Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-14

morrow.
picnic this afternoon, of the Wesley Chap
ell Sunday School, at Piefce's Woods, out 14th
street Conyeyances leave the corner of F and
-5th streets at half-past three.
THE WASHINGTON ORPHAN AsYLUM-IAy
ING OF THE CORNER STONE OF THE NEW
BUILpING.-Y esterday afternoon the interest
ing ceremonies of laying the corner stone of
the new building intended for the Washington
Orphan Asylum. at the corner of I4th street
west and street north, took place i'm the pres
ence of large number OF citizens. The Grand
Lodge OF Masons, who performed the cere-
mony, assembled a the hall, corner of 9th and
ID streets. and, under the escort of Washington
and Columbian Communicates of KNIGHTS
Templar marched up 9th street to the Asylum
on ii street, where trustees, building commit
tee, lady managers, and the seventy children
OF the Asylum (many of the latter carrying
miniature flags, with notices. &c ~ formed, and
under the marshalship of Mr.. N. ID. Larner,
the procession, headed by the Marine Band,
proceeded to the ground selected, where the
exercises took place in the presence of a large
crowd of citizens. There was quite number
of ministers present, nearly every denomina-
ton being represented and number of mem
bers of the City Government.
On arriving on the ground, the Grand Mas
ter OF Masons, q. T.. hitting, Esq, commenced
the ceremonies by stating that the building, the
corner stone of which they had assembled to
consecrata, was to be devoted to the practical
exemplificaton of one of the tenets of Masonry
DIR. Murdy offered a solemn PRAYER which was
followed by the Masons singing the Masonic
III
subordinate officers were then catechised by
the Grand Master, and finding them skilled in
the art. he proceeded to finish the work, ap-
plying TO the stone the plumb square and
level. The Grand Treasurer, @. Cammack, Sr.,
placed in the stone, which was presented by
Messrs. Provost, Winter Il Co, reports of the
Asylum, constitution and bylaws, act of in
corporation, list of officers and managers Of the
Asylum, constitution and proceedings of the
Grand Lodge of Masons, and the letter of
President Johnson The corn, wine and oil
were poured on the stone, the first by Deputy
Grand Master r. b. Donaldson, the second by
Senior Grand Warden, w. E. Hutchinson, and
the third by Junior Grand Warden 7. Il.
Campbell. The Grand Master explained the
Significance of the corn, wine and Oil, and said
''As Grand Master of Masons in the District of
Columbia, pronounce this corner stone of the
Washington City Orphan Asylum to be duly
laid, square, level, and plumb, and sincerely
hope that the workmen may not be hindered
in their labors, but that the cap-stone may soon
be laid in its place, under circumstances as
joyous as the present seems to be suspicious"
He concluded by enjoining on the fraternity
the duty of contributing to the work.
The Masonic ceremonies were concluded by
singing the ode commencing brothers, ere to-
night we part
ercises and made the following statement:
The ground on which the as ylum is erected
being the northwest quarter of square 232,
valued al Sl0,OOO-is a donation from William
w. Corcoran, of the city of Washington, who
for a quarter of century has essentially aided
the establishment by personal services. frequent
its pecuniary resources by advice and counsel
i'll the management of its real estate, and has
been from its origin, and still continues to be,
one of its most firm, constant, and liberal
friends.
DIR. Gurley read letter from Past Grand
Sire W. W. Moore, on the part OF the Odd Fell
lows, regretting the inability of the order to
attend, and one from Mayor Waliach, express
sing his inability TO be present on account of
he being engaged in the distribution of premi-
ums 10 the scholars of the Fourth District
schools.
DR. Gurley also read the following letter
from President johnson, the original copy of
which was deposited in the cornerstone:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WAsHINGTON, July 3D. 1865.
Mrs. j. F. Lee, First DireCtresS Washington City
Protestant Orphan asylum:
DFAE MADAM l had hoped that might be
able to accept your kind in vtation and attend
the laying of the cornerstone of your new
building, but my official duties will prevent
beg you TO convey to the ladies of your
ISOLATION the assurance of my deep interest in
and sympathy with their work: and to the
children under your charge desire to express
my sympathy with them at the great loss
which they have suffered in being deprived of
the care and affection of parents. Thrown SO
early. to 4 large extent, upon their own re-
sources and efforts, they should feel their need
of education, industrious and yirtuous habits
and should look TO Him who is a Father to the
fatherless.
am, madam. truly your friend,
ANDREW JOHNSON
Secretary Harlan was called upon for Il
speech, and during his remarks related an in
cldent in his life occurring on the plains in the
West, going TO show the unwillingness of the
elk to abandon a wounded companion to its
fate, and remarked that il is also said by hunt
ers that when a herd of bufaloes are assailed
by an enemy, man or beast, they fl from their
pursuers in the order of the old, strong ones in
front, in rear, and on the fanks, with the small
and feeble in the center. Thus it that
God had written it law in the instincts of
wild beasts, that TIE strong shall protect the pccdE.
ssIhese impulses said Mr.. Harlan, s.are not
unfrequentIy embodied into a kim of national
sentiment, so that thrill of delight is eXpe-
rienced by a whole people when they behold Il
strong, powerful nation shielding Il feeble one
from oppression. Thus when Russia, now the
friend of this Republic, attempted TO crush the
less powerful Turks, we, in our hearts, con-
demECd the Russian: and when the French,
not now so friendly to our prosperity, sprang
10 arms in the defence of the Turkish nation
ality, all applauded; but when they at
tempt 10 crush feeble Mexico, we despise their
want OF generous gallantry, and wish it might
be the will of God in the order of His proyi-
be called upon to protect her feeble sister re-
public. tApplause.l
$50 here, the benevolent order now LAYING
the foundation of this Institution as n shelter
and home for fatherles ) and motherless chill
dren is responding TO the law of God as writ
ten on the animate creation, in the hearts OF
Christian men, in the sentiment of great and
gallant nations, Is approved by the angels look.
ing down from their peaceful abodes and will
Dc blessed by Heavens King"
Alter singing by the orphans which was an
attractive feature of the occasion, the ceremo-
mics were concluded by a fervent and appro-