Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-10
ADDRESS OF |. A. BURLE|CH
BEFORE ABNAKI CLUB
Review of Events Which Led to Erection of
Masonic Temple, and Formation OF Abnakl
Club-Leading Features of the Clubs His
tory-Its Standing and Influence in the
Community

At the request Of several members
Of the Masonic Fraternity. we publish
herewith the complete text OF the ad-
dress delivered by Lewis 4. Burieign
before the Abnaki Club on Wednes-
day evening.
Brethren of the Abnaki Club:
In the year in which Presidential
candidate Bryan was INDUCING in the
free and unlimited coinage OF speech
es at the ratio of 16 to Mckinley's /,
the first President of this club went
over TO City Hall one evening to de-
liver political address. The first
speaker OF the evening was q hand
some and gifted young lawyer. The
second vas Orville D. Baker. The
third was our clubs first President
Herbert NJ. Heath. | was present on
that occasion. and Remember that Mr..
Heath commenced his remarks by
saving that he couldn't quite decide
whether his place on the program was
assigned on the theory that the last
is the best. or that the first was the
worst | now see the humor or that
remark. | didn't then. for l was the
handsome and gifted young lawyer
who led off in the speaking.
That was the first big boost l got
toward the second stage Of that three
stop journey wherein man with my
limitations first Classics himself as
an orator later as Il fool. and lastly
as an honest man. The proof Of my
honesty IS in tits uncamouflaged
typewriter manuscript. which elo-
uuently testitieS 10 the immortal
truth that | am no orator.
There are some men like JOHN Nell
son and Norman Bassett whose minds
are intellectual frying pans. always
kept at the right temperature for
cooking. They stand behind the
quick lunch counter. with their white
aprons on. always alert and ready for
business. They will grab q mental
egg. take an intellectual cup Of sour
milk, q teaspoonful Of moral soda, a
little psychological salt. and some
metaphysical -four. mix them into a
philosophical batter. and cook, while
you wait, an oratorical griddie cake.
that will make your mouth water. 1t
5 true that Webster doesn't define an
:ator as an intellectual flap jack
artist, but in this era OF reconstruc-
ton there are interesting possibilities
in the next revised e0ition.
Now, what is a man 20 do who
makes no pretensions TO oratory
There's just one way to get by. and
that is to make his audience the
orators - eloquent. but inaudible
Press the button OF series of events
in which they personally participated
and they will mentally do the rest
And that is why l am going to ask
YOU to review with ME some Of the
events that led to the formation OF
this Club. then to listen to a little OF
its history. and finally to few sound
and sage remarks about club life ir
general and the relation Of this Club
&c the community Of which it is a
part.
| There are four possible starting
points from which l might work dowr
to the present time:
First, Adam and Eve, and the Car.
den Of Eden.
Second, Noah and the Ark.
Third. the building of King Solo
mons Temple.
Fourth. the first Masonic Hall in
Augusta.
At the risk Of being accused Of a
lack of thoroughness. | am going to
commence with the first Masonic Hall
in Augusta 1t was located in the
brick banking house Of the kennebec
Bank, the first banking institution in
Augusta, which was built near where
the steps from Court street ascend to
the present Court House.
The next location was in the
Wingate Block on the west side of
Water street. second block north from
Market Square.
From there the Masons moved into
the third story Of the Hunt Block
which now takes in the Devire. Beane
& Cross and Nathan Richmond
stores.
Then they We're driven from their
comfortable quarters by the great fire
of September II. 1865. and sought
temporary refuge in the attic hall in
Darby Block. Water street.
In 1865 4 location was secured in
the upper story of what was then the
F'reeman's National Bank and by