Year: 1859

TESTIMONIAL TO GRAND MASTER PILsBURY
We doubt whether beartier or more elegant
compliment was paid to gentleman in this city
than that which the Odd Fellows fraternity paid to
their well.loved brother and Grand Master, Edward
Pisbury, on Saturday evening. ~
The compliment was tangible thing, In the shape
Of splendid silver SERVICE consisting Of large sal
yer, pitcher, and twelve gobets of the richest and
most elaborate workmanship and was presented
publicly, in the large hail. in the presence Of numer
GUS assemblage Of Odd Fellows with their wives and
lady friends. The glittering testimonial occupied
table at the front Of the stage, and in the gallery
brass band sweeened the intervals with series of
their choicest performances.


At the appointed hour, the officers and members of
the Grand Lodge and the Grand Encampment ap-
peared on the stage and were duly disposed in their
seats by the Grand Marshal, Gerard Stith. All were
clad in the full regaa Of their respective bodies and
all being citizens Of note, and many of them elderly
they were pleasant band to look upon.


The presentation was made on behalf Of the men,
bers Of the Order by Past Grand Master J. G. Dan.
lap. That officer stepping forward, Grand Master
Psburya also stepped FORTH and addressed by the
former as follows:


Grand Master Psbury- z9f+a
am honored by brethren lin being made their or
gan, to present for your acceptance testimonial Of
their appreciation OF your devotion to our Order as
| an Odd Fellow, and your worth as man. This duty
s the more pleasing because Of our friendly personal
relations, constant intercourse in matters con-
nected with your official position, and my thorough
knowledge Of the important services you have rem
dered.


| At the time you were elevated to the high Office
you have filled with 30 much honor, the great enter
prise Of the Order, the noble building in which we
| now stand was involved in heavy debt Projected
| upon q scale commensurate with the wants Of the
| Order and its growing importance in Louisiana, it
| involved an outlay much beyond the immediate
means of the Hall Association. For many years
few elevated spirits had labored earnestly to reduce
this liability but with limited success. You, sir, by
your zeal and untiriDg efforts, and the Of your
persona! influence, have been mainly instrumental in
accomplishing that which others, from adverse cir
cumstances, had failed to do and we now have the
proud satisfaction Of knowing that the time is not
distant when this great work will begin to develop
the charitable purposes it was intended to perform
Nor have you been wanting in faithfulness to the
other important interests of the Order. Animated by
ardent desire to strengthen the bonds that unite
| us as brotherhood you have gone from lodge room
to lodge room nculcatng by precept and example the
| great principles that underlie our organization.


Your brethren, not unmindful of these labors have
again and again made you their head, manifesto
tion OF their approval and continued confidence.
| AdventitiOus circumstances nav and often do
elevate men to places of trust and power aud secure
for a time the popular favor. sudden and unex-
pected change in the tide of battle may make hero
of an unworthy leader; or during period of high
political excitement, when the most stormy passions
OF nature struggle for mastery, the turbulent up
| heavngs of party may bear upon its topmost wave
the open nmouthed demagogue, and bear down all op-
position to his advance ment. But these wanting
inherent sustaining power, are displaced, and
sink to an oblivion more profound than that from
which they rose.


The good man needs no such extraneous aid.
Standing erect in the integrity Of bis character and
squarng his actions by the broad principles of friend
ship to man iu all bis relations OF ife love to God and
the objects of his creation, and making simple truth
the ruler of his words he rears reputation more en-
during in its influence than triumphal arch marble
! monument.
What, sir, has stamped the memory Of the venera
ted Washington SO indelbly upon the great Ameri-
can heart. Not his military skill, although inferior
to none in all the essential elements that pertain to
great leader not his profound wisdom as states.
man, guiding the complicated machinery Of govern
ment with cautious prudence and firm purpose; or
his far reaching sagacity that with almost prophetic
certainty the future of his country spread out
q map before him, and set up way-marks for its
safety and protection, but his grand moral proper
tons which controlled and gave direction to bis other
great powers, and like the beautiful entabature OF
the Corintaian column is his browning glory.
The great power of moral worth is not taught by
an isolated case or over every practical experience
history of the past.
If we follow an Alexander n his boundless schemes
of ambition. Caesar in his extended conqnests or
| Napoleon from battlefield to battlefield, aud see





troops; the mind is dazzled, the imagination fired
and, perhaps, the latent sparks of our ambition
stirred at the graphic record of cleaning arms,
ing cannon and plumed warriors, mingng in the
death struggle for victory. But the deep and nober
feelings Of the soul remain unmoved and answering
echo responds to their great Names


II again we turn to those who ruled in the councils
Of State, and held the destines of empires in their
hands, aud watch the willy diplomatic skill and
over-.eaching efforts of Metterych, Nesselrode
, and Talleyrand we bow in homage 70 their gigan
tic intellects yet chord of our heart is touched
But when we contemplate the great benefactors o
our race, and examine the lives of the men wha
have devoted their time their talents, and their
the relieving Of the destitute and unfortunate the
sofening Of the hard condition Of the prisoner an6
the captive, and in elevating the worst condition o.
the dissolute and abandoned or Of those who gave
long years Of labor and hard study to the advance
ment Of science and the arts and by their research
assumed the way for innumerable blessings upon th.
whole civilized world; again to those who, taking
their lives in their hands have gone forth to spread
the light of civilization and truth among the nation


that still under the dark cloud of superstition an.
Ignorance every generous impulse Of our nature il
awakened, the moulding influence Of the example il
stamped upon our character, and their meaning per
i petrated in eur acts.


What name among all those who mingled in tn
stirring scenes Of the Crmean war will 60 dewn t
posterty in an unblemshed halo Of glory? Will i
be bis who led cavalry charge, unsurpassed in tn
= annals Of war or his who, Drawing the destroying
power of shot and she'll headed the assailing column
" that stormed the great tower that has given nam
to dukedom or that Of either of the Field Marshal
of proud England or naughty France. None of these
but high above them all will stand inscribed upon th
scroll Of Fame in letters Of living light the name


Florence Nightingale.


Her name, embalmed by the prayers of the stricke
soldier, and the gushing gratitude Of thousands
widowed hearts, will live until the language in whc
it is written shall be lost and forgotten.
M Such my brother, is the indestructable character
good works. You raised the superstructure Of you
personal reputation upon that broad foundation, an
y your brethern desire to give tangible expression


their regard in the testimonials before you which
"a now in their name and in ther behalf present 4


your acceptance.


Receive them sir, as the free will offering of me


whose bosoms are animated by the same generol


impulses that fill your own and colabors in the gre,
work Of endeavorng to elevate the character Of


and Undue him with great conceptions Of himsel


his duty and his destiny.


The service was presented in form, by the speak,


picking up Of the goblets, and placing it in Il


hands Of the gentleman honored. This scene and Il
~ conclusion Of the Past Grand Masters address, DIRE


forth hearty round ofapplause from the assemble


spectators. The Grand Master, holding the gobl
m in bis hand, made the following response
10. Past Grand Master Dunlap and Brethren


stand before You, with every fibre Of my hea
y, quiverng with emotion, and with voice almost su
~ pressed by the thoughts that crowd upon my ute
M ance.