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


synopsis of Address delivered by Rev
w. E. Baker at the centennial anniver
sary of Mount Vernon Lodge, No 8. f. 8
A. NJ, at Morrisville, Oct 10, 1913
As we reckon time u century is vas
period. Very few of those who come int
life see the beginning and the end of
century. To man is allotted mucl
briefer span. So it is difficult for us tt
conceive the full meaning of the term l0t
years None of us ever have seen no.
ever will see so great q number. 1t would
be stupendous task to tell all that ha'
happened even within the boundaries o.
this lodge in the past century.
feel as though am in the presence Of
men l have never seen. Men, who bring
to me out of the silence of the yesterdays
a message for this gathering. Men, who
as pioneers have blazed the trail of Ma
sonry in this community, faced the diff
ficulties and the hardships of which we
know nothing with fortitude and perse-
verence of which perhaps we would hardly
be capable. Pioneers, ah, the significance
of the term Facing the unknown, break
ing the unbroken, subduing the unsub-
dued, and leaving to posterity the heri-
tage of a task accomplished
This nation is hardy because of the
mir ybr ! lo,> 10 h. @,.l-,
of making beginnings.
This state proudly holds in her uplifted
hand, the star that helps to adorn the
nations armament, because hardy pi-
oneers, gave themselves to the task of
leaving to succeeding generations heri-
tage of honor, many of them giving their
life blood that, mingled with the blood
of patriots everywhere, they might con-
tribute the color to adorn the flag, with
the red stripes of liberty and independ-
ence.
And just as truly are we called upon to
honor the pioneers who with their faces
towards the East set out to found lodge
of Masonry in Morristown. Let us pause
for moment, while we do reverence to
the hardy pioneers who have blazed the
trails along which we may move so COM
fortably today.
Pioneers in Masonry, we salute you!
| seem to see great building in course
of construction. Wonder are the worSmen
who are toiling at the foundation, quarry
ing the stones, hauling them, fitting them
into their places in the wall which they
are building. | see one after another of
the workmen lay down his tools, not to
take them again, as the grim reaper calls
them away one by one. | see them laid
away in the city of the dead with the
ceremonies which Masons reserve for
their brethren But, though the breaks
occur in the ranks of the workers, the work
continues for as one lays down his tools,
another takes them up to continue the
task, After much labor and planning the
foundation is completed, the superstruc-
ture is begun. One thing strikes us,
mainly, that no worker seems to be allowed
to remain long at the task, but others
readily take the places that are left va
cant.
Come with your mother into this century
building which we dedicate today and NAV
your hours be'happy and your memory of
the day be long cherished.
The lodge was first called Orange Lodge
and worked under that name by virtue of
dispensation from November Il, 1912,
until October II, 1913, when the charter
was granted, the charter bearing the name
of Mount Vernon Lodge. Mount Vern- |
on Lodge held its first meeting Deem |
Der l, 1918.