The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-04

There is doubtless no institution in Ala bama in which a larger number of people feel an interest than the Masonic Home near Montgomery.
 The home stands today as monument to the altruism of every Mason in the state and to the devotion and persistent effort of the Masonic order for nearly 50 years.
 At the close of the Civil war. when so many children and women were left with out support and protection, the Masonic lodge of Alabama proposed to build home for them. The plan was first men toned in 1868 by Grand Master George D. Norris, who said in his annual address before the grand lodge: 'The great neces- sity of the age is the rearing, educating and maintenance of the orphans of de- ceased Masons and the children of indi- gent members of the order-and we would include orphans of Confederate soldiers
 It was suggested to use the funds then on hand and to set to work at once, to erect home where the children might be cared for and educated, each lodge in the state to contribute certain propor- donate sums to it's support
 
 build the home. and to locate it at Monte Sano. near Huntsville Financial cond'- tions and other circumstances prevented these plans materializing. and so nothing was done until the early sos. when it was again discussed The matter was under advsement from time to time. 1t could not be commenced without the con sent of the lodges throughout the state, and as there was naturally difference of opinion it was deferred. Some believed there was no need for such home all though there was no other adequate pro- vision for those for whom it proposed to care. Some believed that it was greater undertaking than could be afford ed, others recommended a general relief fund, and still others felt that an insti- tuition of this kind would be in the na- ture of an almshouse
 Now that it is completed it embodies the original plans and purposes. Con- paratively few of those who bent their energies toward it's erection at the begin ming of the movement lived to know that their hopes were realized, and that this monument to the spirit of the Masons of Alabama was erected. Some of those who worked continuously for the home are the honored William H. Dingley, who was for so many years grand treasurer of the grand lodge Judge D. A. Greene, Colman Blach M. Clanton Miller, Law renee H. Lee of Montgomery and Ben M. Jacobs of Birmingham
 Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Lee have worked without cessation for the home ever since as young men they became interested in it. and they more than any others are responsible for it's having been carried out to the present success.
 In 1906 MT. Jacobs recommended and directed a campaign of education for the home, seeing that every lodge in the state was shown the real necessity of such place for widows and orphans of Masons and for Masons who could others travelled through the state in the interest of this movement addressing as- semblages in towns and in communities far from the railroads The undertaking was by no means a small one nor a tenn porary thing. and there was some doubt as to whether it was feasible to attempt to build and maintain such a home. The last of these questionings and doubtinss were dispelled through this campaign of education when those who were so deeply and sincerely interested and who had made a personal sacrifice to continue the effort to secure it presented the matter directly to each. lodge. m
 So it was that after nearly 40 years, the hopes of those workers of Masons in all parts of the state and of members of the Eastern Star order were realized.
 Next came the matter of selecting a location for the home. Several were off, fered and it was at length decided that the logical location was the place most accessible from all over the state and at which the Masons assembled each year. This is Montgomery, and so site