The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-04
OPENING SESSION; GRAND
COUNCIL j. c. |. HELD TODAY

0116O uVO1b
W. Clark as chairman and PRACTICAL,
every memuer OF the council as mem
bar were pusily engaged In meetinl
all OF sne incoming trains. Theil
busiest time came In the Afternoon
when the special trains arrived. thu
one from Des Moines over the Rocl
Island bringing over = hundred dele
gates getting in shortly after lunch.
| Special trains are coming In tonight
with some Of the delegates. other,
viii arrive tomorrow IN time for the
big parade and gala afternoon. Bur
lington's special VIII come down IN
the morning. Ottumwa II coming q
noon. The Des Moines bunch came
this afternoon. and some more were
expected on other trains tomorrow.
|. The Opening Sessions
Preceded by band concerts in front
of the Hippodrome. che public opening
session OF the grand council was call
I'D to order at the theatre at 1880
o'clock by G. G. johnson, past grand
counselor OF Keokuk council No. 400.
There was a slight change In the
program which was explained by Mr..
johnson. Mayor Moorhead had been
suddenly called out OF the city to act
as pallbearer at The funeral Of an old
friend OF his fathers and Theodore A.
Craig, city solicitor. acted as HIS Of
fetal representative.
Both Keokuk council and Mayor
Moorhead regretted the circumstances
which forced the chief executive to
be absent. but Mr.. Craig was welcom-
ed as The substitute, and his speech
was one of merit and eloquence.
Past Counselor johnson very ably
and neatly opened the session, vel
coming briefly the visitors and the
visitors and tho local people who
crowded into the Hippodrome. He
introduced the Rev. Dr.. Ezra Butler
Newcomb. pastor Of the Westminster
Presbyterian church. who delivered
tho invocation.
Ray Of Hope Lecture.
Following the Invocation by New
comb, Joseph G. Buss. member Of che
executive committee Keokuk council
No. 400. was introduced and gave the
o. G. T. Ray Of Hope lecture as fol-
lows:
My Friends: I would speak to you
here OF one of the greatest RESPONSE
bilities and privileges Of membership
In this beneficent order. In wisdom,
mercy and true sympathy there has
been wrought into :he fabric Of this
noble order form Of benedcence
that guarantees from want the help
less ones Of our fraternal household,
30 long as this order itself shall en-
iure. All men indulge the hope that
they may leave their loved ones Sc
cure against .he visits Of cruel pow
erty; and yet death, the relentless foe
II all mankind, comes oftimes as .
.hief in the night, cutting us ruthless
y OF before our cherished plans are
natured. Today our dear ones dwell
n peaceful happiness and in the smile
benign prosperity. trusting 20 us all
n their sweet helplessness to man
July defend them against the stings
and arrows OF misfortune. Tomor-
-ow the clouds may lower, the sky OF
heir happiness become overcast; mis-
'ortunes may multiply. until at length
he mother is compelled to look into
he eyes OF her innocent little ones,
not whittier to turn to pro-
7ide them with the bares. necessities
II food, shelter and clothing. When
his dark day arrives, the order OF
United Commercial Travellers OF
comes to her like "a Ray OF
Hope Across a Cheerless Prospect
behold the bright light from the en-
,lem, which mas been worn by her
natural protector. streams across .he
lark pathway of her earthly pilgrim
ICE and the burden Of existence Is
hifted from her frail shoulders to
he sta1wart shoulders Of his brethren
OF the Grand Commercial Army
lot With blaring trumpets and osten-
alton is this assistance extended;
lot with a desire to build up monu-
nent for ourselves out OF the neces-
flies of the unfortunate; but secretly
nd with sympathetic consideration
or the objects Of our fraternal boun-
': obeying always that divine IN