The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-06-28


communities the editor of the Chronicle
had the pleasure of participating in a
splendid barbecue and basket dinner at
Hargis on Tuesday, June "a. The &C.
casion was inaugurated under the aus
pieces of Montgomery and verda Lodges
F. & A. M, and Hargis, which is situ-
ated half way between these two towns
on the new model road, was selected
as most desirable place for the meet
ing.
Hargis is an old and thickly popula-
ted community, having lately complet-
ed splendid modern three room school
building, and also having a new and
commodius church building close by
nearly completed. The two are loca-
ted Immediately adjoining a grove of
small pine and oak trees, and close to
hand they have fine bold spring of
never failing clear cool water The
fame of the community for hospitality
is well known, and the presence of full
ly fifteen hundred people attested the
fact that it was we'll chosen as place
of popular resort.
State Supt. Harris, one of the speak
ers advertised to be present, was not
able to attend, but-Hon. l. ID. Wall, of
Baton Rouge, the other leading attrac-
ton advertised for the day, delivered
splendid address of about forty min
utes duration, which fully made up for
any deficiency there may have been
for lack of speakers.
The services of the day were begun
by an eloquent invocation to Almighty
God by Rev. LEY M. Brian, which in
itself was an Inspiration of the thanks
and gratitude felt by those who had
assembled in social friendly and frater-
nal intercourse.
Mr.. c. w. Payne acted as master of
ceremonies for the day, and added ne
little to the pleasure Of the occasion
by the easy and graceful felicity with
which he introduced the speakers. He
was quite complimentary, but very
surprising in his request that the Chron-
icle editor make few extemporaneous
remarks on about two minutes notice.
Mr.. Payne made the introduction in
spite of all remonstrance, and so there
was nothing else to do but appear as
the first speaker and make an excuse
as to why it was utterly impossible to
more than express an appreciation OF
the honor accorded, without attempt
ing to say any thing interesting or in
structive. After expressing pleasure
at meeting so many old time citizens
of Grant parish, with whom he had
been intimately associated for more
than thirty-fve years on many ques-
tons of educational, political and eco
nomical progress, in which the present
generation at Hargis shows evident and
marked advancement, the editor made
an awkward backdown with all the
gravity he was able to assume.
Rev. Hey M. Brian was then intro
duced by Mr.. Payne as one of the old
time citizens whom the people of Grant
parish particularly delighted to honor.
Mr.. Brian responded with his usual
grace and ready powers of oratory.
He went the editor two years better
by reason of having lived and labored
in the Hargis vicinity thirty-seven
years ago, and his "reminiscences OF
the earlier pioneer days were told in
the most pleasing instructive manner.
He especially complimented the people
of Hargis on their progress, from rough
old time roads and log churches and
school houses to the model roads of to-
day, and the splendid school house and
handsome church of to-day.
The orator of the day, Hon. L. D.
Wall, was then introduced in glowing
terms by Chairman Payne, and right
well did he maintain the reputation
accredited to him as an entertaining
and most instructive speaker. Mr..
Wall devoted the principal part of his
speech to the history Of Masonry, oper-
alive and speculative, and his eloquent
and apt use of terms and symbols ia
miliar to members of the fraternity
was quite remarkable. In his research
es he virtually traced the history OF
Masonry back to the days of Isaac and
Jacob, proving beyond controversy
that the Egyptians had possession OF
the mysterious rites of the craft, and
that when Moses led the Children OF
Israel out of bondage they carried with
i fhorx, tho ofornal x,rir u.,l r,o.,sA o.