with time and the natural laws of the universe; which must require a high degree of mechanical accuracy, and which has left its impress in war and in peace on the face of the world for thousands of years, should become the basis of a fraternity which is the parent of nearly all latter-day fraternal societies. Its indirect influence in the organization of these associations is generally acknowledged, and in latter time they have become silent but potential influences in the world's advancement. They have broken down the barriers of earth and sea, of nationality and race; melted away prejudices; inculcated the Christian principle of the brotherhood of man; taught and assured the peoples of the East and West, and the North and South that they are and ought to be neighbors and friends. They beget confidence in commerce and society, avert dissensions, cultivate harmony, and their membership learns to help and to be helped; that God and nature never intended man to live for himself and by himself alone. We join you especially in a just pride over the Masonic Library, which is one of the principal objects of interest to the visitor, and I cheerfully confess it to be an institution of great practical value, not only to our resident Masons, but to the people of this city and the surrounding towns and country as well. The local bodies, no doubt, have made ample arrangements for your care and entertainment, but if the people can add anything to make your stay pleasant, I feel that I can heartily assure you it will be done. While they may not meet with you "on the level," in a fraternal sense, they desire their parting with you to be "upon the square." I again express our cordial welcome. MUSIC. The quartette then favored the brethren and citizens with another selection. RESPONSE. Grand Master Lambert, after a few introductory remarks, introduced to the audience Past Grand Master Fellows (144), who, in behalf of the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge, responded appropriately, as follows: Mr. Mayor, on behalf of every member of this the fifty-seventh communication of the Iowa Grand Lodge of Masons, I thank you for your kind words. Yet we did not need any words of welcome to assure us that we will be well received. All of us know by tradition, and many by happy experience, that in Cedar Rapids we, as Masons, feel at home, for this is the home of Iowa Masonry. You have referred to the honor conferred upon your city by the location of the grand Masonic Library here. This is a divided honor, for we are greatly indebted to the broad-minded, generous Masons and citizens of Cedar Rapids for its success; they have contributed most liberally to make it what it is; and also to the ladies of your city we are indebted, and it is with pride and with pleasure that we have set apart one of the beautiful rooms of that building for them to adorn and occupy. Cedar Rapids has been referred to as "The Parlor City"-I cannot speak for others, but will say for myself that as I walk along its clean streets, bordered with well-kept lawns, about its magnificent residences, I feel that I am truly walking through the spacious parlor of the magnificent state of Iowa. It shows perhaps better at this time of the year, when everything is green but the people, and they are always generous. We are thankful to the Mayor that his welcome would seem to include the protecting care of all the departments of the city government. We never know when the unexpected may happen, and it may be that we will need the aid of the police, but probably not to any great extent if you give to us the full and free use of the cold water department. Permit me to say that these brethren gathered here as members of the Grand Lodge of Iowa are representative Iowa citizens; they represent what is best in morals, education, business life, labor, and farm activities. They are an average of the thirty thousand Masons of the state of Iowa. It is said that this state has the smallest per cent of illiteracy of any state in the Union. Let me say that in Iowa Masonry there is no per cent of illiteracy, for the illiterate cannot gain admission within our borders. This is the class of people you have welcomed to your city. We are glad to come here again to visit the Grand Masonic Library, presided over by Brother Theodore Sutton Parvin, the oldest Masonic official in the state, though he is still a young man. We meet here not only to discharge the many duties devolving upon us as a fraternity, to transact the business of the Grand Lodge, but also because our mystic tie draws us together for social intercourse, to renew old friendships