Text Box: Phone: 740-774-3485 Fax: 740- 774-1053 Email: sciotolodge6@horizonview.net Text Box: 57 East Main Street Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 Text Box: U.S. Postage PAID PRSTD STD Chillicothe, OH Permit #47 Text Box: In an old 1929 school book called 'Studies in Conduct' by Elizabeth F. Hague, Mary Chalmers & Marie Kelly. "When duty whispers low, "Thou must." The youth replies, "I can." Emerson "General Robert E. Lee, one of the finest characters in American history, always found time to write to his children, however busy he may have been. His letters were cheerful, interesting, and appreciative. The letter to his son, George Washington Custis Lee, was written while the boy was attending college. The true incident which is related in the letter about the old Puritan legislator gives us a rare example of real courage. That he should have written such a loving letter at such a critical time is typical of his heroic courage." LEE'S LETTER TO HIS SON You must study to be frank with the world; frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do on every occasion and take it for granted you mean to do right. If a friend asks you a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot; you will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind. Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly but firmly with all your classmates; you will find it the policy which wears best. ... If you have any fault to find with anyone, tell him, not others, of what you complain; there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back. We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of anyone. It is not only best as a matter of principle but it is the path of peace and honor. In regard to duty, let me, in conclusion of this hasty letter, inform you that nearly a hundred years ago there was a day of remarkable gloom and darkness-still known as "the dark day"-a day when the light of the sun was slowly extinguished as if by an eclipse. The Legislature of Connecticut was in session, and as the members saw the unexpected and unaccountable darkness coming on they shared in the awe and terror. It was supposed by many that the last day-the Day of Judgment-had come. Someone in the consternation of the hour moved an adjournment. Then there arose an old Puritan legislator, Davenport of Stamford, and said that if the last day had come he desired to be found at his place doing his duty and therefore moved that candles be brought in, so that the House could proceed with its duty. There was a quietness in that man's mind, the quietness of heavenly wisdom and inflexible willingness to obey present duty. Duty, then, is the [most] sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things, like the old Puritan. You cannot do more, you should never do less. Never let me and your mother wear one gray hair for any lack of duty on your part." Text Box: Celebrating 200 Years of Masonry in Chillicothe - in the Historic Seventh Masonic District