Evening Star Newspaper, June 10, 1935, Page 40

4 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., JUNE 10, 1935. — . o e Capitol Corner Stone Laid By Masons 1n Solemn Rite The First Great Masonic Procession and Pageant in Washington Marked the Occasion in 1793 When George Washington, Master Mason, Set the First Stone of the United States Capitol. URIED deep within the present founda- tions of our Capitol Building lies a stone to which more thag ordinary significance is attached for members of the Masonic fraternity. It is the corner stone, laid in 1793 by George Washington, then a master Mason and worshipful master of his lodge. Elaborate and authentic Masonic rituals were observed throughout ‘in connection with this ceremony. An old book of Masonic history tells the colorful story of that day almost 142 years ago, when the President of the United States and countless other dignitaries of Maryland and Virginia marched upon the City of Washing- ton to observe rites, the pageantry of which must be left to the imagination and the pen of that historian who described them as fol- Jows: . “On Wednesday, September 18, one of the greatest Masonic processions took place, for the purpose of laying the corner stone of the Capitol of the United States, which perhaps was ever exhibited on the like occasion. “About 10 o’'clock Lodge No. 9 was visited by that congregation so graceful to the craft, Lodge No, 22, of Virginia, with all of their officers and regalia, and directly afterward ap- peared on the southern bank ef the grand river Potomack one of the finest companies of volunteer artillery, parading teo receive the President of the United States, who shortly came in sight with his suite, whom the artil- lery paid their military honors, and his ex- cellency and suite crossed the Potomack, and was received in Maryland by the officers and brethren of 22, Virginia, and No. 9 of Mary- land, whom the President headed, and pre- ceded by a band of music, the rear brought up by the Alexandér Volunteer Artillery, with grand solemnity of march, proceeded to the President’s square in the City of Washington, where they were met and saluted by No. 15, of the City of Washington, in all of their badges and clothing, headed by Brother Joseph Clarke, right worshipful grand master pro tempore, and conducted to a large lodge prepared for the purpose of their reception. “After a short space of time, by the vigilance of Brother Clotworthy Stephenson, grand mar- shal pro tempore, the brotherhood and other bodies were disposed in a second order of pro- cession, which took place amid a brilliant crowd of spectators of both sexes, according to the following arrangement, viz: ‘The Surveying Department of the City of Washington. Mayor and Corporation of Georgetown. Virginia Artillery. Commissioners of the City of Washington and their attendants. Stonecutters and mechanics. The sword bearers. Masons of the first degree. Bible, etc.. on grand cushions. Deacons with staffs of office. Masons of second degree. Stewards with wands. Masons of third degree. Wardens with truncheons. Secretaries with tools of office. Past masters with their regalia. ‘Treasurers with their jewels. Band of music. Lodge No. 22 of Virginia, disposed in their own order. Corn, wine and oil. Grand master, pro tempore, Brother George ‘Washington, and worshipful master of No. 22 of Virginia. Grand sword bearer. X RS George Washington as a master of Masons. 8V THIS imposing procession marched two abreast in the greatest solemn dignity, with music playing, drums beating, colors fly= 1ng and spectators rejoicing, from the Presi- dent’s square to the Capitol, in the City of Washington. where the grand master ordered a hall and directed each file in the procession Mementos of the Masonic collection on exhibit in the Geor ge Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria. Va. Above, key; left, chair in which Washington sat as master: cent er, old clock, whose hands still point to the hour and minute of W ashington’s death; knife given Washington at the age of 10 by his mosher for good conduct. ~Virginia State Chamber of Commerce Phoe, to incline two steps, one to the right and one to the left, and face each other, which formed a hollow oblong square, through which the grand sword bearer led the van, followed by the grand master pro tempore on the left, the President of the United States in the center and the worshipful master of No. 22, Virginia, on the right. “All of the other ordirs that composed the procession advanced in the reverse of their order of march from the President's Square to the southeast corner of the Capitol site. and the artillery filed off to a destined ground to display their maneuvers and discharge their cannon. “The President of the United States, the grand master pro tempore, and the worshipful master of No. 22, taking their stand to the east of a large stone, and all of the craft forming & circle westward, stood a short time in solemn order. The artillery discharged a volley. “The grand master delivered to the commis= sioners a large silver plate with an inscription thereon, which the commissioners ordered te be read, and was as follows: “‘This southeast corner stone of the Capitol of the United States of America. in the City of Washington, was laid on the eighteenth day of September, 1793, in the thirteenth year of American independence. in the first yvear of the second term of the presidency of George Washe ington, whose virtues in the civil administration of his country have been as conspicuous and beneficial as his military valor and prudence have been useful in establishing her liberties, and in the year of Masonry 5793, by the Presi= dent of the United States in concert with the Grand Lodge of Maryland, several lodges under its jurisdiction, and Lodge No. 22. from Alex- andria, Va.; Thomas Johnson, David Steuart and Daniel Carroll, commissioners; Joseph Clarke, right worshipful grand master pro tem= pore; James Hoban and Stephen Hallette, architects;Collin Williamson, master Mason. “The artillery discharged another volley and the plate was then delivered to the Pn-:fildenh. who, attended by the grand mastor pro tempore and three most worshipful masters, descended into the cavazion trench and deposited the plate and laid it on the corner stone of the Capitol of the United States of Ameiica. on which were deposited corn, wine and oil. when the whole congregation joined in reverential prayver, which was succeeded by Masonic chanting honors and another volley from the artille;y “After the President and the dignitaries who assisted him ascended from the trenc h to the east of the corner stone, the grand master pro tempore, elevated on a triple ros trum, delivered an oration fitting with the occasion, which wes lt-rfilved With brotherly love and commendation. At intervals during the orgtion several volleys were discharged by the artilleiy The cere mony ended in prayer, chanting Masonic hone- ors and 15 volleys from the 15 differ S > of the Union by the artillery. AR “The whole company retived to an extensive booth, where an ox weighing 500 pounds was barbecued, of which the company generally partook with abundance of other recreation. The festival concluded with 15 successive VOle leys from the artillery, whose military discie pline and maneuvers merit every commendation, “Before dark the entire company had de- parted, with joyful hopes of the production of their labors.” é |