ELISUA S. FITCh.3



would only ask of her to extend to the Widows' and Orphans' Home the
same fostering care and liberal policy which have already won for the city
so enviable a reputation as the friend and promoter of the various public
charities established in her midst. They seek only to add another gem to
the bright coronal of jewels, in the form of charitable nistitutions, which
already encircles and graces the queenly brow of the "Falls Citv."
  The enterprising spirit of her community is nowhere else more strikingly
and appropriately displayed than in the substantial and highly ornate pub-
lic buildings devoted to her numerous charities. This prominent feature of
the city attracts the attention, and elicits the admiration, of every visitor to
the place, and may be justly regarded as an indication not only of great
municipal wealth and prosperity, but also of the highest Christian enlight.
enmnent.
  In erecting this "Home" for our widlows and orphans, while we will cer-
tainly he actuated by no vain ambition to excell in architectural Jisplav, it
will nevertheless be our purpose to adorn the site donated for this purpose
with a permanent and graceful structure, befitting the worthy and honored
beneficiaries for whom it is intended, and at the sanme time worthy of the
beautiful and liberal minded city in which it is located.
  It is an enterprise, therefore, in which we trust the city or Louisville will
reel a just and commendable pride, and to which she will extend an active
co-operat ion.
  To her own fair and lovelv daughters who, with such admirable tact and
discernment, have inaugurated the "Ladies' Masonic Widows' and Orphans'
Society," and rallied so promptly to the assistance of this great enterprise,
and have ever extended to it such invaluable service, we feel already especi-
ally indebted. Their zeal has been ardent and untiring, and their enthusi
asm unabating, even gathering renewed energy from every discourage-
ment, and if their success had been commensurate with either this zeal or
enthusiasm, the Widows' and Oplhans' Home would ere this have been
erected and filled with itappy intnateq. And whenever this glorious work
shall have been consummated, and we shall then meet to dedicate, as we
have now met to inaugurate, let it not be forgotten by the orator of the
occasion -but let his moet chaste, beautiful and eloquent expressions an-
nounce the fact that the heroic and persistent devotion of the ladies of Lou
i8ville in behalf of this great Masonic charity has been its Archemedean
lever-its most inspiring element of success.
  As a Fraternity, brethren, we are especially committed to this humane en-
terprise, and it is in this relation that the eye, the hope and the heart of the
community are upon up, and upon us too with such intensity of observation and
of wish as may arouse our own sense of duty and achievement. It was the
policy of an invading general to burn the fleet which landed his troopson the
soil which lie desired to conquier, that the impossibility of a successful retreat
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