Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-09-25
Corner Stone Laid

stone of the Masonic building
now in course OF erection by Wa
Keeney lodge A. F. & A. M, and
TO hear Governor Capper who
was the speaker of the day.
In response to the invitations
sent out by Wa-Keeney lodge a
large numb Der of Masonic breth-
ren responded from Hays, Ellis,
Quinter, Grainfeld, and other
points.
Among the visiting Masons
was 2. D. Brown of Hays WHO
holds the remarkable record of
sixty years mem berShip in the
Masonic lodge having joined the
order in Linville, Iowa, when 21
years old. he is now in his 91st
year. Few men have such a re
cord and he can justly be proud
| of it. He was given a seat of
honor on the speakers platform
| Mr.. Brown is the father of the
late Mrs. E. F. Madden of Hays.
| An escort went out to meet
| the governor who was brought
up from Hays by auto by mum
Der of MasonS who attended the
exercises. They went to the
hall where the ladies OF the o. E.
S. were serving an excellent din
ner, after which the governor
visited the high school and gave
a short but excellent talk.
About 2:3O the Masons assem-
bled at their hall and formed
procession over $50 forming into
line. They Immediately march
ed to the Masonic building south
of the court house where every
thing was in readiness. The
stone was of handsome gray
granite and was furnished by
William Richmond of Hays.
Seats were arranged for the
comfort of the people and plat
form for the speakers was erect
ed. The stone was laid at the
northeast corner of the building.
The Masonic procession was fol
lowed by the common and High
school pupils all occupying seats
reserved for them. The Collyer
band furnished excellent music
for the occasion. G. w. Miller. jr.,
of Hays, district deputy grand
| master acted in place of the
most worshipful grand mas
ter of Kansas who was not able
to attend. Rev w r. Wood
ward filed the place of grand
chaplain who was also unable to
| he present. After the PRAYER
by Rev Woodward the stone
was placed IN position by the
architect Frank Blanch and test
ed by Grover Hays, D. M. W., by
John G.. Kirkner. D. S. w, and
by Arthur Keraus, D. ]. w. A
copy of the proceedings of the
grand lodge A. F. & A. M, writ
ten by A. S. Peacock and a copy
of the Trego County Reporter
was placed in the stone and seal
! ed up which concluded the cere-
/ monies.
1. T. Purcell then introduced
the governor in his own charac-
teristic humorous way. First
/ of all the governor informed the
people that he was not an orator
but it was not long before he had
their undivided attention and
they were taking in every word
he said regardless of whether
there were any flights of oratory
or not. The governor has a way
of speaking so earnestly and
with such heart to heart frank
ness that he soon gains the con-
fidence and interest of his hear
ers He spoke of the wonderful
growth and progress of Kansas
and says he is proud to be the
governor of a state so free from
crime, pauperism, drunkenness
and vice of all kinds, and is
proud of her institutions of
learning, good churches and
clean thriving cities both large
: and small and the progressive
: spirit of her people. He favors
!. fewer laws and better ones with
strict enforcement, less graft
among lawyers, judges and cor
porations, and the strict enforce
ment of the prohibitory laws.
Less teaching of dead languages
in the schools and more practi-
cal every day needs considered
for the pupils advancement.
| The governor believes in sim