Fifty Years of Masonry in Nevada
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A Review of the Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Nevada
1864 - 1914(It should be noted that the “Chapter Titles” were added by the Grand WebMason, as an assist in separating the book into logical sections. WB Lloyd B. Thomas did include separation marks at those points, but he did not include “chapter titles”.)
----- Preface -----
It is written of an ancient Chinese philosopher that he had once saved his life from a sweeping flood by ascending a nearby mountain, and that he dated his achievement of wisdom and understanding from that incident. All his knowledge came thereafter by taking a survey of life once a year from an exalted overlook far above his ordinary haunts. Here he could see life in its proper proportions and relations. Ever since his day, every Chinese man, woman, and child ascends once a year the highest peak in the neighborhood, there to celebrate the Festival of the Long Life.
That is the task which we have set ourselves to do. It is appropriate that at the close of fifty years of labor, the members of the Grand Lodge of Nevada should ascend to a height, from which a view of the past can be obtained, and from which can be seen the winding road along which our history has advanced. It would be a work of supererogation to attempt to write a detailed history of the past fifty years, because there are men still living who have had some part in every important act of this Grand Lodge. There are men present at this Semicentennial Communication who, for over a generation, have contributed their wisdom and their energy to shaping the policy and the progress of Freemasonry in this jurisdiction. All hail to the Veterans! Nevertheless, let us mount the heights. Let us glance back over the road which has been traversed. Then with our memories refreshed, we can gaze with clearer and more far-seeing eyes into the future, to mark out the path of progress by which this Grand Lodge shall proceed to yet higher levels of work and duty.