Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-29
THIS EDIFICE,


Li.N'C.4SJRLd.N SCHOOL,
IS DEDICATED 10 THE
Elementary Principles of Education:
To teach the young idea how L. shoot -
~ CITY OF RICHMOND,
And many Iroythy, 65erA-mindea Citizens ttereyf.
THE CHILDREN OF THE WEALTHY
Are taught on the most moderate terms;
THOSE or TUE PUoI-GWATIs.
The Foundation Stone i,lad by the President and Trustees
Of the INSTITUTION, this 9th June, 1910.
The Worshipiui SAN UEL JONES,
Muster of the lodge No 10.
Attended BY the Lodges 10, No. IA, No. ie 40. So and
ASSISTED Az LAYING
THE CORNER STONE
RICHasO.N.D Ly7Ny.7STRLa.N- SCHOOL,
June 81, a l.. 5sl6....A d. 1916.
Before marching to the ground, William
Manford, ESQ. delivered the following
very appropriate Grafton, in the Capitol
and the Rev John D. Blair, put up a prayer
to the Throne Of Grace, for blessings Oh
this amiable institution
Fellow Citizens,
While l am deeply sensible Of the
honour conferred upon me. by my associates
Of the Lancastrian Institution, in selecting
me as their Orator, ! must be permitted to
express regret, that some Gentleman or
superior abilities TO m ne, was not reques-
ted to undertake the task of doing justice
to your feelings and expectations. on this
interesting occason.-i am, iadeed, CON
WINGED that the greatest master of rhetoric,
wouId fird the subject OF the present meet
ing worthy of his highest fights, and most
animated eifusions.--He might pourtray in
glowing colours, the brilliant effects of
plan OF Education, by which the march of
warm your imaginations with lively des-
Criptions Of scenes OF prosperity, hereafter
10 be realized liz our fry--when, by
the influence of this and similar institutions,
the poorer class of the people OF Virginia
shall become as remarkable for knowledge
and virtue, as, unhappilY, many OF them
are, at present., foe qualities OF an opposite
character when poverty shall have been
relieved from the depressing burden of ig-
norance, and genius ransomed from the
chains imposed upon it by indulgence and
misery. He might cause your hearts to
rejoice at the good that has already been
accom- plished, and stimulate the best facul-
ties Of your souls to perseyer.ng efforts in
the cause of improvement. But the time
l have mad for PREPARATION will not permit
my attempting so wide a range nor are
my talents adequate to the undertaking.
ton. that your iiberalty and candour will
pardon the defects OF hasty composition
and that the merits of the Lancastrian
scheme, are such as not to requ re the
splendid arts OF Oratory, to set them off
with borrowed honours, OF elaborate argu-
ments, to recommend them to your APP
plause.--A plain address to the understan-
dngs and judgments of my hearers will be
sufficient, and, perhaps, more appropriate
10 the simple, though admirable invention
Of the honest and benevolent CUGksr, 10
SEPH LANCASTER.
We are now assembled, for the purpose
of proceeding, with becoming solemnty
and ceremonies, TO lay the Corner Stone of
a building, the first Of It's kind that has ever
been erected in our City, but second. in
importance, to none but the sacred Edihces
dedicated 10 the worship OF the Creator Of
heaven and earth---a building to be devot-
ed TO the elementary instruction of poor &c
destitute children gratis, and oS all others
or such terms as are calculated to en-
courage their approach to the fountain
head of science. II, without learning,
wise laws cannot be enacted, or judiciously
enforoed--if. as all history has evinced,
people without information, can neither
understand their rights, nor assert them
nerated equally with the hall OF Legislation,
or the seat of justice. Il should lie regard
ed as the parent of "iegitiniase" govern
ment, and well regulated liberty. As Ig-
uorance is the fruitful source OF the vices
by which society is debased and human
life rendered a scene of misery. the schooi-
house, where principles OF virtue are in.
stilled, and crimes are hTcUeHfed, ought TO
he honoured, as more conducive to the
public good, than the gloomy mansions
where offenders are confined, and equal,
IT not superior, in utility to the splendid
Armory, where instruments Of national de-
ice are manufactured. True it is, that,
without arms to protect us from invasion,
our country might be subdued by foreign
Toe but it is equally true, that People,
Aatnstructed, and IF course undiscihlined,
could not avail themselves of arms when
put into their hands that, degraded by
ignorance, they would soon surrender the
Fights Of freemen TO domestic usurpstion,
snd would then have little left that IS worth
defending.
For the happy occasion which has called
as together, we are indebted, Feliow-Ci'i-
1sns, to the liberal donations Of many pri'
'ate peTs ms as well rs 20 the munihcence
O'tAe Common Council Of this City. To
shsm.the thanks Of their countrymen should
oe paid; and our acknowle dgTeDts are al
50 due to the highly respectable Society OF
tree and Accepted MasoBs, who have
thought proper to favor US with their COM