The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-11-02
HARDING URGES SETTING
ASIDE OLD PREJUDICES

Senator Underwood referred to the
conference and appealed to the Ma
! sons present "and to every other Ma
son to give your aid Of sustaining
confidence in the trying months that
arc just ahead"
a tribute to the aid Of Masonry i'll
the building Of citizenship was paid
by the President in the address he
delivered after wielding n trowel in
the placing Of the cornerstone. Sug-
costing that there had been mislln-
dcrstanding of the purposes and re-
Quircmcnts of the organization, the
President said:
81 want to tell those outside the
order that there isn't anything in the
ritual or the oath that any free,
righteous and just American couldn't
subscribe to and be the better citi-
zen for it. | know l am better citi-
zen for being better Mason.
There arc moments Of anxiety
when one wonders what the morrow
will bring, and-I can say it publicly
can find myself hearteend because
know there is this great fraternity
which is ever ready to give Of it's all
for the maintenance Of law and order.
do not disparagc any other fratern-
ity and think the fraternal spirit is
one Of the finest Of our republic.
want to see more of the fraternal
spirit among nations. l hope with all
my heart that the day has come when
the people Of the United States of
America can look into the faces of
the peoples Of Europe and Asia and
Africa and South America and ask
themselves the question: Why not
fraternity among nations? Why
should we make war? Why should we
seek that which is others? l believe
Just as firmly as l know that l stand
here that in this new consciousness
we are going to accomplish new
step forward in the world"
The degree. OF doctor Of laws was
conferred on the President by Birm-
ingham Southern College during the
afteroon in a ceremony held in the
tfrst Methodist church. In academic
robes for the second time in q woelt,
MIR. Harding headed q scholastic pro-
cessional to the church and in his
speech paid tribute to the denomi-
national college and to the influence
Of religion IN the life Of the nation.
The ceremony throughout was SINH
lar to that in which the President
received the doctors degree last We'd
nesday at William and Marry College
in Virginia.
81 have great faith in the state
universities" said Mr.. Harding to the
assembled faculty and student body
of Birmingham Southern, but if
there needed to be a sacrifice, the
last institutions Of higher education
which l would be content to have
put aside would be the denomina-
tional schools.
Il suppose I'm partial to the Bap-
lists, but I don't think it makes so
much difference if one only has the
fear Of God in his heart. If could
do it I'd be glad to give all my
thought, all my soul, to add a little
moro to the religious reverence Of
this republic"
Leaving here late tonight the Presi-
dents special train will reach Camp
Benndng, Georgia, near Columbus,
early tomorrow morning, and Mr..
Harding and his party will stop for
two hours to Inspect the infantry
school before proceeding to Atlanta,
The trein is due at the Georgia capt
tai at 1880 p. III. After making an
address and pilgrimage to the home
of Joel Chand'er Harris, Mr.. Harding
will leave at night for Washington