and to form new ones. We trust that every one of us during his stay in this city will by his conduct represent the principles of morality, temperance, and prudence, of which we, as an organization, boast. We know that we shall carry away with us pleasant memories of our visit, and we trust we may leave with you equally pleasant memories of our stay. INCIDENT. Grand Master Lambert then remarked to the audience that he held in his hand the gavel (small ivory) with which the Grand Lodge would be formally opened, and which had been used by one of his predecessors in the year 1852, and asked if there was any brother in the audience who had been present upon that occasion and heard the sound of that gavel, with the request that if there be such that he rise-the brethren were all silent, when GRAND SECRETARY PARVIN arose and remarked that he was not only present, but that he had a very distinct recollection of having used the gavel himself upon that occasion. Grand Master Lambert responded that he was well aware of the fact, and that no other brother would respond, whereupon he took occasion, after a few complimentary remarks on his past history, to introduce to the brethren Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary Parvin, who addressed the audience in a few remarks appropriate to the occasion. After which the LEO LADIES' QUARTETTE very beautifully rendered "Home, Sweet Home." When the LADIES AND CITIZENS were requested to retire from the opera house. OPENING CEREMONIES. Grand Master Lambert then, assisted by his Grand Officers, proceeded to open the Grand Lodge of Iowa in ample form in the third degree of Masonry, and announced that in the absence of the Grand Chaplain, Rev. Brother W. A. Shanklin (49), he had― APPOINTED Rev. Brother Dr. J. C. W. Coxe (26) as Grand Chaplain for the session, who led the brethren in appropriate prayer. APPOINTMENTS. The Grand Master then announced the following appointments, in addition to Brother Coxe as Grand Chaplain: Brother W. S. Gardner (100) as a member of Committee on Chartered Lodges, in place of Brother Baker, not present. Brother Joseph Morcombe (25), Committee on Grand Lodge Library, in place of Brother Lindsay, not present. Brother D. W. Clements (69), on the Special Committee of the Sedgwick petition, in place of Brother Blanchard, absent. Brother F. H. Loring (18), Committee on Visitors. ROLL CALL. The Deputy Grand Secretary then called the roll of Grand and Past Grand Officers, and reported that a constitutional number (430) of the subordinate lodges were represented by their officers and proxies. GRAND OFFICERS PRESENT. THOMAS LAMBERT (169), Sabula, Most Worshipful Grand Master. R. M. HUNTER (331), Sibley, Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden. W. E. RANDALL (145), Mason City, Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden. O. L. WRIGHT (61), Knoxville, Right Worshipful Grand Treas urer. T. S. PARVIN (2), Cedar Rapids, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary. (Appointed.) F. W. CRAIG (110), Des Moines, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master. N. R. PARVIN (4), Cedar Rapids, Worshipful Deputy Grand Secretary. REV. DR. J. C. W. CoxE (26), Washington, as Grand Chaplain. W. B. MARTIN (386), Greenfield, Worshipful Grand Marshal. R. A. SCHROEDER (169), Sabula, Worshipful Senior Grand Deacon. E. C. ABBEY (319), Garner, Worshipful Junior Grand Deacon. H. F. KEABLES (55), Pella, Worshipful Senior Grand Steward. M. E. LOWTHER (42), Centerville, Worshipful Junior Grand Steward. A. N. ALBERSON (26), Washington, Worshipful Grand Tyler. CUSTODIANS. GEORGE B. VAN SAUN, Past Grand Master (65), Cedar Falls, Secretary. C. C. CLARK, Past Junior Grand Warden (318), Burlington. PERMANENT MEMBERS. PAST GRAND MASTERS (7). T. S. PARVIN (2), 1852. GEORGE B. VAN SAUN (65), 1881. J. D. GAMBLE (61), 1889. L. E. FELLOWS (144), 1893. G. W. BALL (4), 1895. A. R. DEWEY (26), 1897. CROM. BOWEN (110), 1899. PAST SENIOR GRAND WARDENS (7). C. H. SHAW (338), 1875. W. S. GARDNER (100), 1895. W. F. FIDLAR (37), 1898. PAST JUNIOR GRAND WARDENS (8). ALF. WINGATE (110), 1875. T. R. ERCANBRACK (46), 1880. L. J. BAKER (16), 1889. PAST GRAND TREASURERS (5). JOHN HILSINGER (169), 1874. F. H. LORING (18), 1888. J. M. WOODWORTH (486), 1896. PAST GRAND OFFICERS DECEASED. Two chairs upon the dais were suitably draped in memory of Past Grand Master Guilbert and Past Grand Treasurer Colton, both of whom had passed away during the Masonic year. ADDRESS. Most Worshipful Grand Master Lambert then read his address, as follows, which, under the law Was referred to the standing Committee on Grand Master's Address. |