The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-05-11

ity ! do so without fear of Just con-
tradiction.
There was a man called Christ who
appeared upon earth with a divine
message to mankind teaching to the
world the doctrines of peace, humil-
lty, charity, brotherly love and fidel-
lty to God and to oneself.
Yet if Masonic tradition is to be
accepted as to the origin and exist
ence of the order long before his ad-
vent here, masonry had been dissem-
mating these vital precepts of the
lowly Nazarine, and thus through the
centuries, hand in hand with the
church of God, Masonry has marched
down the corridor of time to the
heart beat of humanity, numbering
among its votaries without fear and
without favor the high and the low.
the rich and the poor, the Prince and
the peasant, all meeting upon the
square and parting upon the level.
And as we realize the divine con-
ception of the architect, the skillful
construction of the workmen and the
glorious completion of the structure
OF freemasonry, that stands for char
acter, virtue and integrity with its
wonderful influence, always for good.
we are filled with revenance and ad-
miration for those who have gone be-
fore and left to us this priceless her
itage.
AS the years roll on many shall en-
ter the portals here and within this
room our solemn vows repeat and be-
meath this dome the same sweet
truths will oft be told.
Not all worthy perhaps but who
shall Judge?
Since the creation of man he has
been the target for temptation.
No man has lived without the
tempter's pale, and as the world judg-
es, while few resist, many fall mark
ing the milestones of time with w
ed lives, little known and for
gotten, yet we as Masons eve that
contained in the breast y. each and
lall were noble thoughts and aspira-
tions but awaiting the touch of a
brothers hand, the word, the smile
that would cause to spring forth a
new resolve, higher aim.
The dedication of this Hall to vir-
tue and universal Benevolence by the
Most Worshipful Grand Master this
evening in the name of the Supreme
and eternal God, the grand architect
| of Heaven and earth, is deeply i'm
kpfessive and imposes upon each and
every Mason a most solemn and bind
ing duty.
That this ceremony and these SER
vices shall prove no idle mockery, no
empty waste of words, no pagan in
cantation That we shall not only
practice that virtue here but in the
daily walks of life wherever dispers-
ed That brotherhood may indeed
become universal throughout the
world. That we shall bend our ener-
gies and use our best endeavors that
strife, greed and avarice among men
and nations shall cease.
That peace and happiness may
reign on earth and endure forever.
That the brave men who have died
in the cause of humanity, in the
cause of justice, the cause of right;
That he who wore the crown Of
thorns on the cross at Calvary shall
not have lived, shall not have suffer-
ed, shall not have died in vain.
That he who lives in the land of
the frozen North shall enjoy the same
h ,pnpt,,n GO, owI
as he who dwells in a sunny cline.
That each and every man as he ap-
proaches the going down of the sun of
life, as the lights burn dim and low,
may feel like one who has completed
a joyful pilgrimage, who after ira
versing the desert plains with the oc-
casional illumination of the oasis,
passed through the darkened valleys,
over storm-swept mountain ranges,
in the beauteous calm of mornings
dawn emerges on the lofty mountain
top and as he looks upon natures
wonders outspreadbefore him, is
bowed with hush of gladness, and
reverently proclaims there is God
and God is good.
And tonight, my brothers, to these
things, we dedicate, we consecrate
this temple.
Not to masonry as contained with
in the narrow confines of these four
walls of brick and stone.
Not to those of us alone who are
assembled here, but to the generations
that are yet to come, to the world, to
God, and humanity.
And may you, through whose devo-
tion and sacrifice has been builded
this temple of Justice and fraternity,
say in the language of Solomon, son
of David, chosen of God, to rule over
the people of Israel and build unto
the Lord a House of Worship:
81 have surely built thee house
to dwell in, a settled place for thee to
abide in forever"