The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-22
Ten Thousand Masons In tho Procession.

L
| day for the purpose OF laying the corner stone
of the new Masonic Temple, on North Charles
| street, was one OF the most imposing scenes
| ever witnessed in this city, and probably has
never been surpassed In this country. The pro.
cession was composed Of about 1000 Knights
Templar and over 5000 Free and Accepted
Masons, from all parts Of the country. The
| Templars were Attired In their uniforms, with
swords, and the others dressed in black snits,
silk hats, and white gloves. Large numbers Of
Masons from Richmond, Norfolk, Philadel-
| phia, New York, and other cities, arrived
! here on Monday night and carly this morning.
| Columbia and Washington COMMANDMENTS,
Knights Templar, with over 700 Masons, from
your city, headed by the Marine Band and
| Heads American Band, reached here about
| o'clock this morning, and were received by the
Communicates Of this city.
President johnson, accompanied by Colonel
1 Robert johnson, his private secretary, both Of
whom are Masons, arrived here about o'clock
| this morning, and were met at the depot by
Governor Swami, with whom they break
| tasted at the residence of the Governor.
| As early rs S O'Clock the different Lodges di-
rected their steps to the different places Of
| meeting, and by the hour OF 10 O'Clock the
streets through which the procession was to
pass were packed with persons eager TO look
| upon The most mysterious and benevolent Of
| all organizations.
The various bodies Of Masons assembled as
| follows:
| subordinate Lodges at the Maryland Insti-
| tute Chapters at Masonic Temple, st. Paul
| street Communicates ut Holiday street The.
| atre; Grand Lodges at Concordia Hall.
The procession having been formed on Hol-
| liday street about IL O'Clock, marched In the
| following order:
| Band of Music; Subordinate Lodges; Junior
| Lodges IN front, as follows: Baltimore City
Lodge, No. l26; Tiler, with Drawn Sword
| Entered Apprentices, two and two; Fellow
| Crafts, two and two; Master Masons, two
and two Treasurer and Secretary; Junior
and Senior wardens; Junior Deacon, Jewel
| and Blue Rod w. Master; Senior Deacon,
Jewel and Blue Rod. The remaining Subordi.
! nate Lodges formed in the same order, and
| took rank according to juniority. Visiting
Subordinate Lodges; Chapters and Grand
| Chapters, according to juniority; Commando
ries and Grand Communicates, according to
juniority Visiting Grand Lodges the NJ: w.
| Grand Lodge Of Maryland; Band Of Mu-
| sic; Grand Tiler with Drawn Sword; Grand
| suivant; Grand Standard Bearer, with the
Banner of the Grand Lodge Of Mary
land, supported by two Past Masters;
Three Great Lights, in triangle. carried by
three Past Masters Banner" Faith" car.
| ried by three Past Masters; Silver Pitchers,
with Oil and Wine, carried by two Past Mas
| tiers; Cornucopia, carried by Past Master !;
Book of Constitutions. carried by Past Mas.
| Masters; Master Builder and Architect;
| Il Cilding Committee of the New Temple /;
Holy Bible, Square and Compass on Trestle
Board, carried by four Past Masters; Grand
| chaplain
Treasurer and Grand Secretaries; X. w.
Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary Past
| Junior and Senior Grand Wardens; II. w.
Junior and Senior Grand Wardens; Past De-
putty Grand Masters; X. w. Deputy Grand
Master Past NJ. w. Grand Masters w. Jr.
| Grand Deacon, Jewel and Rod M. w.
Grand Master; w. ST.. Grand Deacon, Jewel
and Rod; Grand Sword Bearer; two Grand
Stewards, with White Rods.
| The line passed over the following route:
! From Holiday TO Baltimore; to Eutaw; to
Monument, uid north side of Mount Vernon
Place, passing around the monument; south
side of Mount Vernon Place to Park; to
| Franklin to Charles to the site of the Temple,
where the procession halted and opened order.
| The ceremonies of laying the corner stone
We're now begun, and the occasion was one OF
great solemnity, and caused deep impression
| 10 be made upon the minds OF those unac-
uuainted with the mysteries Of the Masonic
| Order.
