ADDRESS OF PAST GRAND MASTER



whom all created intelligences, from the lowest even unto the highest,-should
reverently bow and in humility adore.
   It was the remark of one of our own distinguished statesmen that offices
of high public trust ivere like the tops or the pyramids, which might be
reached by the serpent as well as by the eagle; but it occurs to Die that
without either the soaring nature of the eagle or the crawling aptitude of
the serpent, the most insignificant gossamer may be wafted by a propitious
gale to the very apex of Cheops. So the humblest man, although destitute-
of the inspiration of genius or the arts of subtlety, may be sometimes ele-
vated by the force of extraneous influences to the highest official station;
and thus, brethren. have I attained an eminence, otherwise inaccessible, by
means only of the strong scaffolding provided for me by the generous hands
of the Masonic Craft in Kentucky.
   In retiring from this exalted station I shall carry with me an affectionater
remembrance of this devoted friend,3hip which will thrill my heart with
purest transports of joy until its throbbings are lorever checked and chilled
by the icy hand of death.
  MY Masonic career seems to have been but one continuous-series bf Ma-
sonic honors at the handis of the devoted Brotherhool or Kentucky; and,
although repeatedly honored by your confidence and trust, permit mie to say
that I still treasure, as the rich legacy of the loved one gone, the kind words
of cheer which first saluted my ears from the lips of an old officer of this
Grand Lodge. And although many years have since intervened, and those
lips have long been mute in death, I still remember well the musical-and
encouraging tone in which those words of cheer were then pronounced.
They were the utterances of him whom all d'd reverence and love, while in
our midst, with an ardor well-nigh bordering on idolatry, and whose mem-
ory still towers up with moral grandeur in the ranks of our Past Grand
Masters, not only as the model Mason, but also as the model man-the em-
bodiment of a'l the graces and amenitieswhich adorn our humanity-a
column of wisdom, strength atd beauty in our Mystic Temple ! I need na
say that I allude to the venerable, the virtuous, the gentle and the benig-
Dant, the gifted and the good, the heavenly minded and pure-bearted Wina
gate I
  These words of sympathy and encouragement were spoken on the eve ot
my departure from the first Communication of this Grand Body I ever at.
tended.  Forcibly impressed, as were all the younger representatives, with
the bland dignity and unaffected simplicity of his character, I approached
to take leave of himn as a child would of his father (and who that ever sat
with him in this Grand Body did not wish to bid him "good-by" when they
left) and, grasping my hand with much cordiality, "My son," said lie, "I
hope you will return again; this Grand Lodge may some day have use for
you."  These words sank deep into n.y soul as the kind utterances of a great



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