt to the ages that have produced us
Thus only can we fulfill our obligations
10 the man at our side today In broth
erly love, let us find our happiness, in
helping others let us work out our des-
Tiny"
Let me live in my house by the side of |
the road,
Where the race of men go by.
They are good, they are bad, they are
weak, they are strong;
Wise foolish-and So am II