The order of ceremonies were as follows:
Music by the band; upon the conclusion. OF
| which the DI. W. Grand Master stated, in elo-
auent terms the object OF the assemblage. He
| afterwards issued his orders, which were COM
municated by the Senior Grand Warden to the
Junior Grand Warden, who in turn announced
the same 10 the brethren. hymn COM
posed for the occasion by Rev. Andrew Long
acre was then sung 10 the music of came
rca': after which, an impressive prayer was
offered up by Rev Brother John McCrow,
Grand Chaplain. Upon the conclusion OF the
prayer the Grand Treasurer possessed himself
| Of the small metallic box to be placed in the
| corner stone, and read the inscription ana
| list of the contents of the box.
| The Grand Master having ordered the box
| TO be deposited, a hymn composed for the &C.
| casion bv BrantZ Mayer, Esq, was sung to the
| tune of 'Oid Hundred" The ceremonies OF
during which the Psalm 80, Praise ye the
| Lord " was given, followed by prayer by the
| Grand Chaplain. After further ceremonies,
| and music by the band, an Grafton was de-
L V,h, u I nhn
| chorus ''Glory be to God on High" was
| sung concluding the ceremonies.
| AT the conclusion of the ceremonies the line
wa. reformed, passing down Charles street to
Lexington street, thence to st. Paul to Ma
sonic Hall, where they were dismissed,
At the site of the New Temple, on Charles
street, extensive preparations had been made
| for the accommodation of an immense assem-
blage but large as the arrangements had been
made, it was found that double the space could
have been used. One platform contained ], zoo
ladies. On the south side Of the building an
other large platform was occupied by the prln-
cipal officers and those having in charge the
ceremonies proper, the President OF the United
States, Governor Swami, and other distin-
guished gentlemen. -
Every window, sidewalk, and street mark.
ing the route Of the procession was packed
with citizens and strangers eager 10 see Inc
imposing display.
Such gathering of people never before was
witnessed within the limits OF our city by the
oldest inhabitant. To estimate the number OF
persons who obtained view of the New Tenn
pie ut the time of laying Of the cornerstone
could not be estimated, but the most e1pe'
rienced Judges place II at not less than 10000.
Outside the Masonic rites, the most interest,"
ing feature of the occasion was the singing py
a choir Of a hundred and fifty voices, under
the direction of DR.. Robert j. Kerr. The
singing was of the most exquisite character
and reflected great credit upon Professor herr.
The Grand Marshal was General James =.
Anderson, with the following Assistant Mar.
shals Lloyd b. Parks, w Crichton, Richard
w Tyson, Samuel ]. Smith, Walter Dnlany,
John M. Miller, Richard II. Conway, George
A Hanson, w. ID. Jones.
An apron worked by the members OF the
family Of General Lafayette, presented 10
General Washington and worn by him, was
presen ted to the Grand Lodge by Mr.. Entler,
Worshipful Master of Mount Nebo Lodge, OF
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and was TO-
day worn by Grand Master John Coates.
MIR. Joshua /. Cohen also presented 10 the
Grand Lodge q rare coin of the date Of 1877, TO
be deposited in the cornerstone.
The gold trowel nsed on the occasion OF lay
ing this corner stone is the same when was
used fifty-two years ago by Levin Wihuer,
Right Worshipful Grand Master, upon tne
occasion of laying the cornerstone OF the OLD
hall on ST. Paul street.
BANQUET OF THE GRAND LODGE.
A banquet was given last night by the
"G Grand Lodge Of Maryland TO the FRATERNITY
Of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Mnsons. AZ
Concordia Hall, which was magnificent ana
princely, the we'll ordered arrangements, nno
beautiful operatic music discoursed almost
continually during the early part OF tno
banquet contributed as much TO the ENJOY
ment of the guests as the elegant manner In
which the banquet was served q, ,h Eve n. long 9TH
.-o.. 20 h,a at the head. at which the MOST