The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-27


mort, welcomed the Grottoites, say
ing he felt presumptious in coming
over into Illinois. Some might
think, he said that he was taking
over "too dog-goned much terri
tory. 1t is the claim of some"
he said, that the Rock Island Ar
senal was located on it's present
site to keep the tri-cities apart
when they were quarreiing. but /
want everybody to know that the
inhabitants of the three towns COM
pose one big happy and contented
family
To illustrate the unity OF the peo-
ME of the community in welcoming
inc Prophets, he said that the most
OF the money for the decorations in
Davenport was raised by leading
member of the knights of Column
bus.
e. c. Fisher, superintendent of
schools, Rock Island, was next in
troduced, and he referred to Illi-
nois as the best state III the union,
and Rock Island as the best city
except the cities and states from
which you Prophets hail"
The Yelled Prophets, he said, pos
sessed ideals which are the things
which make life worth while He
said the service rendered by the
order for others goes back in
its origin to the Man of Galilee.
Il hope you Prophets will live
million years." he exclaimed, land
that | will live a million years less
one day, for l would not like to
live long enough to know that you
had preceded me in the last jour-
ney."
FELLOWSHIP, friendship and altru-
ism, represented by the grotto
teaching is what the world need
ed he said.
Concluding an address which
brought the delegates to their feet
10 express their appreciation, Mr..
isher presented every grand Of
i.aer of the supreme council with a
mammoth key. beautifully be-ri5-
bcned, expressive of the fact that
the tri-cities were officially turned
over to the order.
LOwden Speaks.
Former Governor of Illinois
Frank o. Lowden, introduced as
Illinois favorite son." welcomed
the delegates in behalf of Amoo
grotto, Rock Island, of which he is
a member. lie said that those
familiar with the ancient lore OF
Free Masonry know that valleys
have figured largely in its ancient
past. AS civilization advanced 1t
went from one valley to another, he
affirmed, and the Mississippi valley
and its people represented a high
type OF civilization
AS the war governor of Illinois,
he stated, Il learned that Masonry
Is not only benevolent and social
but is the cornerstone of demo-
cratic government. the great bull
wark of the United States and its
liberties
He found he said. as he went
about the country that the Masonic
order was the most receptive of
any of his audiences. After the
war, when he was made a 33rd de-
gree Mason at Philadelphia, he re-
marked, he was told there were two
and one-half millions of Masons N
the United States, land then 1
knew" he exclaimed, that there
were just two and one-half million
reasons why the forces of lawless-
ness would not prevail"
Mayor H. NJ. Schriver welcomed
the delegates in behalf of the city
Of Rock Island. apologizing for
late entrance by explaining that he
mad been kidnapped by a delegation
OF eastern Prophets and taken over
10 Davenport. Outlining the early
history OF this section of the United
States he told the convention of the
many of spots Of historic interest
to be found in this locality.
The mayor concluded an address
winch struck a popular chord by
saying, Prophets. the city is
yours. The longer you stay, the
better We will like it."
ID. Francis Searle, Rome, n. Y.
chairman of the supreme councils
committee on neurology, made the
response to the addresses of well
come. He paid a high tribute to
Tue state OF Illinois and to the tri- |
clties, saying that the delegates
only had one thing to ask, and that
was, that Illinois would come to
some agreement with the striking |
miners SO that he and others who
ii'ed in cold regions could secure
thelr winters supply of coal.
Nearly 500 delegates were pres
ent at the opening of the supreme !
council session and at the close a |
complimentary dinner to the Wis !
itors was served in the temple by !
Amoo grotto.
The convention met at 1880
0 clcck this afternoon to begin the |
regular business OF the meet.
Election of officers is scheduled |
Iate this afternoon or tomorrow
morning. The convention city for