Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-08
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

with appropriate and imposing ceremonies agreeab to the
der prescribed by the Msrshain-C Chief
Early in the morning the front Of the City Hall
and at other public places gave indication Of ahoyday and
day Of public rejoicing At nine o'clock the ysionteer COM
panes under the command of Captain TuckER and Lieut.
TATE, were formed their respective parade grounds
the City Hail. At about the same hour the cars arrived
from Baltimore bringing hher large delegation Of the Free
Masons Of Baltimore and Philadelphia, unite with their
honored brethren in this District in the grand and interesting
ceremonies Of laying foundation Of institution whose
jec the increase and diffusion acknowledge amongst
At ten o'clock the members Of the various Lodges of
Free and Accepted Masons Of the District united with the
delegations from Maryland and Pennsylvania and took the
station assigned them the order of by the Mar
shalinChie BEyEnLEr RANDOLPH Esq, who appeared,
most of the asstsnt marshals in appropriate badges The
masonic part Of the procession unusually grand We
witnessed turnout in this city Of that
ancient and respectable fraternity who emh In their body
persons Of every condition in life and Of all countries The
Philadelphia delegation, headed by Col James Page, Grand
Master Of Pennsylvania the Baltimore delegation, headed
by Charles Gilman Esq, Grand Master of Maryland, and
the Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria delegations
headed by b. B. French ESQ., the popular Grand Master Of
the District Of Coumbia-a these functonaes and several
other officials whose do not know, with the long
line of members in full regaa, with their splendid banners
and embems, presented very interesting and imposing
spectacle.
Not less the very and respectable body Of the
Independent Order Of Odd Fellows, comprehending many
of the Lodges of this District The Odd Fellows, by
their number splendid regaa banners emblems excellent
music and rich costume, added greatly the imposing APP
pearance of the interesting pageant Dr. W. b. MAGRUDER
enddy decorated acted the Grand Marshal Of the Odd
Fellows whose chief officers DR.. JOSEPH BoRRows
Grand Master and Dr. FLopoAR HowARD, Deputy Grand
Master, who appeared their proper places supported by
other prominent officers and members of the Order.
The procession omed ageeaby the programme Of the
day. moved from the City Hall the Presidents House about
o'clock The Marshal Chief and his Aids all on
horseback and white scars and blue rosees. Three
of accompanied the procession, which
than mile in length Of the music avoid saying
that it was excellent. The Marine Band is uniformly
The National Brass Band, recently formed under Mr. Masso
et played admirably. Garcia's Band, from Alexandria
acted particular attention by its excellent performances This
band being uniformed, taken by several persons for
Deess celebrated Baltimore Banda great compliment truly
The column moved down Al Pennsylvania avenue
then up the to 7h street. up 7h E, to llth
up lth F, and thence to the Presidential Mansion
where the President Heads Of Departments Diplomatic Corps
&C. received into the line The entire column then
moved by Pennsylvania and 18th street, the site
of the Smithsonian Institution.
The military then formed in line the south side Of
the ste and the President Heads of Departments, Dipo
niac Corps Regents Mayor and Corporation of Washing
ton &C. passed 'front.' receiving their salute and repaired
elevated PLATFORM erected for the occasion, the
stone and beautifully ached and decorated with festoons
and wreaths Of flowers and evergreens
The column then opened to the right and left, and the Ma
sonic bodies preceded by the Grand Master of the District of
Columbia, passed up the line to the stone.
The masonic ceremonies then performed for the de-
tails Of which indebted official source oows
Proclamation for silence having been made by the Grand
Marshal
B. b. French, Esq. the Grand Master accompanied by
James Page ESQ., Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Of
Pennsy and Charles Gilman, Esq, the Grand Master
Of the Grand Lodge Of Maryland took his stand the
stone and having announced the object of the meeting called
upon the Grand Chaplain Of the Grand Lodge Of Maryland
Brother McJon address the Throne of Grace which be
did, as follows
o Lord God of Nations There is none like thee in
Heaven Earth which keepeh covenant and showeth
mercy thy that walk before thee with all their
hearts. Thou hast kept with thy people that which thou
hast promised them in all generations and that which thou
hast spoken with thy mouth thou hast fulfilled with thy hand
this day. G Chron. vi. ID 15) As thou dids
with thine ancient people Israeli of small beginning thou
hast raised up mighty nation in this western world by
thy power it has prospered BY thine has been beg
with strength BY thine hand has been oversrewn with
| blessings
Few in NUMBER and feeble in strength our fathers
upon these shores They hewed themselves home in the
wilderness and sat down. weary and toworn amid the wds
the forest But they abode beneath the shadow Of the Al
mighty Cps xc, ~ Thou to them as rivers Of wa
ter in dry place. and the shadow Of great rock in
weary land U.s. xxi, 2) Thou gavest them rain in
The land yielded her increase, and the Of the field
yielded their fruit The threshng reached the vintage,
and the vintage TO the sowing time They did eat their bread
to the full and dwell in the land in safety. When their
against he thou the shield Of their defence
In thy strength they had power to overcome and their foes
fed before them Thou gaves them independence and peace
and madest them to lie down in safety, with to make
them afraid Thou ddst up hy tabernacle among them,
thou dd break the bands Of their yoke and made them to
] go upright and free. (Lev xxvi.)
Thy second Israel has been greatly blessed at thy hands
Thou hast her plenty Of and vino Thou hast
peace in her borde and filed her with the finest of the
wheat Thou hast strengthened the bars Of her gates and
blessed her children within her. FPS cxlv, ID, ID Thou
hads respect fathers Thou madest them to be
fruitful, and ddst multiply their prosperity Thou dids
tebsh thy with them. Under thy fostering
the land became the heritage Of freedom the asylum Of the
oppressed the home Of the stranger blessing to the nations
The gloomy clouds of ignorance and superstition resting
dary upon other lands but the Of enlightenment and
religion beaming brilliantly upon The shackles Of
civil bondage binding the nations Of the East and they
bow in their captivity the despofs iron rule but letters
of oppression bind the free Of this favored land Civil dscod
reared It's and rent asunde the bond that uni
ted other States but uhhamed and enemy appears
that has power it. The pestence with fearful step
has trodden other Shores and dcsoaon fierce and fell has
marked its dreo but the rude form OF the avagcr has
L - Al -rI