The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-02-08
THE ENDOWMENT DEPARTMENT
OF THE UNITED ORDER OF ODD
FELLOWS WORK OF THE
LATE HON. H.. G. BELL, RE-
VIEWED.
BY N. w Harllee.

We could not see the gigantic leap
of the waters; but we could heal
the thunder like roar of their fall
OF the rushing waters, making {
bowling and hideous noise, cominj
down on the heads of the mad ant
age worn rocks. defying and OBJ
structing the passage through tn,
stony gates that had reared theil
heads for centuries past. The nigh
seemed long and the roar OF thu
waters seemed louder as the nigh
grew pace. But the darkest nigh
is followed by day; the keenes
despair is followed by hope. So day
came 10 us who were waiting an(
watching for it,
The next morning we arose with the
sun and with the lark, and hurried
down TO the scenes of the mighty
falls. Here we saw one solid sheet
Of water, as IL made of polished
silver, mingled with gray steel, lear
and gliding down, unbrOkened like
silver wire threads braided with steel
These waters came down a height oil
one hundred and seyenty-seven feet
muttering their song of ages, being
brokened against the rocks into
countless sprays OF white beads, re-
sembling crystals OF diamonds. dash
ed high up in the morning sun, form
ing many rain bows, and the solid
sheet Of water fell upon the hostile
rocks, they rebounded, sprayed, now
turning, now whirling, now return
ing and ever receding, formed a gor-
geous background with most beauti-
full and delicate hues as If in mockery
to the jagged sides OF the stream with
projecting tongues of bare rocks.
This cave of the gods, bespangled
with varigated colors. and decorated
with rain bows was the home of the
sprites and the nymphs.
An economist standing near, see
ing these waters, cried out: What
a waste Of energy What a PITY"
He saw not the water sprites, nor the
gorgeous colors with delicate hues,
neither did he seem to hear the
roar OF the mad waters, but was
grieved at the great waste of energy
potential energy, however, he saw
other beauties thousand times
greater. and he heard other tones,
all of these shrouded the beauties
Of the mighty falls What were they
and where could they be found? He
saw the mighty waters harnessed
down with belts and bolts. connected
with powerful electric motors, bat
teries and gigantic forcing enginges,
turning the wheels OF a thousand
factories. giving employment to ten
of thousands of men, women and
children.
He sets TO work and organized
the blind and inanimate forces OF
mother Nature an6 they do his bid
ding, through the power Of organiza-
ton. What power is there in Organ
ism7
Hon. II. G. Bell, the lamented Dis
trict Grand Master of the jurisdic-
ton OF Texas was an expert organi-
or, for II was he travelling over the
state for a number OF years, and
studying the need of his people and
the good of the order which lay at
all times on his mind, that he work
cd out a plan, a financial scheme
upon which he established the great
department of the United
Order of Odd Fellows OF Texas, that
remains living monument to every
hearty Odd Fellow, and what is bet
ter to the widow and the orphan.
and these are witnesses as they are
the beneficiaries, who can testify as
70 the merits of the system which
Mr.. Bell gave the best thoughts of
his useful life, in order that others
night live and enjoy the fruits OF
lis unstinted labors.
He saw the need of the Endowment
Department, having studied IL in all |
rs phases, and having studied the
needs OF his people, he urges them |
20 frugality, to industry, and to be- |
come self sustaining, he fits up a |
system 10 At the needy, so that every |
deserving man worthy of the name
aight have chance in the struggle
md fierce contest of life. No man
was superior TO the Hon. Mr.. Bell
n planning, and in the control OF
men and measures. We have seen
him In the chair when the whole
Grand Lodge of delegates were clam
)rous and demonstrative, yet he was
sool and deliberate, calming them
Town as easily as lambs. The mem
)ers and crafts did not always agree
With his views when first promulga-
ed, but when they saw the good
,ffect and the wisdom of his plans,
Ill worked for the good of the cause.
He had an able cabinet Men Of
ability Honest men, whom we like
o trust Such men as Hon. j II. Rid
Re. Prof. J. p Starks, Hon Robert
aci on, Prof. G. w Jackson, DR.. r.
T. Hamilton, Prof. B Y. Aycock, Dr.
Roberts, and the present District
Grand Master, Prof. Goree. These gem
iemen along with others aided him
rom time time and In so doing gave
o the jurisdici on a basis of great
financial sy tom, one that is an hon
II to the state.
The other orders of the state have
lave some 1000 men, such as Hon.
". S. Wilt. DR.. Prince, Hon. Mitch
A., Hon. NJ. NJ. Rodgers. Hon. w. M.
Mcdonald. DR.. ] W. Mckinney and
D NJ Vim, s. r. Johnson, J. C. Scott,
hese men are the assets OF the race
md long with many others, we are
,roud OF them. All these including
thief Mentor d v. have lent their in
luenoe FOR good in the work of Sc
ret fraternities, and we love to
ionor them. They are ours.
But we are chiefly discussing the
Hon. Mr. Bell, who has given his
service to the great cause of organi-
sation and service Service IS the
he biggest thing in the world and
/ is The biggest word in the Lam
suagc. 1t is service that everybody
wants. It is good service, this was
he kind that Mr.. Bell gave to the
Order He worked when he should
nave been in his bed, but this work
seemed dearer TO him than his own
life, for he was unselfsh, untiring
N his efforts to raise the grand old
Order to the first place among crafts