American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-09-19
DOUGLAS MONUMENT.
Laying Of tl,e Corner stone.
IMPOSING PROCESSION.
The President and Party Present.
Gep. Dix Orator Of the Day.
Touching Address by Masonic
Grand Master Goering.
Movements of Presidential Party.

to- day was the laying of the corner stone
of the monument to the memory of
Stephen A. Douglas
The Presidential party were this morn
| ing escorted to Fairview, or Douglas
Place, about three miles from Chicago
The procession was imposing, and incla-
ded the Masonic fraternity, together with
a force of police, the Chief Marshall's
and Aides preceding the President of the
United States and Gen. Dix, the orator
of the day. Then came Mayor Rice and
w. II. Seward, the Cabinet and other
distinguished guests United States Ar,
my oflicers-Gen. Grant, Gen. Rawlins,
Gen. Meade and Staff, Gen. Steadman,
General Rousseau, General Custar, and
other prominent officers. United States
navy olficers-Admiral Farragut, Admi-
raj Radford, Lieutenant Mckinley; most
of the Douglas Monument Association !;
members of the Grand Lodge of A. +.
and L., of Illinois; citizens; Committee
of Arrangements Common Council of
Chicago: Mayors and Councils of sister
cities; 23d and I'D regiments, Illinois
volunteers Hibernian Society; French
Society; United Sons of Erin; Union
National Society of Italians Father
Mathews Temperance Society; trades
unions of Chicago; Bohemian Sclavonic
Society; Sclavanska Lipa golqyonian
Brotherhood Protestant st. Wenzz Laus
Society; Local Turner's Society; Singers
Society; Sharpshooters' Union Singing
Association German Turvicn Butchers
Association and citizens generally.
Arrived on the ground, the procession
formed in the vicinity of the base of the
monument The grave was beautifully
decorated The scene of the ceremony
was on the shore Of Lake. Michigan,
within ten feet of the water. The stands
completely surrounded the tomb. The
audience was massed in solid ranks. The
entire spectacle presented an amphithca-
tire, of which the inclined seats formed
the sizes, and the open Lake the back
ground.
The entry of the presidential process
sion was the first impressive point of the
proceedings. A band of music preceded
the cortege. A fine battalion Of Knight
Tcmplars succeeded, aud the representa-
tives of the Masonic fraternity followed.
The latter asconded the stage erected i'm
mcdia.ely around the base of the monu-
ument, where they prepared to perform
the appointed ceremonies.
AT this point, just before the appear
ance Of the President, the vast crowd
broke the ropes placed around the rcserv-
cd grounds, and rushed to nearly all parts
of the field Order was fully restored
by the excrtions of the Templars and
Ellsworth's Zouavcs. A light shower
also fell, but finished soon enough to avoid
a repetition of the scene. The Prcsi-
dent and party, with heads uncovered,
entered the grounds. Mr. Seward had
the Presidents arm; Mr.. Wells and
Randall walked together. Grant accom-
panied Romero.
The first in the course of the proceed.
ings was brief but appropriate address
by Major Rice.
The Masonic Grand Master of Illinois
j. r. Goehring, appeared in front of the
stand and delivered short touching and
eloquent address, in which he paid a
glowing tribute to the memory Of the IL
lustrious deceased, both as friend and
Mason, and referred to the fact that a
statute will be placed on the monument
visible to this inland sea. The Grand
Chaplain then invoked the Divine bles-
sing on the ceremony, when the ceremo.
ny of laying the corner stone took place,
according to Masonic Ritual.
After blessing with bread, wine and
oil, he stone was lowered in its place,
while minute guns we're fred aud the
band played dirge- The Grand Mas
ter congratulated those present on the
fact that there was present no less per
sonagc than the President OF the United
States. with tho distinguished heads OF
Departments, and who was, as he had
heard and believed, member Of the Ma
sonic fraternity. This remark was ap-
plauded by the elapping- of hands.
A prayer was then delivered by Rev,
Wn. Milbprn, Of tie Protestant Episco-
nal Church, when The orator Of the day,
Major General Dix, addressed the as
senhIage. The orator was repeatedly
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