The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-06
the stone, extended his hands and
made the following inyocation.

the stone, extended his hands and
made the following invocation:
''May tho All-bounteous Author of
Nature bless the inhabitants of this
place with oil the necessaries, con-
veniences and comforts of life; assist
in the erection and completion of
this building; protect the workmen
against every accident; long preserve
this structure from decay; and grant
to us all O supply of the corn of
nourishment, the wine of refresh
ment, and the oil of Joy. So mote it
be-"
The Grand Master now struck the
stone three times, and the brethren
gave the public grand honors of Ma
sonry by three times three. When
the Grand Master ascended the plat
form, and delivered to tho architect
the working tools, saying: worthy
Sire-having thus, as Grand Master
of Masons, laid the cornerstone of
this structure, now deliver these i'm
plements of your profession into your
hands, entrusting you with the su-
perintendence and direction of the
work, having full confidence in your
skill and capacity to conduct the
same"
In the cornerstone was deposited
the following articles: Copies of the
Phpni.c, of the past few days; the
bylaws and lists of members of the
different Masonic Lodges, and of the
Independent Fire Engine Company;
Constitution of the Grand Lodge of
the State; the Board of Trustees of
the building, and several coins of
the conntry-includine a twenty
five cent gold coin, obtained from u
former prisoner of war, who had been
confined in the Jail which stood on
the site Of the present building.
The choir now sung an anthem;
after which the Acting Grand Master
delivered the following address:
"Men and brethren here assem-
bled, be it known unto you, that we
be lawful Masons, true and faithful
to the laws of our country, and en-
gagged, by solem obligations, to erect
magnificent buildings, to be service
able to the brethren, and to fear
God, the Great Architect of the Uni
verse. We have among us, concealed
from the eyes of al men, secrets
which cannot be divulged, and which
have never been found out; but these
secrets are lawful and honorable,
md not regugnanttOt the laws of God
or man. They were entrusted, in
peace and honor, to the Masons of
ancient times, and having been faith
fully transmitted to US, it is our. duty
to convey them unimpaired to the
latest posterity. Unless our craft
were good and our calling honorable,
we should not have lasted for SO
many centuries, nor should we have
been honored with the patronage of
so many illustrious men in all ages,
who have ever shown themselves
ready to promote our interests and
defend lis from all adversaries. We
are assembled here to-day, in the
face of you all, to build house,
which, we pray God, may deserve to
prosper. by becoming place of con-
course for good men, and promoting
harmony and brotherly love through
out the world, till time shall be no
more"
The brethren responded, $50 mote
1T be-amen."
A collection was then taken up for
the workmen, which was placed upon
the stone. The following ode was
then sung by the choir:
Hail, Masonry, divine!
Glory of ages shine;
Long mayst thou reign
Where'er thy Lodges stand,
May they have great command,
And always grace the land!
Thou art divine.
Great fabrics still arise,
And grace the azure skies
Great are thy schemes;
Thy noble orders are
Matchless beyond compare;
No art with thee can share;
Thou art divine.
Hiram, the architect,
Did all the craft direct