Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-12-18
INTERESTING MAsoN1o oERE-

As many of our readers are doubtless
aware, on the Goth of November last, a
very interesting Masonic ceremony took
place in the city of Baltimore-that of
laying the cornerstone of a Grand Ma
sonic Temple. 1t vas estimated that
not less than six thousand persons were
present on the occasion-and among
others, the President of the United
States, Andrew johnson, who is a Ma
son. Among the Lodges from other
cities were subordinate Lodges from
Washington, Alexandria, Norfolk, Pc
tersburg, Lynchburg, Winchester, Shep-
pardstown, and other points in Virginia,
and among the commanders of Knights
Templers there were those from Phila-
delphia, New York, New Jersey, Louis
Vile, Ky, and Washington. We find
the following interesting sketch Of the
ceremonies in a Baltimore paper:
As soon rs the audience had gathered
round the site of the new Temple, and
the positions assigned to the various
Lodges had been taken up, the Grand
Lodge of Maryland was opened with the
ceremonies appointed for such occasions,
The Most Worthy Grand Master, John
Coats, directing the exercises, which
consisted of the usual impressive ritual,
including the chanting of several hymns
written for the occasion. After the
stone had been finally adjusted, and
formally declared to be q foundation
stone, well formed, true and trusty, the
Grand Master, giving three knocks upon
the stone, said:
Know all of you who hear me, we
proclaim ourselves free and lawful Ma
IONS, true to the laws of our country,
protesting to fear God, and to confer
benefits on mankind. We practice uni
versal beneficence toward all. We
have secrets concealed from the eyes Of
men which may not be revealed to any
but Masons, and which no n has yet
discovered. They are, however, lawful
and honorable. Unless our craft was
good and our calling honest, these sc.
crets would not have existed for SC
many generations, nor should we have
had so many illustrious personages as
brethren of our Order, always ready to
sanction our proceedings and contribute
to our welfare. We are assembled in
the broad face of open day, under the
canopy Of heaven, to build a temple fol
Masonry. May God prosper our handi.
work as it shall most please Him. May
this temple become a place wherein just
and upright Masons may practice benev.
~olence, promote harmony and cultivate
brotherly love until they shall assemble
in the Grand Lodge above, where the
worlds great Architect lives and rcigns
forever.
Then followed the singing of the
psalm, 80 praise ye the Lord"
1.-THE ceremonial was then concluded
by pouring corn, wine and oil upon the
stone, the Grand Master making solemn
invocation at each libation, and con.
Guiding rs follows:
"Grand Master-May corn, wine and
oil and all the necessaries of life abound
among men throughout the world, and
may the blessing of Almighty God be
upon this undertaking, and may the
structure here to be erected be pre-.
served to the latest ages, in order that
it may promote the humane purposes
for which it is designed"
The Grand Master then presented the
implements to the Architect, saying
To you, brother architect, are confded
the implements Of operative masonry,
with the fullest confidence that, by
your skill and taste, q fabric shall arise
which shall add new lustre to our hon.
ored State. May it endure for many
ages n monument of the liberality and
benevolence of its founders. Then, af.
ter the performance of appropriate mu'
sic by the band, ]. Fl. B. Latrobe, Esq,
delivered the grafton.
The gavel used by the Grand Master
at the ceremonies, was the same used
by Washington when, as Grand Master,
he laid the cornerstone Of the Capitol
at Washington, in 1893. 1t is made Of
stone, and capped with gold.