The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-07-08
Laying OF the Corner Stone Of
THE G. Clay M On u M K N T
nj LSxlngton, Ky., July A, 1881.


The ceremonies upon the occasion Of the
laying of the corner stone Of the Clay Mon
ument were grand and imposing. The an
cient families of Kentucky were represented,
with aged men who had known Mr. Clay
during his whole life.' At nine o'clock on
the morning of the 4th, the procession was
formed and started for the Cemetary.
The sidewalks were jammed, the windows
and housetops were crowded with men. wo-
men, and children, gazing upon the pageant,
that for two hours was passing through the
avenue, which was colorcd with waving flags
and pendant banners, and which Numbered
with the explosion of artillery, the rattle of
drums, and the music Of bfazen- throated in
struments.
Arrived on the ground, the solemn ccre-
monies Of laying the corner stone were per-
formed BY NJ. W. Grand Master Tneo. n.
Wise, OF the Grand Lodge Of Aasons of
In the stone was placcd-a scroll, hermeti-
cally sealed in eisss bottle, inscribed with
| the history Of the occasion, and names Of
| the officers of State and General Govern
! ment; also copy Of each of the papers of
the City of Lexington; o parchment prepar-
cd by the Cincinnati Guthrie Greys in testi-
nony of their appreciation Of the, merit Of
the man who preferred to be right than to be
President; medallion in copper, likeness
of the Clay Gold Medal, ono Of which was
lost on transportation, &c.
After prayer, vocal music and o salute, the
stone was laid to its place. tried by the
working tools, and pronounced well-formed,
true and trrsty by the Worshipful Grand
Master. The gold and silver vessels were
brought forward, and, according to ancient
ceremony, corn. wine and oil were poured
on the stone, when this prayer was offered:
MAY the all bounteous Author Of Nature
bless the inhabitants Of this place with all
the necessaries, conveniences and comforts
of this life: assist in the erection and com
pletion Of this structure; protect the work
men against every accident. and long pre-
serve this structure from decay; and grant 10
us all supply of the cora Of nourishment
the scine of rctrcshment, and the osI Of joyr'
The stone received three strokes of the
mallet, and the public Masonic Grand Hon.
ors wer, then given.
Rev. Robt. j. Breckenridge, himself q
proud representative Of Kentucky In talents
and lineage, stepped forward and addressed
for near two hohrs, the vast and attentive
auditory. IS
The following synopsis Of Mr.. Brecken-
ridges speech we take from the correspon-
dence OF the Cincinnati Gazette:
1t was not an address seeking in fine words
and glowing perit ds to erect a monument tc
the speaker, of his rhetorical powers, or tc
the writer, Of his ability in composition, bu,
q noble, simple, earnest, eloquent memorial
in high moral strains, and deep philosophiS
teachings by example, from the humble CON-
mencement of the Orphan boy of Hanover
} to the lofty acquittal by him Of every duty
faithfully until he, as an American Senator
folded his robes around him to die in the
National Capital.
The picture drawn Of HENRY CLAf by the
home artist, Breckenridge, who knew him in
all his days of vigor and usefulness, will b.
an invaluable contribution to the National
Gallery of American Portraits: Grand in
conception, beautiful in tracing. faithful in
filing up, and charming TO perfection by
its background, the pencil Of the Kentucky
artist has made likeness that stands ont
from the canvass, almost the living and
speaking form Of the great original. Al
: perhaps the last great work Of the speaker
he seems TO have aimed not to paint only fol
to-day. but for posteri.y-for all time:
: His searching analysis Of character, his cx,
treme naturalness Of manner in composition
and in delivery, made deep impression
, and venture to assert, that w ben the printed
pages are placed in the hands of the Ameri-
: can people, they will pronounce o verdict
that the monument ceremonies have, more
worthily than ever, associated the names Of
, Clay and Breckenridge. srr
With the speaker, i may conclude this
brief review BY saying, after the work Of the
day,
3 awe have done all that mortals can" -
I'll One line inscribed on the completed mon
ument will expressively finish the work: A