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The 11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month — 1918
"Lest We Forget"
By Frank Cushman, Tyler Emeritus - St. John's Lodge No. 9
On the 11th hour, of the llth day,and the llth
month of the year 1918 the guns of World War One fell silent. This
was the war to end all wars. It is to be deeply regretted, that this
noble ideal fell by the wayside, withered and died. Nay my friends
this ideal is not dead. It lives on in the hearts of all free men
and women who will always cherish this noble ideal.
The flag, that we saluted this evening, is the undieing emblem
of this freedom. This is the standard around which all men and
women who beleive in freedom shall rally!
This freedom which we hold near and dear came to us to hard,
to costly, and with to much red blood shed for us, the living, to
loose sight of.
To many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and others have
shed to many hot bitter tears for those who paid the supreme
sacrifice that we as Freemasons, free people may meet without fear
of a despotic riegn swooping down in the middle of the night. To
imprison us without trial, bail, or a defender; laying waste to our
lands, and homes.
It is only by constant vigil, exercising our franchise to vote,
and seeing to it that those chosen to govern this great land do
their appointed and elected jobs with the same fervor and whole heartedness
that the founders of this country displayed when facing the
hired mercenaries of King George the 3rd.
Brothers, Sisters, and fellow citizens we must never let this
spirit die. For if we do we shall be those prisoners in chains that
Patrick Henry spoke of in his now famous speech: " I know not what
course others may take but as for me "Give me liberty or give me death."
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